The Five Biggest Mistakes You Can Make In Weed Control

By: Larry Stalcup 1

Whether it’s corn, soybeans, cotton, or other crops, good weed management is often the determining factor in being able to meet yield projections. By not attacking Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, and other weeds early and often with proper herbicide applications, a good crop can go south in a hurry.

With new technologies available to help combat herbicide-resistant weeds, growers have access to those and a host of herbicides. But without following a detailed weed management plan, there’s no guarantee that runaway Palmer amaranth won’t take over, says Dr. Jason Bond, Mississippi State University weed scientist.

“Unfortunately, some growers make mistakes in their weed control and management program,” he says. “Along with yields, their crop production budgets can take a hit.”

Bond tackles weed control problems daily. From his observations, he lists the five biggest mistakes farmers make in their weed control efforts:

Not having a weed management plan in the spring — “It gets down to reacting to whatever happens in weed control, rather than at least planning to control the things within their power,” Bond says. “That type of program usually doesn’t work.”