Control of noxious weeds such as cogongrass depend heavily on chemical treatment, but success is limited unless integrated with other practices. Utilization of cover crops in the system is ideal to avoid the use of excess herbicide and replace vegetation that will resist cogongrass reinvasion. Greenhouse studies were conducted from 2013 through 2015 at Mississippi State University with the objective to evaluate ‘AG4934’ RR/STS soybean, Korean lespedeza, crimson clover and ‘Durana’ white clover tolerance to soil-applied imazapyr at selected rates and various planting times after application. Plastic containers filled with a mixture of 2:1 sand:topsoil were treated with imazapyr at 0, 70, 140 and 280 g ae ha–1. Legume species were planted 0, 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment (MAT). The factorial experimental design included legume species, imazapyr rate and planting time. At 6 weeks after each planting, the number of seedlings, average plant height and shoot biomass were measured. Statistical analysis revealed the imazapyr rate x planting time interaction was significant with respect to number of emerged seedlings, average height and shoot biomass per plant for each species. It was observed that the legumes planted at 0 MAT of imazapyr at 70 g ae ha–1 or higher reduced emerged seedlings, average height and biomass production. In general, seeds planted 1 MAT or later in combination with these same herbicide rates, showed less growth reductions than treatments seeded 0 MAT. In conclusion, sites treated with imazapyr rates from 70 to 280 g ae ha–1 for weed control, should not be seeded with legume ground covers less than 1 month after treatment to reduce emergence failure, plant height and biomass production.

A population of buckhorn plantain with suspected resistance to 2,4-D was identified in central Indiana following 30 yr of 2,4-D–containing herbicide applications. Our objectives were to (1) confirm and quantify the level of herbicide resistance in the buckhorn plantain population using dose–response experiments and (2) find alternative herbicides that could be used to control this population. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to quantify the dose–response of resistant (R) and susceptible (S) biotypes of buckhorn plantain to both 2,4-D and triclopyr, two synthetic auxin herbicides from different chemical families. The R biotype was ≥6.2 times less sensitive to 2,4-D than the S biotype. The efficacy of triclopyr was similar on both the R and S biotypes of buckhorn plantain, suggesting the absence of cross-resistance to this herbicide. This is the first report of 2,4-D resistance in buckhorn plantain and the first report of 2,4-D resistance in turf. The resistance mechanism was limited to within a chemical family (phenoxycarboxylic acid) and did not occur across all WSSA Group 4 synthetic auxin herbicides, as the pyridinecarboxylic acid herbicides clopyralid and triclopyr and the arylpicolinate herbicide halauxifen-methyl provided control in our experiments.

Field experiments were performed in 2016 and 2017 in Missouri to determine whether interactions exist between PRE herbicides and seed treatments in soybean. The experiments consisted of a randomized complete block design with factorial arrangements of varieties, seed treatments, and herbicides. We selected two genetically similar varieties of soybean, one with known tolerance to PPO-inhibiting herbicides and one with known sensitivity. Each variety of seed received three separate seed treatment mixtures (STMs): (1) STM1, imidacloprid plus prothioconazol+penflufen+metalaxyl plus metalaxyl plus Bacillus subtilis+B. pumilis, (2) STM2, Pasteuria nishizawae plus thiamethoxam plus prothioconazol+penflufen+metalaxyl plus metalaxyl plus B. subtilis+B. pumilis, and (3) STM3, fluopyram plus imidacloprid plus prothioconazol+penflufen+metalaxyl plus metalaxyl plus B. subtilis+B. pumilis. Chlorimuron-ethyl+flumioxazin+pyroxasulfone, chlorimuron-ethyl+flumioxazin+metribuzin, and chlorimuron-ethyl+sulfentrazone were applied PRE to each variety and seed treatment combination at 1× and 2× the labeled use rate. Chlorimuron-ethyl+sulfentrazone treatment at the 2× rate resulted in greater injury of 8% and 14% to the sensitive variety than the tolerant in 2016 and 2017, respectively; this was the highest injury observed from any herbicide treatment in either year. In 2017, chlorimuron-ethyl+sulfentrazone resulted in the greatest height reductions in both varieties, but this reduction was more evident in the sensitive (19%) than in the tolerant (6%) variety. Overall, yield differences between the two varieties were not consistent between years, and for both varieties, the sulfentrazone-containing treatments resulted in the highest yield losses. The results of this research indicate that there is a larger interaction between herbicides and varieties than there is between herbicides and seed treatments, or seed treatments and varieties.

