Herbicide resistance is becoming a serious challenge for farmers across Saskatchewan. Resistant weeds limit chemical controls and rob yield.
Harvest Weed Seed Management is one approach to consider for reducing weed pressures and stopping the spread of any existing herbicide resistant weeds. This method targets weed seeds that come out the back of the combine during harvest, focusing on the chaff where most the weed seeds hide. By intercepting or destroying these seeds, farmers can reduce the weed seed bank and lower future weed pressure.
Harvest Weed Seed Management refers to multiple techniques, including chaff lining, which gathers chaff into narrow rows. These rows can suppress weed growth by smothering from the chaff, or they can be managed further by burning or spot spraying.
The most popular form of harvest weed seed management would be the seed mills, which mechanically destroy seeds. While some weeds, like wild oats, may drop their seeds before harvest and are harder to control with seed mills, this method will still prevent the spread of any herbicide resistant patches.
To learn more, you can check out our latest webinar series from this past winter where we had a webinar specifically focused on seed mills and their use on the prairies. If you suspect herbicide resistance on your farm, contact Sask Ag’s Crop Protection Lab for testing, or call up your local regional office for advice.
For more information, call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377