All posts by Larry Steckel, Extension Weed Specialist

07 Mar 2023

PRE and POST Options for Prickly Sida (Tea Weed) Control in Soybean

07 Mar 2023
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Prickly sida or tea weed has increasingly become more of an issue in soybeans.   There are two reasons for this.  First, the Group 15 herbicides (Dual Mag, Warrant, Zidua) are the most common PRE-applied herbicides utilized.  Though that group of herbicides provides good residual control of pigweed and grasses, it provides no help on sida.  Second, is that glyphosate nor dicamba has ever been very effective on this weed.  The only POST option that can give some control is Liberty.  However, even Liberty is limited to controlling only very small (<3”) prickly sida. Continue reading →


05 Mar 2023

It is “Burndown Time in Tennessee.”

05 Mar 2023
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Failed glyphosate + dicamba burndown on ryegrass before corn planting in 2022

The combination of some lingering supply chain issues, most notably Sharpen and Verdict are in tight supply, with the ever-increasing presence of herbicide resistant weeds has made burndown time more of a challenge. On a positive note, glyphosate is in great supply and down in price about 40% compared to last year. Continue reading →


16 Nov 2022

Metribuzin Injury in Wheat

16 Nov 2022
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Picture 1. Metribuzin at 3 oz/A burning up wheat on end of field with soil that has higher sand content

We have gotten several reports of wheat showing metribuzin injury this week.  In some cases it clearly was caused by metribuzin (Picture 1). In other cases, the visual injury would suggest frost damage (Picture 2). Continue reading →


04 Oct 2022

New Regulation on Atrazine Public Comment Period Closes October 7.

04 Oct 2022
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed additional mitigations and regulations on the use of atrazine.  The open comment period will close this Friday October 7.   If you are interested in commenting see this link. I know that it is a very busy time of year but please consider making a comment on this topic. You all are the experts since you steward this herbicide, on many acres, each spring and your comments have more value than many that are sent. Continue reading →


03 Oct 2022

Weed Management Report Card 2022

03 Oct 2022
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Picture 1. Palmer amaranth that escaped Warrant PRE fb/Engenia + Roundup + Outlook Post fb/Liberty + Roundup 2nd Post

Every fall we travel around the state and observe the overall success or failure of weed control in our row crops. From the Palmer amaranth standpoint a few too many fields look like a failure.  Particularly, from Gibson county across to Lauderdale county cotton and soybean fields ranged from clean fields to fields with more weeds than one would like (Picture 1) to completely grown up pigweed messes (Picture 2). Continue reading →


22 Aug 2022

Dicamba-Resistant Waterhemp Becoming a Real Issue in Middle Tennessee Counties Bordering Kentucky

22 Aug 2022
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Picture 1. Montgomery County 2020: Waterhemp that escaped multiple applications of Engenia + Glyphosate

For the past several weeks we are getting reports of waterhemp escaping dicamba application/s from retailers and consultants scouting fields in Montgomery and Macon counties.  As one retailer so aptly described it today “combines have spread it and we are fighting it all over the county now”. Continue reading →


01 Aug 2022

New Data on Controlling XtendFlex Volunteer Soybean in XtendFlex Cotton

01 Aug 2022
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Volunteer XtendFlex Soybean in XtendFlex Cotton: 2022 Lauderdale County

What are some options to control volunteer XtendFlex soybeans in XtendFlex cotton fields?  As mentioned in an earlier blog both Envoke and Staple look to be potential answers to this new issue but without data it was difficult to say.  It was brought to my attention that Dr. Alan York, emeritus Professor at North Carolina State University, actually has some data on this problem. A study was conducted in North Carolina and Georgia in 2000 and 2001 with the objective of examining if Envoke, Staple or MSMA could control Roundup Ready volunteer soybean in Roundup Ready cotton. Continue reading →


23 Jul 2022

Weed Management Strategies Following Early Corn Harvest that will be Planted to Wheat

23 Jul 2022
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Burned up corn July 2022

The long hot and mostly dry June and July have driven a good bit of our corn crop to premature maturity.  Similar to the drought of 2012 when the corn crop burned up, I would expect a good bit of the prematurely matured corn will be harvested in August and early September.  In 2012 a good bit of that early harvested corn was planted to wheat well before the fly free date. I expect many will manage this disappointing corn crop similarly this fall. Continue reading →