With the widespread occurrence of herbicide-resistant weeds in midsouthern U.S. rice, new technologies are needed to achieve adequate weed control. A new non–genetically modified rice trait has been commercialized that is resistant to quizalofop, an acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase)-inhibiting herbicide. The addition of quizalofop-resistant rice to production systems will increase the use of quizalofop, possibly increasing the risk for injury to other grass crops. Experiments were conducted in 2014 and 2015 to determine the sensitivity of corn, grain sorghum, and conventional rice to low rates of quizalofop (1/10× to 1/200× of 160 g ai ha–1). Conventional rice was not affected by quizalofop rate or application timing. Corn displayed the greatest response to the 1/10× quizalofop rate at the two- to three-leaf stage, with 50% to 65% injury and 35% to 37% relative yield compared to the nontreated check. Grain sorghum was injured 31% to 34% by the 1/10× quizalofop rate applied at the two- to three-leaf stage, and there was 20% to 26% injury at the panicle exertion growth stage. The highest rate of quizalofop at the panicle exertion stage reduced yields 28% to 46%. Overall, risk for injury to any of the three evaluated crops from quizalofop appears low, with greatest injury observed at the highest quizalofop drift rate, with minimal injury at lower rates.

Sugarbeet, grown for biofuel, is being considered as an alternate cool-season crop in the southeastern United States. Previous research identified ethofumesate PRE and phenmedipham + desmedipham POST as herbicides that controlled troublesome cool-season weeds in the region, specifically cutleaf evening-primrose. Research trials were conducted from 2014 through 2016 to evaluate an integrated system of sweep cultivation and reduced rates of ethofumesate PRE and/or phenmedipham+desmedipham POST for weed control in sugarbeet grown for biofuel. There were no interactions between the main effects of cultivation and herbicides for control of cutleaf evening-primrose and other cool-season species in two out of three years. Cultivation improved control of cool-season weeds, but the effect was largely independent of control provided by herbicides. Of the herbicide combinations evaluated, the best overall cool-season weed control was from systems that included either a 1/2X or 1X rate of phenmedipham+desmedipham POST. Either rate of ethofumesate PRE was less effective than phenmedipham+desmedipham POST. Despite improved cool-season weed control, sugarbeet yield was not affected by cultivation each year of the study. Sugarbeet yields were greater when treated with any herbicide combination that included either a 1/2X or 1X rate of phenmedipham+desmedipham POST compared with either rate of ethofumesate PRE alone or the nontreated control. These results indicate that cultivation has a very limited role in sugarbeet grown for biofuel. The premise of effective weed control based on an integration of cultivation and reduced herbicide rates does not appear to be viable for sugarbeet grown for biofuel.

Enlist E3™ soybean, resistant to 2,4-D, glufosinate, and glyphosate, provides options to control glyphosate-resistant Sumatran fleabane before planting and in crop. Twenty field trials were conducted in Argentina to determine Enlist E3 soybean sensitivity to POST applications of 2,4-D choline+glyphosate or glufosinate. Maximum injury from a single 2,4-D choline+glyphosate application at 1X (1140+1140 g ae ha−1) and 2X rate was 4% and 13%, respectively, at 3 days after treatment in the temperate Humid Pampa region. Slightly higher injury of 11 and 23% was observed in sub-tropical region of northern Argentina. Injury was transient with recovery occurring within 14 days. Injury caused by sequential applications was equivalent to that caused by single applications. Soybean yield was not affected by single nor sequential applications. In four trials, control programs containing 2,4-D choline+glyphosate applied PRE and POST provided greater GR Sumatran fleabane control and a 12 to 26% increase in yield compared to 2,4-D choline+glyphosate applied at PRE only. This research demonstrates the glyphosate-resistant control programs that include 2,4-D choline, glyphosate, and glufosinate provide excellent GR Sumatran fleabane control.

