Field scouting after herbicide application can lead to more successful crop production.
“First off, looking at your fields at this time will show you if the weeds were adequately dealt with by the herbicides,” says Mark Cutts, crop specialist, Alberta Ag-Info Centre. “In the majority of cases, producers will find that the chemicals have done their job. However, in certain situations, field scouting may show the weeds weren’t properly controlled.”
In this situation, producers can start to evaluate what might have caused the problem.
“A difference in the pattern of weed escapes can indicate poor performance of an herbicide due to environmental conditions, such as temperature, or the possibility of herbicide resistant weeds being present. If the weeds that escaped the herbicide application are found throughout the entire field, it can point to limited herbicide effectiveness due to environmental conditions. However, if the weeds are found in isolated patches, this may be due to a herbicide resistance issue. If you are unsure of the cause, you should contact an agronomist or chemical company representative to discuss the possible causes of the weed escapes.”
Scouting after an herbicide application also allows for the assessment of disease development.
“For example, barley leaf diseases such as scald and net blotch move from the older leaves to the newer leaves as the growing season progresses. If you find that these leaf diseases are present, you may need a fungicide application once the crop has reached the flag leaf stage.”
Source : Agriculture and Forestry