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Weeds
Volume 54 Number 18 Date 08/28/2009 LATE-SEASON WEED MANAGEMENT - Several of Wisconsin's leading agricultural weeds are near maturity and will soon shed their seeds. By implementing a few simple cultural control practices now and during the next 6-8 weeks, growers can reduce the quantity of seeds that enter the soil seedbank and minimize weed pressure next year. Recommended measures include cleaning harvest equipment between fields--particularly when moving from a very weedy field to a clean field--managing fencerows, terminating crops early (either as a silage crop or green manure), and delaying fall tillage to promote seed predation. Early fall is also an opportune time to evaluate the efficacy of weed management programs. The presence of escaped weeds at this point in the season may indicate one of the following: weeds emerged after herbicides were applied or after fields were tilled, herbicides were applied under poor environmental conditions (e.g. high winds), weeds were taller than the recommended height, or skips in herbicide applications. Documenting or mapping existing infestations should help to identify priority areas for future control efforts and correct current weed management errors. --Clarissa Hammond, DATCP Weed Scientist 
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