Normally, this involves spraying Reglone to kill the green tissue and dry out the standing crop. However, any early hard frost will give the same effect. After spraying Reglone, the crop will be ready to combine in 3 to 5 days. A well established, clean seed field needs surprisingly little maintenance to keep it productive to the full life of stand. Weed control and insect pest control programs are carried out on an annual basis.
Spring burning for pest management also controls most diseases.
Generally, growers do not apply an annual application of fertilizer unless their stands show an obvious nutrient deficiency that can be confirmed by soil test and plant tissue analysis. One factor in maintaining yields that is frequently overlooked is the stand density. There is no standard method used for thinning but most frequently cross-cultivating is used. Often it requires more than one thinning operation to achieve the desired results. Growers are advised that thinning in the spring is preferred, as fall thinning can lead to increased winter injury.