Smart Herbicide Planning Pays

By Ryan Kennedy, Sales Agronomist  

Weed control starts with a plan. Taking time now to think through herbicide timing and product selection can save money, reduce stress, and keep fields cleaner all season long.

Row Crop

Planting season sneaks up fast, and having a herbicide plan ready ahead of time makes life a whole lot easier. Knowing your options and when to spray is half the battle.

An early preventative application—usually late February into early March—can stop a lot of weeds before they ever show up. That’s some of the best bang for your buck you’ll find. These early passes work on just about any acre: dryland going to row crop, fallow acres headed to wheat, or irrigated acres going to corn, milo, or soybeans. Truth is, it’s always cheaper to go early. Once weeds are up and growing, cleanup costs more every time.

Right behind the planter, a solid pre‑emerge herbicide is another smart investment. Spend the extra dollar on one that’s built for the main weed pressure in your field. Nine times out of ten, that’s Palmer amaranth pigweed. Look for something with long‑lasting residual and at least three modes of action in the tank.

Then, about 30 days after planting—or before any weeds pop up—lay down another residual. Overlapping residuals keeps late‑season weeds from sneaking through. That second application usually costs less than trying to chase weeds post‑emerge in a growing crop. Pigweed is tough to kill, and post-emerge chemical mixes can be expensive—and potentially hard on your crop if you're not careful.

Wheat Stubble

We’re about six months out from wheat harvest as I write this, but it’s never too early to think about what comes next. Post‑harvest applications in wheat stubble go smoother when you’ve got a plan in place.

When the time comes, make sure you’re using the right nozzles, adequate carrier, and the best adjuvants for the job.  As with row crops, the key is hitting weeds early before they get any size on them.

Final Thoughts

Don’t wait until the last minute—the time to plan for this season is now. Early planning helps lock in product, saves money, and keeps you one step ahead all season long.

The Agronomy and Sales crew at GCC are here to help with questions and help build a herbicide plan that fits your acres. A little planning now makes the road a whole lot smoother later.