IP soybeans growers need to take a close look to see if eastern black nightshade is gaining a foothold in their fields. The premium killer is often confused with pigweed seedlings and growers think they have plenty of time and spray options to gain control, says Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food weed control specialist… Read More
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Farmers do a great job of in-crop weed control, which is great, seeing as weeds competing with the crop for nutrients and sunlight steal from yield. That said, a recent survey suggests that farmers are missing a key window of time for weed control — the four-week window after winter wheat harvest — that could… Read More
Its time for episode two of the Ontario Agronomy Geeks. This weeks guests are St. Thomas farmer Peter Gredig and University of Guelph Professor and OMAFRA Weed Specialist Mike Cowbrough. The panel joins Shaun Haney to discuss corn harvest progress, corn hybrid selection, potential acre increase for IP soybeans in 2014, does lower prices mean… Read More
It’s that time of year again, when a student’s thoughts turn to looking fashionable while still staying warm (hahahahaha, as if) and, more importantly, the students from the University of Guelph’s Crop 4240 class launch their weed identification and control videos. This is the second year that instructor Francois Tardif and lab lead Mike Cowbrough… Read More
The advent of glyphosate resistant weeds has and will continue to complicate pre-plant weed removal. Farmers need to match herbicide resistance management and control options with targeted weed species to ensure not only an effective kill, but also to avoid limiting control options later. Glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed has been confirmed in Ontario, and farmers set… Read More
Canada Fleabane can be the menace of menaces in your soybean crop IF you don’t hammer it down early. The truth is that the weed is so hearty — between its resistant characteristics and its ability to firmly root itself down — if you don’t deal with it while it’s young, you’ve got a problem… Read More
By Mike Cowbrough for FieldCropNews.com It seems to be an annual question. Do I add ammonium sulfate (AMS) to glyphosate? Will it improve weed control especially if my water source is hard? The short answer is no. Skeptical? I understand. There are many areas within the United States that insist the addition of ammonium sulfate… Read More
Two weeks ago we posted a series of videos from six groups of University of Guelph students. The project was for the UofG Crops 4240 undergraduate class. We asked the RealAgriculture.com community to vote on the best weed ID videos from the students. As you see below when you click on show results, Group 6 –… Read More
This semester at the University of Guelph, Ontario Agriculture College, Francois Tardif and Mike Cowbrough‘s Crops 4240 – Undergraduate Weed Science students were given the assignment of making a weed identification video for a weed commonly found in Ontario. The objective is for the students to discuss identification at different growth stages and methods of control of… Read More
So much time and effort is put into pushing corn to it’s full potential. We try so hard to manage areas that are partially out of our control that when we see something like herbicide injury in our crop, it can feel a little bit like we shot the puck into our own net. Sometimes… Read More
Trying to time a post emergent herbicide application in non-gmo soybeans requires some careful consideration. Crop stage, weed stage and weed pressure all have to be considered in context in order to make the decision that will be most beneficial to your crop. The toughest aspect of that decision involves waiting for your crop to… Read More
Eliminating weed competition is critical to corn development during it’s initial growth stages. Weed pressure during that growth period can decrease yield significantly depending on the intensity and duration of that pressure. Timing your herbicide application properly can ease back weed pressure while keeping your crop from being damaged. Depending on the herbicide you use,… Read More
Soil applied herbicides in dry weather can be a bit of a concern for producers who are depending on them. In order for the herbicides to work effectively they need moisture to activate them and move them downward through the soil into the area where the weeds have germinated. Unfortunately, no moisture, no migration through… Read More
Keeping your corn weed free through its early growth stages is critical in preserving yield potential. Knowing when to take control measures is a big part of that. If you’ve used a soil applied herbicide to control those weeds, you need to evaluate whether or not it’s working and determine when and if you need… Read More
Early weed control in any crop is important. This especially true when it comes to difficult weeds like lambs quarters. A difficult weed like that often calls for an aggressive strategy. An extra level of care and attention is required when formulating a strategy with non-gmo soybeans. It involves a good look into your… Read More