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A report from the AgTech Centre

Don't forget summer and fall weed control opportunities

Late summer and fall are optimum times to control some of the most problematic weeds on Prairie farms, says a long-time specialist with Alberta Agriculture in a feature story now appearing on the Canada Sprayer Guide (CSG) Web site.

While pre-seeding and in-crop weed control programs are over for 2005, there are still good opportunities ahead to control some of the most prevalent perennial weeds through a pre-harvest herbicide application, says Keith Topinka, Integrated Crop Management Specialist with Alberta Agriculture in Edmonton. And later this fall, a post-harvest treatment can be effective at controlling winter annuals, he adds.

"Producers have to know their weeds, their crop, and the herbicide," says Topinka, "But a pre-harvest herbicide application can be very effective at controlling several perennial weeds."

While glyphosate-based herbicides today produced by a range of manufacturers are one of the most effective tools for pre-harvest weed control, there are some limitations, he notes. "You don't want to use glyphosate, for example, on crops intended for seed because germination can be affected," he says. "It's a matter of checking product registration labels for the details. Malt barley producers should also check their buyer's requirements before preharvest applications."

The pre-harvest weed control feature is one of two new articles appearing on the CSG Website at www.canadasprayerguide.com. As well, Brian Storozynsky, field sprayer technology specialist with Alberta's AgTech Centre in Lethbridge describes how custom-designed equipment is used to evaluate new nozzles and other sprayer technology.

"Our goal was to simulate how high clearance and hybrid sprayers, and the application technology, performs under field conditions," says Storozynsky. "These units operate booms at various heights, travel faster, and kick up dust, so we felt we should be testing under similar conditions." The AgTech research sprayer can be operated effectively at speeds up 13 miles per hour.

The 20-foot-wide, three-point hitch mounted AgTech sprayer operates like a typical high clearance field sprayer, but you won't find anything like it commercially available, says Storozynsky.

Although AgTech Centre engineers and technologists built the sprayer from standard components, the boom is equipped with a five-nozzle turret to accommodate a range of nozzle types and sizes being evaluated. The custom designed console and switches are built around a Raven auto controller system.

The Canada Sprayer Guide Web site is produced by the independent communications company, Meristem Information Resources Ltd. of Calgary. The site's focus is on technology to support a sustainable agriculture industry.

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