Answers are from the Indiana certified crop adviser panel: Danny Greene, Greene Crop Consulting, Franklin; Bryan Overstreet, soil conservation coordinator, Rensselaer; and Dan Ritter, Dairyland Seed agronomist, Plymouth.

 

I will no-till soybeans into corn residue next spring. Those cornfields had a strong weed presence this year given the late start to planting. Should I apply a fall herbicide?

 

Greene: A fall-applied herbicide program can be a very effective tool to get ahead of winter annual weeds like henbit and chickweed. It is also useful in knocking back stubborn perennials, like Canada thistle, or biennials.

 

Marestail can germinate throughout the year but often starts as a rosette in the fall. These weeds are moving sugars down into their roots to store energy for next year. A herbicide applied between Halloween and Thanksgiving will move along with it, making control more effective.

 

Fall herbicides aren’t the only no-till option. Cover crops can also suppress winter weeds while improving soil structure and erosion control. That is particularly valuable on sloping fields where erosion risk makes a fall herbicide application less desirable.

 

A fall program can set the stage for a cleaner no-till soybean field and more flexibility when spring weather tightens your burndown window. Match the strategy to your weed issues, field slopes and management goals.

 

Ritter: I would highly consider a fall herbicide application if possible. You will be battling less residue, fields should be ready to plant sooner next spring, and some winter annual weeds are host plants for soybean cyst nematode. Planter operation will be improved because you will not battle weed residue. That should improve seed-to-soil contact.

 

Overstreet: I would first say it depends upon the weed. But it is probably not necessary. I would prefer you put out a cover crop out such as cereal rye at a higher population. Cereal rye can still be planted successfully in November.

 

This will help in weed control of winter annuals and several annuals next spring. Then next spring, use a good residual herbicide when you do burn down the cereal rye cover crop. This will benefit you more than having a bare field through winter. It will help you next spring with weed control.