End of Season Weed Scouting

Before the snow flies, fields which will be no-tilled planted next year should be checked for the presence of over-wintering weeds. A quick scouting this fall will identify existing winter annual weeds such as chickweed, biennials such as wild carrot and stubborn perennial weeds such as dandelions. To effectively determine the extent of over-wintering weed pressure, individual fields will need to be scouted and weeds species density recorded.

Recording and/or mapping over-wintering weed species in late fall, including density and location will help you evaluate your weed management from one year to the next. The information will also help you plan next year's weed control program, providing you with a heads-up on the possible need for a preplant burndown application.

Winter wheat fields should also be checked for the presence of over-wintering weeds prior to snow cover. Pay particular attention to no-till winter wheat fields which did not receive a preplant burndown herbicide application this fall. These fields are at risk of infestation with winter annuals (chickweed), biennials (wild carrot) and seedling perennial weeds such as dandelions. Most over-wintering weeds start off early in the spring and are extremely competitive in the first part of the growing season. Even a moderate infestation of dandelion can have a significant negative impact on winter wheat yields if not controlled very early in the season. Scouting wheat fields this fall for the presence of over-wintering weeds will provide lead time to plan next spring's weed control program.

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