Herbicides for damaged brome hayfields

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Fall 2021 was a hard year for brome growers. In most of the late-harvested (mid-to-late July) fields, when plants started to regrow, the armyworms were everywhere in eastern Kansas. Some of these fields were sprayed with insecticide two or three times, while the brome was using its reserves to grow new leaves and the worms were voraciously eating. As a result, some of these fields are dead and needing to be replanted. However some of them are significantly damaged and growers will need to decide on the best course of action.

For the dead fields, growers could seed brome in the spring, but weed pressure will be high. Controlling emerged weeds will be critical for successful establishment of a new stand. Light tillage or a non-selective herbicide can be used to control any emerged winter annual weeds. It is also likely that thin stands allowed greater than usual weed seed production during the summer of 2021. It will be important to control these weeds in newly established bromegrass.  Herbicide options are limited in seedling bromegrass (Table 1). Mowing is a non-chemical option that could be considered to reduce weed competition and prevent weed seed production during establishment.

On the other hand, in some of the damaged fields, growers could wait to see if the brome will come back. In this case, controlling weeds during the spring and summer will be a need. Herbicides commonly used in established bromegrass are listed in Table 1. Care should be taken to observe plant-back intervals that may interfere with establishment if fall-seeding of bromegrass is needed. 

 

Table 1. Herbicides labeled for use in smooth bromegrass. Consult label for appropriate rate and adjuvant selection.

Herbicide

Weeds controlled

Used in establishment

Plant-back interval

Suppression expected

2,4-D

Broadleaf

After 6 leaf stage

30 days

 

Chaparral

Broadleaf

No

1 year

Yes

Cimarron Max

Broadleaf

No

2 months

 

Cimarron Plus

Broadleaf

No

2 months

 

Clarity

Broadleaf

No

45 days per 16 fl oz/A

May be injured with > 16 fl oz/A

Crossbow

Broadleaf

No

3 weeks

 

DuraCor

Broadleaf

No

45 days

Yes

Facet

Annual grass/broadleaf

No

10 months

 

Grazon P+D

Broadleaf

No

60 days

Yes

GrazonNext HL

Broadleaf

No

Grasses may be reseeded in the fall following an application in spring or early summer

Yes

Milestone

Broadleaf

No

1 year

Yes

PastureGard HL

Broadleaf

After tillering

3 weeks

 

Plateau

Grass and broadleaf

No

26-36 months

Yes

Range Star

Broadleaf

> 6 leaves

3 weeks per quart

 

Rave

Broadleaf

60 days after emergence

4 months

 

Remedy Ultra

Broadleaf

No

3 weeks

 

Tordon 22K

Broadleaf

After tillering

Grasses may be reseeded in the fall following an application in spring or early summer

Yes

Yukon

Broadleaf

No

2 months

 

 

The use of trade names is for clarity to readers and does not imply endorsement of a particular product, nor does exclusion imply non-approval. Always consult the herbicide label for the most current use requirements.

 

 

Sarah Lancaster, Weed Management Specialist
slancaster@ksu.edu

Walt Fick, Range Management Specialist
whfick@ksu.edu

Bruno Pedreira, Agronomist, Southeast Research and Extension Center
pedreira@ksu.edu


Tags:  herbicide hayfields brome 

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