Simple Way To Predict Weed Growth

Simple Way to Predict Weed Growth CROPS New Techniques 17-2-35 A Wisconsin crop researcher is promoting a simple new technique that makes it easy to predict future weed growth in fields. Gordon Harvey, an agronomist at the University of Wisconsin, says the idea is not new but has been overlooked by many farmers and scientists. The idea is to lay a plastic tarp over a small section of field when applying chemicals, leaving an untreated check area that lets you predict actual weed growth for next season. Each check area should be about 10 by 10 ft. and you should have at least three check areas in different parts of each field. Harvey says you can also simply turn off your boom for a short distance to leave an untreated area or, if incorporating, shut off your sprayer and raise the tillage tool out of the ground. About 40 days after planting you take an estimate of the weed pressure in the untreated plots. Harvey has a brochure detailing the method that helps make accurate assessments and the percent of yield loss that type of weed growth could cause. The brochure also helps determine at what point weed treatment will be most profitable for each particular situation. For a free copy of the brochure, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gordon Harvey, University of Wisconsin, 254 Moore Hall, Madison, Wis. 53706 (ph 608 262-7975).

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