Effects on Crop Quality Reductions in grain quality can occur. In addition, dockage contributes to cost of grain storage, transportation and seed cleaning. Green foxtail can cause economic loss when it germinates and emerges at the same time as small grain. If the weed emerges before or at the same time as the crop, green foxtail may be competitive enough to cause yield losses. Green foxtail is rarely a problem in a competitive stand of barley.
Green foxtail has little effect on canola yields.
Additional yield loss information for green foxtail is available in the current Guide to Crop Protection. Because this weed is a poor competitor, it can be controlled by strong crop stands produced by early seeding and good fertilization. Barley and canola both compete well with this weed. Semi-dwarf wheat is more susceptible to foxtail competition than normal height varieties. Early maturing varieties compete by shading out the foxtail or by completing their early growth before competition starts.