Chickpea producers currently have no POST applied herbicides labeled for broadleaf weed control and rely heavily on PRE herbicides to manage weeds. Severe crop losses from broadleaf weed competition and harvest losses from weeds impeding harvest can occur when PRE herbicides perform poorly. Chickpea tolerance to POST applications of acifluorfen at 0.42 kg ai ha-1 and fomesafen at 0.28 kg ai ha-1 was tested at two sites in 2015. In 2016, both herbicides were tested on chickpeas when applied alone and in combination with pyridate at three sites. Acifluorfen and fomesafen injured chickpeas from 8 to 25% at 1 week after treatment (WAT) and 3 to 8% at 4 WAT in 2015 and from 16 to 40% at 1 WAT and 2 to 36% at 4 WAT in 2016. Pyridate applied POST at 1.00 kg ai ha-1 did not injure chickpeas or reduce yields. When pyridate was tank mixed with either acifluorfen or fomesafen, chickpea injury increased, but chickpeas recovered and yielded similar to nontreated checks or pyridate-treated plots. A low rate of metribuzin at 0.06 kg ai ha-1 tank mixed with pyridate had little impact on chickpea injury or weed control. In 2015, Russian thistle was controlled 100% by acifluorfen and fomesafen at Prosser at 28 DAT and both herbicides controlled the weed only 63% at Wilbur at 25 DAT. In 2016, all herbicide treatments reduced broadleaf weed densities equally ranging from 95 to 100% at Paterson, 50 to 100% at Prosser, and 78 to 98% at Wilbur. Chickpea yield was similar among POST herbicide treatments in all site-years. Acifluorfen, fomesafen, and pyridate have potential to improve control of susceptible broadleaf weeds that escape PRE herbicides chickpea production, but the potential for crop injury with acifluorfen and fomesafen warrant further evaluation.

We conducted a greenhouse study to evaluate the differential response of Palmer amaranth to glyphosate and mesotrione and to quantify the level of tolerance to mesotrione in recalcitrant (difficult-to-control) accessions and their offspring. Seeds were collected from 174 crop fields (corn, cotton, and soybean) across Arkansas between 2008 and 2016. Palmer amaranth seedlings (7 to 10 cm tall) were treated with glyphosate at 840 g ae ha–1 or mesotrione at 105 g ha–1. Overall, 47% of the accessions (172) were resistant to glyphosate with 68% survivors. Almost 35% of accessions were highly resistant, with 90% survivors. The majority of survivors from glyphosate application incurred between 31% and 60% injury. Mesotrione killed 66% of the accessions (174); the remaining accessions had survivors with injury ranging from 61% to 90%. Accessions with the least response to mesotrione were selected to determine tolerance level. Dose–response assays were conducted with four recalcitrant populations and their F1 progeny. The average effective doses (ED50) for the parent accessions and F1 progeny of survivors were 21.5 g ha–1 and 27.5 g ha–1, respectively. The recalcitrant parent populations were three- to five-fold more tolerant to mesotrione than the known susceptible population, as were the F1 progeny.

Control of broadleaf weeds in caladium is difficult due in part to a lack of selective POST herbicides. Cultivation is not an option due to the dense canopy and potential for tuber injury. As a result, growers currently rely on preemergence (PRE) herbicide and hand-weeding. The objective of this research was to evaluate the control of four common broadleaf weeds of field grown caladium with POST applications of halosulfuron, thifensulfuron-methyl, and trifloxysulfuron, and determine the tolerance of caladium cultivars ‘Florida Fantasy’ and ‘Florida cardinal’ to POST applications of halosulfuron. At 4 weeks after treatment (WAT), thifensufluron-methyl at 28 g ai ha−1 and trifloxysulfuron at 84 g ai ha−1 provided approximately 90 and 70% common purslane control, respectively, while halosulfuron at 210 g ai ha−1 provided 55% suppression. Trifloxysulfuron controlled ≥90% spotted spurge at 42 g ha−1, whereas the highest rate of halosulfuron and thifensulfuron-methyl only achieved 60% suppression. In field experiments, the evaluated sulfonylurea (SU) herbicides were less efficacious on hairy indigo and sharppod morningglory as control never exceeded 65 and 50%, respectively. In greenhouse experiments, the evaluated halosulfuron rates ranging from 26 to 420 g ha−1 did not significantly reduce caladium tuber weight from the nontreated control. Averaged over halosulfuron rates, ‘Florida Fantasy’ damage was 5 and 6% at 2 and 4 WAT, respectively, while ‘Florida Cardinal’ damage was 11%. We conclude that none of the herbicide treatments effectively controlled all species evaluated. Sequential treatments, higher rates, or tank-mixtures may be necessary to adequately control these species. We also conclude that caladium cultivars ‘Florida Fantasy’ and ‘Florida Cardinal’ have acceptable tolerance to POST applications of halosulfuron. Further research is needed to evaluate caladium tolerance to other SU herbicides.

