By Nicolle Ritchie and Erin Burns
Spectators were surprised to see weeds pull a win over field crops in recent events. “It was easy to break through without any residual herbicide. We do this all the time,” the winning weed bragged. Sources close to the winning weed report that it had an intense training regimen to improve its cuticular defense against herbicides. In addition to an intense training regimen, the winning weed competed with the field crops for valuable water, nutrients and light, which all resulted in yield reductions for the field crops. The crops failed to place in this race and gave no comment on their subpar performance.
If this isn’t the kind of scenario you want in your fields this year, join Erin Burns, PhD, for a discussion on post-emergence weed control as part of the Michigan State University Extension Field Crops Virtual Breakfast Series on Thursday, May 15. Burns will discuss optimal size to control troublesome weeds, crop growth stage restrictions for postemergence herbicide applications and options to control mid- to late season weed escapes. Weather, herbicide resistant weeds, and unforeseen problems can all contribute to weed challenges. Therefore, it is important to have a plan in place for postemergence weed control.
Immediately following the discussion on post-emergence weed control, MSU Extension agricultural meteorologist Jeff Andresen will present a 15-minute weather summary and forecast. A question-and-answer period will follow. Other MSU Extension specialists and educators will be available for discussion.
The Field Crops Virtual Breakfast Series sessions from the MSU Extension field crops team are held every week during the growing season via Zoom. The Virtual Breakfast series keeps attendees informed of in-season updates and issues of concern for field crops. These virtual meetings take place every Thursday morning from 7-8 a.m., March through September 2025. Participants are encouraged to log into the Zoom link 5 minutes prior to the start time to ensure connectivity and receive announcements. The first half of each session includes a timely presentation from a topic expert and the weekly weather forecast. The second half of each session includes time for Q&A’s and updates with MSU specialists and educators.
Participating is easy and free! You can join the live meeting via Zoom using a computer, tablet, mobile device or regular phone line. If you are new to Zoom, simply download the Zoom app and you will be ready to join online every week to see visuals shared by presenters. A call-in by phone option is also available but note that you will only hear the audio portion.
Restricted use pesticide (RUP) credits and certified crop adviser (CCA) continuing education units are available most weeks for live attendees.
Participants must sign up to receive an email notification with instructions for joining the Virtual Breakfast. You only need to do this once and you will receive the Zoom link and call-in phone number, as well as weekly reminders every Wednesday and Thursday. Participants receiving emails can opt out at any time.
If you cannot participate in the live session at 7 a.m., you can view the recorded version at any time. However, only the live session will be eligible for RUP and CCA credits. Recordings will be closed-captioned and available at the Field Crops Virtual Breakfast webpage and the following MSU Extension field crops team social media platforms: Facebook, Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Twitter/X.
If you are unable to sign up online, call the Montcalm County MSU Extension office at 989-831-7500 .
Source : msu.edu