Second-Pass Preparedness

The first big push of the growing season is coming to an end. Most of the corn is planted in the area and beans are likely around the halfway point. We received some needed rain over the last couple days that should activate any chemicals that have been applied. Before long we will be gearing up for the second pass of chemical application. Timeliness is very important when it comes to the second pass of chemicals. We used to wait until all the weeds were up so we could kill them all. That is no longer a good way to go about it. It is important to add a second residual to your chemical mix and spray no longer than 25-30 days after the first application. By doing this we can layer the residuals so we can have extended weed control. Water hemp is getting harder and harder to control so we do not want to give them a chance to get up and growing. Yes, the chemicals we have available now do a better job at controlling the weed, but we do not want to take advantage of it. We do not want Enlist and Dicamba to go the way of Roundup. Take the time to walk your fields before you have them sprayed. The program we made back in January may need to be changed to control the weeds that are present. SFG provides full-service scouting throughout the summer to help you make decisions on when and what to spray. Give your SFG agronomist a call before heading to the field for your second pass to get some advice on what to spray on your fields.