Dicamba-resistant crops are being rapidly embraced by growers in the United States to manage glyphosate-resistant and other difficult-to-control broadleaf weeds. However, dicamba resistance in kochia, one of the troublesome weeds of the North American Great Plains, is already widespread. Hence, POST application of dicamba may not adequately control kochia. In recent years in the High Plains Region of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska, dicamba has been widely applied, often in combination with atrazine or metribuzin, in early spring for PRE control of kochia. However, there is concern this use pattern may increase the selection for dicamba-resistant (DR) kochia. Hence, there is need to understand the efficacy of dicamba applied PRE versus POST for managing DR kochia. A greenhouse study was conducted to test the efficacy of PRE-applied dicamba compared with POST application using both DR and dicamba-susceptible (DS) kochia. Efficacies of PRE-applied dicamba were compared at seeding densities of 300, 600, 900 and 1200 viable seed m−2. At eight weeks after PRE and four weeks after POST treatment, control of DR kochia seeded at 300 viable seed m−2 was improved from 10% with 560 g ae ha−1 dicamba applied POST to 94 and 97% with 350 and 420 g ha−1 dicamba applied PRE, respectively. However, the efficacy of PRE-applied dicamba was negatively correlated with seed density. When kochia seeding density was increased from 300 to 1200 seed m−2, the ED50 of PRE-applied dicamba increased from 237 to 705 g ae ha−1 for DR kochia, and from 129 to 361 g ae ha−1 for DS kochia, respectively. Thus, PRE-applied dicamba was effective in controlling the population of DR kochia tested, suggesting that PRE-applied dicamba may still provide substantial control of some DR kochia populations. However, it is not advisable to apply dicamba alone for PRE kochia control.

Henbit is a winter annual weed that is not effectively controlled by spring-applied herbicide applications. Research was conducted to determine henbit’s emergence pattern and whether fall-applied residual herbicides would be effective for henbit control in the spring. Henbit emerges in Louisiana from late October through March, but emergence predominantly occurs in the last week of October through the first week of December. Applying paraquat plus flumioxazin, oxyfluorfen, or rimsulfuron:thifensulfuron November 1 through December 15 provided better than 90% henbit control in March. Applying paraquat plus S-metolachlor on November 15 or December 1 provided 92% henbit control, which was similar to flumioxazin, oxyfluorfen, and rimsulfuron:thifensulfuron. The addition of flumioxazin, oxyfluorfen, or rimsulfuron:thifensulfuron to paraquat reduced the height of henbit plants by 4% to 22% of nontreated plants when applied November 1 through December 15. These studies indicate that crop producers can achieve control of henbit in March following November 1 through December 15 applications of paraquat plus flumioxazin or rimsulfuron:thifensulfuron; however, paraquat plus oxyfluorfen can be applied October 15 through December 15 to achieve similar control.

