About a third of the farmer phone calls and texts I receive as a weed science Extension specialist center around a lack of weed control in vegetable crops. The lines, “What went wrong?” and “What do I do now?” generally follow. As the summer starts to give way to fall, now is a good time…Read more about Take a Moment to Assess Your 2026 Weed Control – Part 1 – Rainfall[Read More]
Weed Management
Days ago, the Office of the Indiana State Chemist (OISC) approved expanded label language allowing an over-the-top application of Dual Magnum® herbicide on pumpkins in Indiana. This change follows extensive research conducted in 2021 across 11 sites in 10 states to confirm jack-o’-lantern pumpkin crop tolerance to this application. Full results from that research can…Read more about Dual Magnum® Herbicide Now Labeled Over-The-Top in Indiana Pumpkins[Read More]
As of January 1, 2025, Chateau® SW herbicide is no longer registered for use in melon crops in the state of Indiana. While some growers are aware of this development, others are not. The following article discusses the background on Chateau® SW use in melons and addresses some questions growers may have. What is Chateau®…Read more about Chateau® SW Herbicide No Longer Registered for Melons in Indiana[Read More]
In 2023, BASF registered Rely® 280 for use in cantaloupe, cucumber, summer squash, watermelon, tomato, and pepper. The registration occurred as two separate supplemental labels- one for cucurbits and one for fruiting vegetables. Both supplemental labels were set to expire in December of 2025. These supplemental labels allowed for the use of Rely® 280 as…Read more about Rely® 280 Herbicide – Going, Going, Gone[Read More]
Common names: common waterhemp, tall waterhemp Latin name: Amaranthus tuberculatus Family: Amaranthaceae (pigweed family) General description and identification Waterhemp is an upright, tall, summer annual herbaceous plant. It is native to the United States and has historically been found in waterways and floodplains. Today, waterhemp is often found in disturbed habitats, such as agricultural fields….Read more about Weed Spotlight: Waterhemp[Read More]
Weeds are one of the most persistent and costly challenges in agriculture. Yield losses due to weeds can be severe, and weed management options are often limited, especially for organic and small-scale specialty crop growers. While many small-scale producers rely on hand-weeding or tillage, there are alternative tools that can improve weed control and reduce…Read more about Weed Management Methods for Small Farms[Read More]
Across the state of Indiana and the country, the first pumpkin and winter squash plants of the season are popping up out of the ground. It is a time of great anticipation and usually triggers a series of phone calls and emails to my inbox. Below, I address some of the frequently asked questions about…Read more about Pumpkin Weed Management FAQs[Read More]
I’m excited to share that the University of Kentucky Center for Crop Diversification (UK CCD) and the Organic Association of Kentucky (OAK) are partnering with Glacial Drift Enterprises to host a Mechanical Weed Control Field Day on September 23 at the University of Kentucky Horticulture Research Farm in Lexington. Like many of your states, Kentucky is home to a…Read more about Mechanical Weed Control Field Day at the University of Kentucky – September 23[Read More]
From 2022-2024, we evaluated the performance 15 strawberry cultivars grown in plasticulture system using black and white-on-black plastic mulches (Figure 1) at two locations: Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center in Vincennes, IN (USDA hardiness zone 6b), and Meigs Purdue Agricultural Center in Lafayette, IN (USDA hardiness zone 6a). Strawberries were harvested for two seasons. Plug plants…Read more about Performance of Strawberries on Black vs. White Plastic Mulches in Indiana[Read More]
Midwestern farmers have faced a buildup of pesticide resistance in pigweeds (waterhemp and Palmer amaranth), highlighting the importance of scouting to detect weeds early in their growth stages. Otherwise, weed escapes are a common issue as herbicides lose their efficacy when weeds are allowed to grow long enough into their growth cycle. The Midwestern Regional…Read more about Midwestern Regional Climate Center Launches New Experimental Weed Emergence Scouting Tool[Read More]