Courtesy: UCANR
In today’s Almond Matters, brought to you by Valent, fall rains are on their way and weeds won’t be far behind. “Fleabane and marestail are two of the toughest weeds that farmers have to contend with in today’s agricultural production,” Field Market Development and Research Field Representative Tino Lopez said. “The fall germinating bio-type of fleabane and marestail will germinate as soon as we get a significant rain event.”
Lopez noted that even though there might not be significant top growth over the winter, it doesn’t mean there isn’t significant growth of the root system. “They are establishing a strong root, which makes them very difficult to control in later applications,” he said. “As this weed has developed this strong taproot when we try to control it in the spring, say with burn-down herbicides, we basically kill the top of it,” which will leave latent buds ready to sprout.
Getting an effective preemergent down is going to be the strongest defense against the weeds. Lopez suggests using a split application, with one application about this time of year and then again in late winter, “to have enough herbicide power in there to catch that second bio-type that will be germinating in the spring,” he said. “They’re both very prolific seed producers, and you now have a seedbed that you’ve created that you’re going to have to contend with for years to come.”
Listen to the full segment.
11-13-17 Almond Matters