Palmer Amaranth or pigweed is one of the most difficult weeds to manage. Is it a problem in your fields? Here are some tips to help:
- Consider planting LibertyLink soybeans. Controlling herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth in Roundup Ready soybeans has been a challenge, but LibertyLink soybeans offer more flexibility.
- Start clean! Make sure that all herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth plants are controlled with tillage or an effective burndown herbicide prior to planting.
- Effective soil-applied (preemergence) herbicides are essential. Apply the full rate (according to label guidelines for soil type and organic matter content) of an effective soil-residual herbicide, prior to or soon after soybean planting.
- Timely postemergence herbicide applications. Proper timing is everything! Postemergence herbicides must be applied before Palmer amaranth is 3 inches tall.
- Residual produce tank-mixtures with postemergence herbicides. A residual Group 15 herbicide should be tank-mixed with the postemergence herbicide application. It is essential for the postemergence herbicide to have effective control of herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth since the residual herbicides will not control Palmer amaranth that has already emerged.
- Additional postemergence herbicide applications if needed. A follow-up application of an additional postemergence herbicide may be needed. Again, proper timing is everything. Make these applications when Palmer amaranth is 3 inches tall or less.
For more information on these tips, specific products and applications, as well as general information and herbicide resistance in pigweed, read THIS ARTICLE from USB.