Drift reduction technologies aim to eliminate the smaller droplets that occur with some sprays because these small droplets can move off-target in the wind. Commonly used drift reduction technologies such as air-induction nozzles and spray additives impact on reducing off-target movement is well documented, however, the impact on herbicide penetration into an established crop canopy is not well known. This experiment evaluated the canopy penetration and efficacy of glyphosate treatments applied using four nozzle types (XR11005, AIXR11005, AITTJ11005, and TTI11005), two carrier volume rates (94 and 187 L ha-1), and glyphosate applications with and without a commercial drift reducing adjuvant. Applications were made to corn and soybean fields using glyphosate applied at 1.26 kg ae ha-1 with liquid ammonium sulfate at 5% v/v. A rhodamine dye was added (0.025% v/v) to the spray tank of each mixture as a tracer. MylarTM cards were placed in the field above the canopy, in the middle canopy, and on the ground for corn and above and below canopy for soybean. Five cards were at each position in the canopy arranged across the crop row. The addition of a drift reducing adjuvant did not impact canopy penetration. Doubling the carrier volume increased the amount of penetration proportionally and as such the percent reduction was not different. The TTI11005 nozzle had the greatest amount of spray penetration (28%) in the soybean canopies and the XR nozzle had the greatest amount (50%) in the corn canopies. Deposition across the row, beginning in-between the row crop and ending in the row of the crop was 44, 18, and 8% for soybean and 59, 50, and 36% for corn. For both crops, more than half of the herbicide application was captured in the crop canopy. Proper nozzle selection for canopy type can increase herbicide penetration and increasing the carrier volume will increase penetration proportionally.

Field studies were conducted in North Carolina to determine the critical period for Palmer amaranth control (CPPAC) in pickling cucumber. In removal treatments (REM), emerged Palmer amaranth were allowed to compete with cucumber for 14, 21, 28, or 35 d after sowing (DAS) in 2014 and 14, 21, 35, or 42 DAS in 2015, and cucumber was kept weed-free for the remainder of the season. In the establishment treatments (EST), cucumber was maintained free of Palmer amaranth by hand removal until 14, 21, 28, or 35 DAS in 2014 and until 14, 21, 35, or 42 DAS in 2015; after this, Palmer amaranth was allowed to establish and compete with the cucumber for the remainder of the season. The beginning and end of the CPPAC, based on 5% loss of marketable yield, was determined by fitting log-logistic and Gompertz equations to the relative yield data representing REM and EST, respectively. Season-long competition by Palmer amaranth reduced pickling cucumber yield by 45% to 98% and 88% to 98% during 2014 and 2015, respectively. When cucumber was planted on April 25, 2015, the CPPAC ranged from 570 to 1,002 heat units (HU), which corresponded to 32 to 49 DAS. However, when cucumber planting was delayed 2 to 4 wk (May 7 and May 21, 2014 and May 4, 2015), the CPPAC lasted from 100 to 918 HU (7 to 44 DAS). This research suggested that planting pickling cucumber as early as possible during the season may help to reduce competition by Palmer amaranth and delay the beginning of the CPPAC.

In response to concerns about acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor–resistant weeds in wheat production systems, we explored the efficacy of managing Bromus spp., downy and Japanese bromes, in a winter wheat system using alternative herbicide treatments applied in either fall or spring. Trials were established at Lethbridge and Kipp, Alberta, and Scott, Saskatchewan, Canada over three growing seasons (2012–2014) to compare the efficacy of pyroxasulfone (a soil-applied very-long-chain fatty acid elongase inhibitor; WSSA Group 15) and flumioxazin (a protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitor; WSSA Group 14) against industry-standard ALS-inhibiting herbicides for downy and Japanese brome control. Winter wheat injury from herbicide application was minor, with the exception of flucarbazone application at Scott. Bromus spp. control was greatest with pyroxsulam and all herbicide treatments containing pyroxasulfone. Downy and Japanese bromes were controlled least by thiencarbazone and flumioxazin, respectively, whereas Bromus spp. had intermediate responses to the other herbicides tested. Herbicides applied in fall resulted in reduced winter wheat yield relative to the spring applications. Overall, pyroxasulfone or pyroxsulam provided the most efficacious Bromus spp. control compared with the other herbicides and consistently maintained optimal winter wheat yields. Therefore, pyroxasulfone could facilitate management of Bromus spp. resistant to ALS inhibitors in winter wheat in the southern growing regions of western Canada. Improved weed control and delayed herbicide resistance may be achieved when pyroxasulfone is applied in combination with flumioxazin.

