Act now to control giant ragweed, Purdue experts say
June 11, 2015
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Farmers who spot giant ragweed in their fields should apply a post-emergent herbicide before the infestation becomes unmanageable, even if no other weeds have appeared, two Purdue University plant scientists advise.
If left unchecked, giant ragweed could choke out emerging grain crops and even develop immunity to the herbicides used to control it, Bill Johnson, professor of botany and plant pathology, and Travis Legleiter, weed science program specialist, write in Purdue's Pest and Crop online newsletter.
"A lack of residual herbicide at planting and farmers' hesitation to spray when only the giant ragweed is at the appropriate height often leads to situations where post-emergent applications, regardless of the herbicide of choice, are being made to giant ragweed plants that are much larger than the labeled height," the article states.
Giant ragweed sprouts early in the season and grows rapidly, blocking light from corn and soybean seedlings. Most manufacturers recommend applying post-emergent herbicide when giant ragweed is 4-6 inches tall.
"All too often we see where producers were reluctant to make post-emergent application to a 4-6 inch giant ragweed because of a lack of other weeds that size and the potential need for a second post-emergence application," Johnson and Legleiter write. "Waiting for other weeds to emerge or for the soybean canopy to further develop will only allow the giant ragweed to continue to grow well past a manageable height and likely affect yields."
The authors say identifying and controlling giant ragweed is especially important as planting season comes to a close. Fields with a history of ragweed infestation are particularly vulnerable.
"As farmers and consultants continue or begin to scout their fields, keep in mind that if giant ragweed is present among smaller weeds, that it should drive the decision for making a post-emergence herbicide application," Johnson and Legleiter write.
To read the full article, go to http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/pestcrop/2015/Issue10/.
Johnson, Legleiter, and the "Take Action" group, a collaborative effort to raise awareness of herbicide-resistant weeds, have developed a fact sheet on giant ragweed control. To download the fact sheet, go to: https://ag.purdue.edu/btny/weedscience/Documents/50737_12_TA_FactSheet_GiantRagweed_V3_LR.pdf.
Writer: Darrin Pack, 765-494-8415, dpack@purdue.edu
Sources: Travis Legleiter, 765-496-2121, tlegleit@purdue.edu
Bill Johnson, 765-494-4656, wgj@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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