The trailing nature of the plant prevents proper crop development. The clinging bristles make crop handling and harvesting difficult. Because there is so much green material at harvest, straight combining becomes difficult, if not impossible. The seeds are similar in size and shape to canola, making them a serious contaminant of canola and rapeseed, resulting in the downgrading of these crops. The weed competes for light and nutrients.
Heavy infestations can cause yield losses.
Control Tips Use certified seed that is free of cleavers. All grades of pedigreed seed must be free from cleavers seed. Clean tillage and harvesting equipment before changing fields. Winter annual cleavers should be controlled in the fall after germination with tillage or a herbicide. Herbicide options are available in cereal crops, field peas, and herbicide tolerant canola varieties.