Purdue News
Purdue News
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June 21, 2002 Purdue Weed Day compares products that'll knock 'em deadWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Indiana's sloppy spring forced organizers to reschedule Purdue Weed Day. The weeds themselves haven't minded at all. The annual field day, which explores the newest herbicides and weed control methods, will take place a few weeks later than usual, on July 9. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Purdue's Agronomy Research Center, located seven miles northwest of West Lafayette, Ind., on U.S. 52. It is free and open to the public. Moving Weed Day to July allowed the pesky vegetation to take over in some trial plots, said Tom Bauman, Purdue weed specialist and event coordinator. "We worked soils wet this spring like everybody else, so we abused the soils a bit," Bauman said. "Then we hit a little dry spell and had some cloddy soils. A couple of these fields have intense weed pressure. We purposely didn't do anything to control weeds last year, so all the weeds went to seed. We should be able to see the differences between herbicide products." Approximately 60 herbicides will be compared in row-by-row field trials, Bauman said. The trials comprise various crops, tillage systems and herbicide application options. "We'll be looking at some of the newer products for corn and soybeans," he said. "We have several popcorn tolerance trials, and I think we'll have one of those on the tour. There's also some no-till work. "We'll look at combinations of different products under this very wet environment we've had this spring. There'll be about 30 different trials, some of which have only 10 treatments and others with 25 or 30 treatments, in pre-emergence, postemergence and early preplant – a week to 30 days ahead of planting." Shuttle buses will run Weed Day visitors between trial plots. No formal program or workshops are planned. "Weed Day is geared primarily to the herbicide industry – manufacturers, dealers, distributors and consultants," Bauman said. "We do have farmers and county educators come, and they're all welcome. We hope to offer continuing education credits for 1A classification commercial applicators." Those attending Weed Day will receive a book listing all the trial plots, which herbicides were used and when they were applied. Also, coffee, soft drinks and doughnuts will be provided. To help organizers properly plan, those interested in attending are asked to preregister by calling Amy Van Wormer at (765) 494-9871. Writer: Steve Leer, (765) 494-8415, sleer@purdue.edu Source: Tom Bauman, (765) 494-4626, bauman@btny.purdue.edu Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, bforbes@aes.purdue.edu; https://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/AgComm/public/agnews/ Related Web site: Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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