Ask the Expert Series Orchard Edition

Back in March, regional weed extension professionals discussed creating a visual aide chart for herbicide selection for the big three problematic weeds (palmer amaranth, common ragweed and marestail) in corn and soybean.

Below are two url links to “A Spray Tank’s Last Checklist in Soybean“; and “A Spray Tank’s Last Checklist in Corn” courtesy of Mark VanGessel, Extension Weed Specialist, University of Delaware Research and Education Center.

Note, these are not meant to replace anything extension has available already, rather to supplement and be coupled with herbicide resistance charts in the Agronomy Guide and the 2021 Mid-Atlantic Field Crop Weed Management Guide noted in this MARCH 5, 2021 post by Thierry Besancon, Rutgers Extension Weed Specialist

These supplemental charts are meant to be used as the spray tank is being filled, to ensure the right products are in the tank – thus the title “Last Check Chart”. These are not meant to be comprehensive for all herbicides and weeds, rather what extension weed experts in our region are recommending for the BIG 3 in corn and soybean. Always refer to the individual product label for weed and crop height and growth stage restrictions.

Ultimately plans are to have a wall-chart that can be distributed next extension season.

Soybean: http://www.udel.edu/008288

Corn: http://www.udel.edu/008287

Wild garlic in soybean stubble planted to a late fall grain covercrop

Wild garlic dominates cropland and pastures throughout Salem County this spring. A few observations of star-of-bethlehem are also noted.

Due to the excessive rainfall last year, assume abundance of wild garlic bulbs are sprouting in small grains in fields known to have an infestation. Due to crop height and density, garlic leaves are difficult to discern as the grain crop canopies.

The window to manage wild garlic in small grains is dependent on crop stage and choices are limited to the growth regulator 2, 4-D, and the acetolactate synthase inhibitors chlorsulfuron and metsulfuron which inhibit cell division in growing tips of roots and shoots.

If uncontrolled and allowed to produce aerial bulblets, the ‘garlic’ smell taints harvest loads resulting in cents on the bushel dockage at the grain elevator. This is especially true of harvest intended for bread milling (know your contract).

In pastures, yards and other areas where livestock or children venture, it is important to note if the infestation is star-of-bethelehem, as this weed is very toxic to horses. Children, especially young children under the age of six should not be allowed to handle star-of-bethelem due to its toxicity if ingested. Ornithogalum umbellatum and others in this genus have a distinct white mid-rib, mostly white star-shaped flowers, and do not smell like onion or garlic.

If harvesting your crop to sell as seed lots, know that wild garlic, (Allium vineale) and wild onion (Allium canadense) are restricted weed seeds in seedlots sold in New Jersey. “The following seeds may be present in a seed lot, but shall be listed on the label under the heading “Noxious Weed Seed.” The name and number per pound must be declared. The terms “free” and ” none” shall mean that no noxious weed seed was found in a test conducted using the Association of Seed Analysts (AOSA) established methods” – NJ Department of Agriculture Noxious Weed Seed Regulations https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/pi/prog/noxious.html