By Darren Hefty
The weed spectrum in wheat really varies depending on what area of the country you are farming in. Here’s a list of the most popular weeds we are asked to help control in wheat along with our best recommendations. If you are fighting a weed not on this list, check out the free Ag PhD Field Guide app on your smartphone or tablet as we have an extensive list of weeds and control options available there.
Canada Thistle – WideMatch is a dominant product when it comes to Canada thistle control. The Stinger in WideMatch is what’s doing the work. I would suggest tankmixing one of the Edition products rather than 2,4-D. Using Edition instead of 2,4-D will mean less leaf burn, less crop injury, and probably slightly better thistle control. 2,4-D can shut down the plant before the slower-acting Stinger moves through the thistle’s root system.
Field Bindweed (Creeping Jenny) – Your best control options are using Sharpen with Roundup in your burndown or using Banvel the fall before you seed a spring wheat crop. In-crop, both WideMatch and Huskie are labeled for suppression. If you have a serious problem, my suggestion would be to mix 2,4-D with WideMatch and spray it early in the season before the bindweed has a chance to vine out.
Field Pennycress – Pre-Pare and Sharpen pre-emerge are both effective controlling field pennycress. Post-emerge, Huskie is the best choice. Edition Tankmix and Edition Broadspec are both good as well and would be preferred tankmix partners for the base product of your choice.
Henbit – Sharpen in the burndown with Roundup will do well controlling Henbit. Post-emerge, Huskie is a no-brainer here. Otherwise, the Edition products are good, too.
Kochia – Sharpen is very effective at burndown and early season residual control. In-crop, WideMatch has been the go-to product. If you’re using Huskie, move to the higher end of the labeled use rate.
Lambsquarters – Sharpen once again is very effective. Huskie is the strongest post-emerge control choice.
Pigweed (Redroot/Waterhemp/Palmer) – Sharpen is a must if you have any of the pigweeds in your wheat fields. You must use Sharpen before the wheat is up to avoid crop injury. Post-emerge, Huskie at the full use rate would be my choice.
Prickly Lettuce (China Lettuce) – Sharpen is a great choice for burndown and residual control. Huskie is the best post-emerge option. WideMatch can be effective as well, especially when the prickly lettuce is small.
Russian Thistle – Sharpen is once again the product of choice for burndown and residual control. Post-emerge, Huskie is the strongest product.
Wild Buckwheat – Roundup is not very effective at controlling wild buckwheat. Even 64 ounces is only 80% control at best. Adding Sharpen really helps the Roundup. In-crop, Huskie is by far the best choice. The Buctril in Huskie is carrying the load on wild buckwheat. Stop this weed before it vines out to prevent yield loss and to do the best job at weed control.