If farmers have buds, should they spray for weeds?
It’s a good questions for canola growers this year.
The difficult weather conditions have left growers with a choice they don’t often have, later season weed control in their soon to be blooming crops.
Crops thinned out by frost and insects have failed to canopy over exposed soil and weeds are gaining on the otherwise competitive crop.
Stressed crops come into bloom faster than they might under normal conditions. Canola Council of Canada agronomists suggest each field be treated individually.
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Scouting should look at weeds that are at the same plant stage as the crop or more advanced, because those are the ones that will create the greatest yield loss, provided there is adequate moisture to support the crop.
Late season herbicide applications will often cause flower blasting, especially in hot conditions.
Application should be timed to avoid times when plants are fully active or when drought is adding stress. They should also be done as early in the plant staging as possible.
Chemical manufacturers recommend avoiding applications of glyphosate after bud formation to avoid severe yield losses.
For more information, visit www.canola-council.org/contents10a.aspx.
