The peanut-growing region in Virginia, along with other areas in the peanut belt have experienced low levels of rainfall through the month of May. Depending on when peanuts were planted, some peanut fields likely had little to no activation of PRE herbicides. When PRE herbicides are not effectively activated, their efficacy is dramatically reduced. In situations where the PRE herbicide is likely not adding much value, other control measures need to be taken to maintain effective weed control. Utilizing an at-cracking application of paraquat up to 28 days after cracking can be an effective option in fields where a PRE application was not activated and weeds have begun to emerge. Applying a POST residual herbicide at this time can help control against the weeds that have not yet emerged. The addition of Basagran to this mixture can help reduce crop injury, especially when a residual is in the mix. Where severe thrips injury is present, control the thrips first, then follow up with the paraquat application to reduce crop injury and yield loss.
Palmer amaranth and common ragweed continue to be troublesome weeds in Virginia peanut fields. Weed control programs in this area are normally centered around controlling these two weed species. Our PRE herbicide options are a big component to controlling these weeds. However, if these options are not effective due to lack of activation, there are still some POST emergence options for these weeds, but they must be applied timely when the weeds are small.
Overall, weed control is an important consideration for any peanut grower. While PRE herbicides are an effective option and also help reduce selection pressure for our post-emergence options, they do not always give us the same length of control. Integrating an at-cracking application of paraquat along with overlapping residual herbicides is a great way to wipe the slate clean and control future weeds before they emerge. Controlling weeds preemptively can be a lot more productive and cheaper than chasing weeds after they emerge. ∆
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