We do not want your soybean plot to look like this!

Almost every day, we are contacted and asked to recommend a herbicide or fertilizer.   What everyone has to remember is that different areas of the country have different challenges and different products available.   A relationship with your local farm store, ag chemical company, or local farmer can be the most valuable tool you have as a food plotter.   Advise, instructions, or direction from these people can help well beyond anything we share from our experience here at RWWP.

In some areas, weeds such as marestail and waterhemp are becoming more and more resistant to glyphosate in certain areas.  If you are experiencing glyphosate resistant weeds there are two simple things you can do to dramatically help your weed pressure. (Disclaimer: We strongly suggest talking with your local ag chem rep)

1. Before you do any tillage, burn down the plot with a herbicide other than glyphosate, such as Liberty (glufosinate). Others can commonly be found over the counter at a farm supply store.
2. The day you plant your soybeans spray the plot with a herbicide that will prevent weeds from coming up. These are commonly referred to as residual herbicides or pre-emergent herbicides because they reside in the soil for an extended period of time and fight weeds before they even emerge. These can also be found over the counter at a farm supply store. You might see active ingredients Metolachlor or Fomasafen which are labeled for use in soybeans. Use a pre-emergent herbicide! Common pre-emergent herbicides include Authority XL, Foma 1.88, Prefix, and Zidua which will fight weeds for weeks after they have been sprayed.

By taking these two simple steps you will only need to spray your Generation 2 Soybean plot one time with a glyphosate application, ensuring a food plot with much less weeds and more soybeans.

In other areas of the country, you may have great results with just a single application of glyphosate after your beans have come up.   If your area can achieve the results you are looking for by only using a post application of glyphosate, it should be done as your beans reach 8″ to 10″ tall.   Escapes before canopy can be handled with a second application of glyphosate if needed.   If you are unsure of what your area requires, ask your local ag chemical rep or farmer what they do.

Regardless, one thing we have learned in any location is that there is no substitute for starting with a clean seed bed!

We always suggest building a relationship with your local ag chemical supply or farmer who can provide answers to many questions regarding fertilizers and herbicides for best practices on better weed management.    While we want to help, the variations of weeds, conditions, and available chemicals change throughout the country.