As you can imagine, tackling resistant weeds is not an easy task. Rotating your herbicides and adding multi-mode of action products is an impactful way to control resistant weeds. Herbicide layering can improve your weed control and help increase your ROI even if you are struggling with resistance. You should consider herbicide layering if you notice weed escapes after using a soil-applied herbicide last fall or this spring.
Herbicide-resistant kochia is quickly spreading and becoming one of the biggest weed issues producers are trying to combat across Canada. While kochia is considered to be Group 2 resistant, a 2017 survey from Alberta showed kochia populations resistant to Group 9 went from 5% in 2012 to 50% in 2017. That same survey also revealed that 18% of those populations were Group 4 resistant and 10% had three-way resistance to Groups 2, 4 and 9.
Kochia can produce up to 30,000 seeds and can disperse them over a wide area once the plant matures and becomes a tumbleweed. With roots that can grow as deep as 16 feet, kochia steals moisture from the ground and severely impacts crop growth and production. In fact, early emerging kochia can reduce crop yields by 70%. In some cases, entire fields have been lost to herbicide-resistant kochia.
Using a herbicide layering program is a great way to not only control herbicide-resistant weeds but also to control weeds that may not be responsive to one herbicide, such as wild oats and cleavers. Essentially, herbicide layering broadens overall weed control while also minimizing the chances of a weed becoming resistant. If you are only using one mode of action, weeds can eventually become resistant to that certain kind of herbicide. Herbicide layering offers better control across different types of weeds and helps eliminate the concern of a weed developing resistance.
Let P&H be your partner in crop protection. Our experts are ready to help you create a customized plan to manage herbicide resistance and protect your crop’s yield and quality. Stop by your local P&H retailer to learn about all the products and services we offer.