Reading Time: < 1 minute Q: I have poison ivy along the edge of my field, and I’d like to control it without using glyphosate, because when I use glyphosate, it also kills any desired vegetation. What herbicides can be used that will kill the poison ivy and leave grass species alone? There are several selective herbicides that are labelled […] Read more
PHOTOS: Pest Patrol: Poison ivy control on the farm
#PestPatrol with Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA
PHOTOS: Pest Patrol: Vetch in corn
#PestPatrol with Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA
Reading Time: < 1 minute Historically, post-emergent applications of Callisto + Aatrex 480, dicamba (e.g. Engenia/Xtendimax) or Distinct have provided the best top-growth control of tufted vetch (Vicia cracca) in corn. A trial was conducted in 2021 to evaluate tufted vetch control with two newer herbicides, Laudis + Aatrex and Acuron as well as Lontrel XC (clopyralid), a herbicide that […] Read more
Pest Patrol: What was that grassy weed in my winter wheat at harvest time?
#PestPatrol with Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA
Reading Time: 3 minutes Three different types of grassy weeds were found above the winter wheat canopy at harvest this year. To prevent them from becoming a problem, they need to be identified so that the appropriate management actions can be taken. Here is a breakdown of each grass species and its control options: Chess (Bromus secalinus) Chess grass […] Read more
Pest Patrol: Bluegrass management in winter wheat
#PestPatrol with Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA
Reading Time: 3 minutes Yield losses of more than 50 per cent can occur from bluegrass competition in winter wheat. As well, because bluegrass species often head at the same time as winter wheat, they could intercept and reduce the amount of fusarium head blight fungicide that actually reaches the grain head (Figure 1 at top). There are several […] Read more
Pest Patrol: Canada fleabane in an organic hay crop
#PestPatrol with Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA
Reading Time: 2 minutes Q: I have a lot of Canada fleabane in my organic hay crop. Is it a problem to feed? How do I get rid of it? It’s not great to have Canada fleabane in your hay crop. It’s an alternative host for plant feeding insects such as tarnished plant bug, and the leaves have irritated […] Read more
PHOTOS: Pest Patrol: Maximum weed stage where herbicides are still effective
#PestPatrol with Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA
Reading Time: < 1 minute A generation of glyphosate use has redefined what we mean by “apply herbicides to weeds that are small and actively growing.” Many interpret “small” to mean “about 15 cm” (six inches). If using “older” herbicides to manage glyphosate resistant weeds and your idea of small is 15 cm, then you may be disappointed with the […] Read more
Pest Patrol: Maximizing control of common lamb’s quarters
#PestPatrol with Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA
Reading Time: 2 minutes Lamb’s quarters has consistently been identified as the most abundant and problematic weed affecting field crop production in Ontario even though the Pest Management Regulatory Agency database contains hundreds of herbicides that list lamb’s quarters as a susceptible weed. There is an arsenal of products available to farmers for the control of this weed, so […] Read more
Pest Patrol: Controlling weeds in non-GMO soybeans
#PestPatrol with Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA
Reading Time: 3 minutes Weed control has always been a concern in non-GMO soybeans. Control of broadleaf weeds like lamb’s quarters and common ragweed has been inconsistent, and growers are always looking for ways to improve their results. General principles for weed control in non-GMO soybeans 1. Budget $80 to $85 per acre for weed control and plan for […] Read more
Pest Patrol: Management practices that controlled glyphosate-resistant weeds in 2020
#PestPatrol with Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA
Reading Time: 3 minutes Several Ontario agronomists recently shared their most successful strategies for managing glyphosate-resistant weeds. Four general strategies were identified: 1. Inclusion of winter wheat in the crop rotation By early spring, winter wheat’s dense ground cover does not provide a good environment for annual weeds, like waterhemp, to germinate. There are also many herbicides that are […] Read more
Pest Patrol: Bluegrass becomes an emerging problem in field crops
#PestPatrol with Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA
Reading Time: 4 minutes In Ontario, turf-like grassy weeds are being found in more cultivated fields. In herbicide-tolerant corn and soybean, control with glyphosate has been inconsistent. In cereal and forage crops, fast growth of these grasses in the spring makes them too big to be controlled with herbicides. Let’s review what is being found in fields and how […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