Crop management practices such as tillage can influence the dissipation of herbicides in soil. This study aimed to determine the effects of tillage systems on soil dissipation of prosulfocarb (PSC) using two assessment methods: bioassay and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. PSC was applied on plots cultivated under three tillage systems (moldboard plowing, tine tillage at 8- to 10-cm soil depth, and direct drilling) at different rates (0, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000 and 8,000 g ai ha−1) and two spraying times, representing early and late sowing time of winter cereals in Denmark. The experiment was conducted over 2 yr. The soil was analyzed for PSC residues by HPLC and a bioassay, using silky windgrass as the indicator plant. Neither technique revealed an effect of tillage systems on PSC dissipation, but the LD50 values estimated based on the bioassays were generally lower under direct drilling (11.7 d) than with plowing (17.5 d). Moreover, LD50 estimates based on bioassay results were generally lower than those estimated with HPLC analyses. Half-life values estimated with HPLC were low and not within the range of values reported in the literature (ca. 20 d), suggesting enhanced degradation of PSC. In addition to influencing the performance of PSC against problematic weed species, an enhanced dissipation rate could also hamper the benefits of PSC in an antiresistance strategy.

Fomesafen provides effective control of glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth in cotton. However, cotton seedlings can be injured when fomesafen is applied PRE. Therefore, greenhouse and field experiments were conducted at Athens, GA, and at six locations in Alabama and Georgia in 2013 and 2016 to evaluate cotton growth and yield response to fomesafen applied PRE at 70, 140, 280, 560, 1,120, or 2,240 g ai ha−1, and in combination with pendimethalin, diuron, acetochlor, and fluridone at 1×label rates. Greenhouse bioassays indicated that fomesafen reduced cotton height and dry weight with increasing rate in Cecil sandy loam and Tifton loamy sand but not in Greenville sandy clay loam––possibly as a result of this soil’s higher organic matter (OM) and clay content. Fomesafen applied at 2,240 g ai ha−1 reduced cotton stand by as much as 83% compared to the nontreated check (NTC) at all field locations except Alabama’s Macon and Baldwin counties, and 1,120 g ai ha−1 reduced cotton stand only at Pulaski County, GA, by 52%. Cotton height was reduced by the two highest rates of fomesafen at all locations except Clarke County, GA, and Baldwin County, AL. Injury data indicated more visual injury followed increasing fomesafen rates, and high-rate treatments produced more injury in sandier soils. Cotton yield was unaffected by herbicide treatments at any location, except for the 1,120 g ai ha−1 rate at Pulaski County (49% yield loss compared to NTC), 2,240 g ai ha−1 at Pulaski County (72% yield loss), and Tift County (29% yield loss). These data indicated cotton yield should not be negatively affected by fomesafen applied PRE alone within label rates or in combination with pendimethalin, diuron, acetochlor, and fluridone at 1×label rates, although some visual injury, or stand or height reduction may occur early in the growing season.

A study was conducted at three locations in Louisiana to evaluate the response of common Louisiana rice weed species to different rates of application of benzobicyclon herbicide. Benzobicyclon was applied at 31, 62, 123, 185, 246, 493, 739, 986, and 1,232 g ai ha–1 into flooded field conditions when ducksalad was at the first elongated-leaf stage. Barnyardgrass, false pimpernel, and yellow nutsedge control never exceeded 50% from any rate of benzobicyclon applied, averaged across evaluation timing. Ducksalad control, averaged across evaluation timing, was 83% when treated with 493 g ha−1 and did not increase when treated with higher rates of benzobicyclon. At 42 d after treatment (DAT), purple ammannia and Indian toothcup treated with 185 and 246 g ha–1 of benzobicyclon were controlled 58% and 81%, respectively, and did not differ in control compared with higher rates of benzobicyclon. All weeds were hand-harvested from each plot and separated by species at the conclusion of the study. No differences in fresh-weight biomass were observed for barnyardgrass, false pimpernel, purple ammannia, or yellow nutsedge. Treatment with benzobicyclon at ≥62 g ha–1 resulted in reduced ducksalad fresh weight 42 DAT compared with the nontreated sample. Indian toothcup fresh weight was reduced 77% to 96% compared with the nontreated sample when treated with benzobicyclon at 246 to 1,232 g ha–1.

