Aerial applicators often unfairly criticized for drift
We must have a viable aerial application industry in Arkansas. Those guys have a highly visible industry. Not many of us would want the sort of visibility in our business they have on a daily basis. Their industry has risks involved that not many of us would be willing to take.
Herbicide application timing crucial
Farmers this year should make absolutely sure they either have the spray equipment or they have made proper arrangements to spray their first postemergence applications timely.
Days of easy weed control are over
Part of my reasons for writing a history of our weed control is to show what we went through to get to Roundup Ready. In a lot of ways we are currently going backward.
Rope wick applicators led fight against johnsongrass
The first rope wick applicators for Roundup herbicide in Mid-South weed control simply used some nylon rope, 4-inch or so PVC pipe, some rubber grommets and a way to mount it on the tractor or other means to push it. You could buy them or make them yourself.
Baldwin: Weed species shift vs. herbicide resistance
One colleague who has attempted to keep me straight through the years recently e-mailed a comment along the lines that “I do not see how weed species shifts are any different from herbicide resistance, although you seem to think so.”
Baldwin: Early herbicide programs were simple
When I began my career as a weed scientist in 1974, we had propanil (Stam), Ordram and the phenoxy herbicides in rice, which would seem like a very limited arsenal now. However, we got along quite well with them at the time.
Managing change: learn how to use new weed controls
A huge part of managing change now is going to be learning to use the LibertyLink and Ignite herbicide correctly. At present we are doing a lot of things that are going to contribute to premature failure of the system, says weed scientist Ford Baldwin.
Drought will alter weed control programs
Soil residual herbicides have again become a necessary part of a weed control program and they can do some great things — when they work, but without soil moisture for incorporated herbicides or activating rainfall or overhead irrigation for pre-emergence herbicides, they do not work.
Drift this year’s toughest issue
The tougher weed control calls are beginning to come in, but the toughest issues weed scientist Ford Baldwin has had to deal with in the field this year continue to be drift issues.
