The most important maintenance practice for a sprayer is cleaning the equipment after spraying. For detailed information on specific items, refer to the Related Publications list at the back of this guide. A good small-grain stand is highly competitive and usually does not require herbicide treatments to control weeds. The foundation of the weed control program should be proper planting of an adapted variety at recommended populations. Winter annuals such as chickweed and henbit are becoming more common in small-grain fields.
Scout fields in late fall or early spring to determine if populations warrant treatment.
Early application while weeds are still small is the key to successful control of weeds in small grains. Apply herbicides only at recommended stages of crop growth, in order to avoid crop injury.