Croplink

The outlook for weed-control management is shaping up as a worry for the coming crop season. Farmers have some tough decisions ahead with a possible double whammy of herbicide price increases coupled with some anticipated scarcity.

Kansas State University weed-management specialist Sarah Lancaster says "significant shortages" of glyphosate and glufosinate are anticipated in 2022. "Some of the distributors that I've talked with actually are talking about the situation not being cleared up by 2023," she adds.

To get the most out of those herbicides that are available, Lancaster suggests the following tips:

-- Check equipment every day before spraying, including nozzles.

-- Adjust the speed of the vehicle you are driving while spraying. "When you drop the driving speed, you're allowing more of your herbicide to hit the intended target," Lancaster says.

-- Add water to increase the spray volume of the herbicide.

-- Take the pressure off postemergence products by using a solid preemergence program.

"That includes multiple effective modes of action, especially for things like pigweeds, but also for other weeds that have kind of slipped through the cracks the last few years," Lancaster says.

-- Optimize planting dates, seeding rates, seeding depth and fertility to give the crop a competitive edge over weeds.

-- Consider nonchemical weed-management practices, such as weed electrocution.

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-- Pamela Smith contributed to this article. Follow the latest from Pamela Smith, Crops Technology Editor, by visiting the Production Blogs at dtnpf.com or following her on Twitter @PamSmithDTN

-- Follow the latest from Matthew Wilde, Crops Editor, by visiting the Production Blogs at dtnpf.com or following him on Twitter @progressivwilde

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