AG Outlook 10-16-2020

As you make plans for next year it’s a great time to consider which weeds have escaped herbicide control in 2020. Michigan State’s Plant Diagnostics offers bioassay screening of weed species for herbicide resistance annually in the fall. It can confirm resistance while ruling out many other factors leading to weed escapes. You probably qualify for the free screening if you are a soybean or vegetable grower. For non-soybean or non-vegetable growers the cost is $90 per sample. Most weed seeds from summer are maturing now. Extension has a fact sheet entitled ‘Tips for Collecting Weed Seeds’ that will help you gather mature seed in sufficient quantity and package them for analysis. MSC would like samples submitted no later than November 20th to ensure testing over the winter months. It’s another good reason to check with your local Extension.