2017 Fall Farm Outlook

Page 14 Oct. 25, 2017 2017 Logan County Fall Farm Outlook Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS frustration. This is partially because of various state regulations, which result in only certain brands of herbicides being allowed for use with certain types of weeds. As a result, many types of weeds have simply adapted, reducing the list of effective herbicides that can be used. Davis suggests that one way to deal with weeds going forward is to encourage diverse crop planting practices. “If you introduce a small winter grain or a forage legume into that system, you begin to make it difficult for summer annual weeds like waterhemp to become dominant. So you can get about 90 percent there just with a good crop rotation.” If this growing season has taught farmers anything, it’s that they cannot turn their back on weed control, especially if it’s just to cut costs, or if they think their purchased product will work without problems. Weeds will take advantage of any opportunity to take up space, and we need to be sure we’re ready to deal with them. Sources: Davis, Adam. Are we at a tipping point with weed control? Phys.org, 4 Oct. 2017, phys.org/news/2017-10-weed.html. Hettinger, Jonathon. In wake of new Monsanto seed, Illinois sees more crop damage. Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting , 18 Sept. 2017, investigatemidwest.org/2017/09/18/in- wake-of-new-monsanto-seed-illinois-sees- more-crop-damage/.