Early harvest often means less no till acres the following year, and to date this year appears to be no exception, with many fields already turned over by the plow or deep tillage equipment. To maximize fuel consumption, deep tillage should be limited to areas where compaction is a problem. The depth of the compacted layer should be determined before going to the field and soil conditions should be dry. If soil can be packed into a ball, bounced from one hand to the other without breaking, the soil is more prone to smearing and compaction. Research to date does not support the need for deep tillage or intensive conventional tillage such as is occurring this fall.
Fall continues to be an excellent opportunity to get a head start on next season's weed control.
Roundup or Touchdown applied to no-till fields before wheat emergence will provide optimal dandelion control. Fall weed control works best when weeds are actively growing and when conditions are frost-free for at least three days before and after application. This message will be updated again on October 5. Click here for a list of all agriphone numbers. Note that these recommendations are intended for their designated area only.