By Angie Peltier
Budgets are tight in 2026
Producers frequently ask questions about managing inputs to make projected crop budgets in 2026. Managing inputs is a grower-by-grower and field-by-field proposition and can not be answered in a single statement. However, we know that managing weeds must be a priority. Weeds: a) rob yield; b) persist in the soil for up to 20 years; and c) are alternate host plants to soil borne and foliar pathogens. UMN Extension encourages producers to actively manage weeds using integrated weed management strategies.
Crops and weeds are emerging
Weed seedlings have begun to emerge in Minnesota crop fields. With research confirming that some of Minnesota tall waterhemp populations are resistant to most of the post-emergence herbicide groups such as Group 2 (ex. Raptor), Group 4 (ex. XtendiMax), Group 5 (atrazine), Group 9 (ex. RoundUp PowerMax), Group 10 (ex. Liberty Ultra), Group 14 (ex. Flexstar) and Group 27 (ex. Callisto), getting good early-season weed control using preemergence herbicides is all the more crucial.
Each growing season is different, making weed emergence timing quite unpredictable. Preemergence herbicides can help with early season weed control by being present as weed seeds are germinating.
If one has already planted and the crop has not yet emerged, there is still the potential to make an application of a preemergence product. However, if one does not plant into a weed-free seed bed, making an earlier-timed post emergence application is critical.
Source : umn.edu