Let’s talk less about specific products and more about specific mindset. In a year where everypenny counts more than any in recent memory, it’s important we have a deliberate plan for weed control and don’t chase escapes where control costs more than the yield loss. You can’t hear it enough to overlap your residual chemistry early in the season. Weeds are easiest (and cheapest) to control before they emerge. Overlapping multiple residual products at planting with another application within two to three weeks carries us a long way.
One factor that maybe hasn’t been discussed enough but should be a thought this year is trying to get fields to flood on the early side. Weather hasn’t been kind to our preflood timings the past two seasons, but we should keep an eye out for opportunities. A shallow flood on small rice doesn’t inhibit plants from tillering and reaching maximum yield potential, but a flood too deep that stretches the rice might so avoid that. The faster we’re able to flood, the faster we’re able to put a lid on weed pressure.
In past studies, shallow flooding as early as the two- to three-leaf stage still allowed for top yields. Initiating a shallow flood isn’t for all fields — it’s certainly easier the flatter the field is and zero grades easiest of all. It’s likely not feasible to get everything started early, but getting some moved to flood will help us get the remaining fields flooded more on time as well.
If soil conditions are a little questionable to fertilize and go to flood but weeds are under control, ask yourself if it’s going to cost more to add a little extra nitrogen to your preflood or to make another herbicide application. The answer — the extra urea is cheaper.
Being mostly clean when we go to flood needs to be good enough this year. None of us like to see escapes later in the season adding to the seedbank, but that needs to be a future worry.
Too often, we see weed escapes being treated that are below the density to cause yield loss.You have to ask yourself if the herbicide application will generate more production than it costs(net revenue).
A lot of ground has been prepared between the fall and some opportunities so far in January and February. Planting into that stale seedbed is not only great for maximizing rice plant stands; it also allows us to keep from prompting more weed emergence that would happen if we scratched the soil again.
So, let’s plant into stale seedbeds, overlap those residuals, and get to flood on time. From a weed control and cost-saving perspective, this is the best we can do. Final thought: many fields will be breaking normal rotations and making abnormal swaps, so pay attention to your herbicide plant-backs for what was in the field last year! Let us know if we can help. ∆
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