Ryegrass continues to persist in too many fields. Often the ryegrass in these fields has escaped both glyphosate and clethodim (Picture 1).  In fields like this we typically will just have to live with ryegrass over the next 4 weeks as it completes maturity and goes to seed.  Some have asked what can they spray?  Liberty is really the last best option applied on a hot day to help speed up the ryegrass maturity process.

Yield loss from intense ryegrass infestations really varies by crop and weather.  Research at Mississippi State in corn several years back suggests that up to 30 to 40 bushels per acre may be lost.  In most cases with soybean, as long as the stand is not affected one would expect little yield loss.  However, in fields planted to soybean where the ryegrass has taken what limited soil moisture there was and hurt stand (Picture 2) then yield loss could be significant.  In may pay to replant those fields after a rain.

Thinking ahead to this fall, in fields where ryegrass pressure is very intense, one should consider using fall applied herbicides to control this troublesome grass.