Fall Weed Management Wrap-Up

With harvest winding down, what else needs to be done around the farm? Probably lots, but before the temperatures drop too low, field sprayers should be winterized and next year's no-till fields should be scouted for over-wintering weeds.

Cleaning and winterizing your sprayer will protect it from frost damage and have it field-ready for next spring. Clean the sprayer, both inside and outside, to get rid of accumulated dirt and grime. More importantly, clean to remove as much of the chemical residue from the system as possible. Do not wash the sprayer near lawns or sensitive areas. To protect all plumbing components at risk of damage by water freezing, use a 50/50 mixture of good quality antifreeze and water. Most manufacturers recommend the use of automotive antifreeze over the use of RV antifreeze. This antifreeze mixture in the plumbing system will also prevent oxidation from occurring, by not allowing air to contact metal surfaces causing rust, and also not damage seals and o-rings.

• Cleaning and Winterizing Steps:
• Use a pressure washer and detergent to thoroughly wash the outside of the whole sprayer.
• Clean the inside of the spray tank completely, using a good tank cleaner.
• Circulate this cleaning solution for ten minutes through the agitators, the chemical inductor and the tank wash nozzle(s), if the sprayer is so equipped.
• Remove and thoroughly clean out the end plugs or end caps on all boom sections. Rinse with sufficient cleaning solution to remove all product residues.
• Remove all filters, screens, nozzles and diaphragm check valves and wash them in the same cleaning solution. A nozzle tip brush will aid in removing any build-up of material on screens.
• Reinstall all the filters, screens, nozzles and diaphragm check valves.
• Mix 23 litres (5 gal) of antifreeze and water (plumbing volume may be as high as 112 litres or 25 gallons for large sprayers). Pump it through all circuits of your sprayer, especially the agitator circuit. After 10 minutes of circulation through the various plumbing circuits, spray the mixture out through the boom and nozzles.
• Replace the boom end caps or plugs.
• Completely drain the foam marker tank and the solution lines that go out to the boom ends. Use compressed air to blow out any remaining liquid in the foam marker lines.
• Store your sprayer in a clean dry building.

Scout Weeds

With the field sprayer away for the winter, turn your attention to fields which will be no-till planted next year. Check these fields for the presence of overwintering weeds. With a quick scouting this fall, you can 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 overwintering weed pressure, individual fields will need to be scouted and weed 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 need and type of pre-plant burndown applications.

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