Heavy Rains Could Bring Weeds to Winter Wheat

The first month of fall has seen above average precipitation and that could bring some trouble for winter wheat growers.

WSU’s Drew Lyon sayidthe forecast shows more rain on the way and that will mean a lot of winter annual grasses that will start infesting winter wheat fields.

“This is a year where I think fall applications can be quite effective and I would encourage growers to consider treating their winter annual grasses, grassy weeds in wheat, this fall rather than waiting until the spring.”

Many wheat growers will wait until the spring to begin treatments for weed problems because they can see all of the weeds, rather than treating in the fall and the spring.

But Lyon noted that sort of practice can actually hurt the grower come harvest time.

“Research suggests that by allowing these winter annual grassy weeds to compete all fall and winter long with your wheat you’re actually losing more yield than if you went out and did your control in the fall.”

Lyon said this fall has been the perfect conditions for these grassy weeds with dry conditions prior to planting and a lot of moisture afterwards.