Herbicide drift from preharvest treatments can cause major problems this time of year. The following is a list of herbicides labeled for preharvest treatments in small grains and precautions on their use. There are no herbicides labeled as a harvest aid for use on oats. DO NOT use them. They are illegal.
Labels vary in crop use.
Follow the label. Not all 2,4-D formulations are labeled for preharvest applications. Some 2,4-D labels only allow use on wheat, others allow use on wheat and barley and others allow use on wheat, barley and rye. Choose a brand that is labeled for use on the intended small grain crop. An ester formulation will give better control and quicker burndown than an amine formulation.