About Us
County Impact Statements - Lafayette County
Weeds Resistant Identification Aides Growers
Hoelon-resistant ryegrass was someone else’s problem, thought Denny Peterson,
when he planted the 2001 wheat crop. The Lewisville Arkansas producer knew that
the problem existed in other areas, but he didn’t think he had a problem.
Peterson had a serious ryegrass infestation on a wheat field the year before.
The Extension service took ryegrass seed samples from the field at harvest. The
samples were sent to the University of Arkansas for Hoelon resistance screening.
Meanwhile, in the fall of 2000, after the new crop was planted, Peterson applied
2 pints of Hoelon per acre to the heavily infested field.
An adjacent field was enrolled in the University of Arkansas’ wheat research
verification program. Extension personnel recommended a new herbicide named
Finesse be applied for ryegrass as a pre-emerge treatment. Peterson applied the
Finesse at .5 ounces per acre.
IN the meantime, the seed test results were obtained and true to Peterson’s
fears, the problem field had ryegrass resistant to 6 pounds of Hoelon.
At harvest, the WRVT field treated for Hoelon-resistant ryegrass cut 53
bushels per acre of clean wheat. By contrast, the ryegrass-infested field cut 41
bushels per acre with heavy levels of ryegrass causing significant dockage at
the elevator.
"The moral of this story is know what your weed resistant levels are, and
treat accordingly," says Peterson. "Get help if you are experiencing weed
control failures in any of your crops. Also use crop rotation and different
chemical modes-of-action to avoid building weed resistance," adds Peterson.
Larry Easley was assisted with Hessian fly control strategies in
2001 that made the difference between making a crop and not.
|
Impacts
- In FY2001, 8 farms were surveyed to determine levels of ryegrass
resistance to Hoelon herbicide. Resistance levels of 40 to 50% were found on
three farms.
- In FY2001, 5 producers (1150 acres) were assisted with recommendations
for reducing potential losses from Hessian fly infestations. Delayed
planting selection of the Delta King 9121 variety and destruction of
volunteer wheat and deep plowing were practices performed.
- In FY2001, Denny Peterson farm enrolled in Wheat Research Verification
Trial program. 43 acre verification field averages 53 bushels per acre.
Wheat grower tour was held with 23 producers in attendance.
|