Strawberries, an important Florida crop, are grown on raised beds covered with plastic mulch. The plastic mulch provides good control of many weeds, but some problem species can emerge from the transplant hole during crop establishment. POST herbicide options for broadleaf weed control within the strawberry bed is limited to clopyralid, which only provides suppression. Strawberry canopy shielding may be responsible for the observed incomplete control with clopyralid application for problematic broadleaf weed species such as black medic and Carolina geranium. Two field experiments were established on mature strawberries to evaluate spray penetration through the canopy. The first examined spray penetration through the canopy of multiple strawberry cultivars at various distances from the crown. The second examined the effects of application volumes and nozzle selection on spray penetration. Cultivar selection had no effect on spray penetration through the canopy. In the first study, when applying at 281 L ha−1, the area around the planting hole (0 to 5 cm from the crown) had 8% coverage below the canopy while the area below the canopy edge (10 to 15 cm from the crown) had 27% coverage. In the second study, increasing the application volume from 187 to 375 L ha−1 increased coverage by 81%. Increasing the application volume from 375 to 740 L ha−1 increased coverage 33% with maximal coverage of 53% at 740 L ha−1. Nozzle type (standard even flat spray tip, Drift Guard, or TwinJet nozzles) did not affect coverage or deposition volume below the canopy. Overall, mature strawberry canopies demonstrated similar spray droplet penetration across cultivars with increased penetration with increased distance from the crown. Penetration increased with increasing application volume, but the nozzle types used in this experiment did not affect penetration. Additional research is needed to better define the effect of application volume on herbicide efficacy.

The objective of this WSSA Weed Loss Committee report is to provide quantitative data on the potential yield loss in sugar beet due to weed interference from the major sugar beet growing areas of the United States and Canada. Researchers and extension specialists who conducted research on weed control in sugar beet in the United States and Canada provided quantitative data on sugar beet yield loss due to weed interference in their regions. Specifically, data were requested from weed control studies in sugar beet from up to 10 individual studies per calendar year over a 15-yr period between 2002 and 2017. Data collected indicated that if weeds are left uncontrolled under optimal agronomic practices, growers in Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ontario, Oregon, and Wyoming would potentially lose an average of 79%, 61%, 66%, 68%, 63%, 75%, 83%, 78%, and 77% of the sugar beet yield. The corresponding monetary loss would be approximately US$234, US$122, US$369, US$43, US$40, US$211, US$12, US$14, and US$32 million, respectively. The average yield loss due to weed interference for the primary sugar beet growing areas of North America was estimated to be 70%. Thus, if weeds are not controlled, growers in the United States would lose approximately 22.4 million tonnes of sugar beet yield valued at approximately US$1.25 billion, and growers in Canada would lose approximately 0.5 million tonnes of sugar beet yield valued at approximately US$25 million. The high return on investment in weed management highlights the importance of continued weed science research for sustaining high crop yield and profitability of sugar beet production in North America.

Florpyrauxifen-benzyl is a new herbicide being developed for rice. Research is needed to understand its spectrum of control and optimal tank-mix partners. Multiple greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to evaluate florpyrauxifen-benzyl efficacy and tank-mix compatibility. In greenhouse experiments, florpyrauxifen-benzyl at 30 g ai ha–1 provided ≥75% control of all weed species evaluated (broadleaf signalgrass, barnyardgrass, Amazon sprangletop, large crabgrass, northern jointvetch, hemp sesbania, pitted morningglory, Palmer amaranth, yellow nutsedge, rice flatsedge, smallflower umbrellasedge), and control was similar to or better than other herbicide options currently available in rice. Barnyardgrass was controlled 97% with florpyrauxifen-benzyl at 30 g ha–1, ultimately reducing height (86%) and aboveground biomass (84%). In these field studies at 30 g ha–1, no antagonism was observed when florpyrauxifen-benzyl was tank-mixed with contact (acifluorfen, bentazon, carfentrazone, propanil, and saflufenacil) or systemic (2,4-D, bispyribac, cyhalofop, fenoxaprop, halosulfuron, imazethapyr, penoxsulam, quinclorac, and triclopyr) rice herbicides. Although not every tank-mix or weed species was evaluated, the lack of antagonistic interactions herein highlights the flexibility and versatility of this new herbicide. Once florpyrauxifen-benzyl becomes commercially available, it will be beneficial to tank-mix this new herbicide with others without sacrificing efficacy, so as to apply multiple sites of action together and thus lessen the risk for evolution of herbicide resistance.