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Preseed

No matter what your annual weed problem, an annual weed burn-off with Roundup WeatherMAX™ * offers many innovative solutions to your worst annual weed problems:

Opportunities To Use Roundup WeatherMAX For Annual Weed Control In The Spring

• apply before seeding to control big winter annuals like narrow-leaved hawk's beard, flixweed and stinkweed - that are too tough for tillage or high disturbance seeding to control
• control annual weed transplants that get moved around - but not killed - by tillage
• control micro-annuals that your sweeps miss - the ones that pop up ahead of your crop
• allows you to control annual weeds with a preseed burn-off and then to seed shallow, into a moist, firm seedbed for fast germination and emergence
• spray and seed the same day with Roundup WeatherMAX
• conserves moisture by eliminating tillage operations
• gets the crop off to a fast, clean start, providing a better net return
• on fall-tilled fields, controls germinating annuals that emerge in the spring prior to seeding or just after seeding.

Transplants

A Cleaner Seedbed
Controlling annual weeds before planting is crucial for high yield in any crop. Using Roundup WeatherMAX. in a preseed burn-off is often a better option than tillage. You'll control big winter annuals like Canada fleabane, prickly lettuce, chickweed and stinkweed that are too tough to control effectively with tillage.

Problem
During tillage or seeding operations, annual weeds can "stick-handle" around sweeps and high disturbance ground openers. These transplanted weeds, because they are farther advanced than the emerging crop, provide serious competition and yield loss.

Usually, transplanted weeds occur because of wet soil conditions that allow the weed to maintain a root system. Or, because tiny, micro-annuals escape the tillage action and continue to grow.

Solution
Eliminate the problem of transplanted annual weeds with Roundup WeatherMAX - the non-selective herbicide that offers the best, most consistent control. Roundup WeatherMAX controls annual weeds by translocating throughout the plant and into the root for cleaner fields and higher yields.

1. Apply 0.33 litre per acre of Roundup WeatherMAX.
2. Spray and seed the same day with Roundup WeatherMAX. If you are using Roundup Ultra and Roundup Dry, wait at least 1 day (24 hours) to till or seed.
3. If quackgrass or dandelions are present, apply Roundup WeatherMAX at least 72 hours prior to the last tillage pass or seeding.
4. A post-seeding Roundup WeatherMAX application prior to crop emergence is also a good option on soils that are too wet for good weed control with tillage. Or if tillage is used to dry out the soil but weed control is not adequate, again, Roundup WeatherMAX post-seeding is a good option for annual weed control.

Roundup WeatherMAX can be used to control annual weeds any time in the spring prior to seeding or after seeding any time up to crop emergence.

Dry Seedbed

Problem
Tillage prior to seeding can often dry out the soil and lead to poor germination of shallow-seeded crops. And when it's dry, even a few annual weeds are too many. When moisture is scarce, it's critical to control moisture-robbing annual weeds as soon as possible after they emerge.

Research has shown that every tillage operation causes the loss of 1/2 inch of moisture. That lost moisture can cost you two bushels per acre of wheat in semi-arid areas of the prairies. That's a loss of $8 per acre in lost yield with wheat at $4.00 per bushel.

Solution
Using Roundup WeatherMAX instead of tillage conserves soil moisture and replaces most tillage operations:

• REPLACE THE LAST TILLAGE OPERATION - For example, when you grow canola or barley, there is often one early tillage pass to prepare the seedbed. The field may be left for 2 to 3 weeks before a final tillage pass is conducted to control newly-emerged annual weeds. By replacing that last tillage pass with Roundup WeatherMAX, you'll control annuals more effectively plus save and retain valuable surface moisture, all resulting in higher yields.
• REPLACE THE FIRST TILLAGE OPERATION - Tilling to control early germinating annual weeds often dries out the soil and can lead to poor germination of shallow seeded crops. By using Roundup WeatherMAX to control the first flush of weeds, valuable soil moisture is conserved to promote good germination and emergence, and higher yields - especially when soil moisture is limited.
• REPLACE FALL TILLAGE - in areas where soil moisture is limited, eliminating fall tillage is a good step in saving soil moisture. Standing stubble can trap more snow and improves the micro-climate to conserve even more moisture. Roundup WeatherMAX can be applied in either the fall - to control winter annuals - or in the early spring to control winter and early germinating annuals.

1. Eliminate one or all tillage operations with a Roundup WeatherMAX application.
2. Spray and seed the same day with Roundup WeatherMAX. If you are using Roundup Ultra and Roundup Dry, wait at least 1 day (24 hours) to till or seed.
3. If quackgrass or dandelions are present, apply Roundup WeatherMAX at least 72 hours prior to the last tillage pass or seeding.

Cost of Tillage

Problem
Tillage costs an average of $5 to $8 per acre * - every time you till the soil. Tillage also stimulates weed germination and can actually make annual weed problems worse. As tillage operations add up, so does the cost in economic terms - and in lost moisture.

Solution
An application of Roundup WeatherMAX for annual weed control is often more cost-effective than tillage. While the cost of Roundup WeatherMAX is similar to one pass of a cultivator, the benefits of Roundup WeatherMAX far outreach that of tillage. By avoiding soil disturbance, weed germination is minimized and one application of Roundup WeatherMAX is the only annual weed control method that is usually required prior to seeding - compared to multiple passes that are common in many tillage systems.

No matter how or when you till, Roundup WeatherMAX for preseed annual weed control can earn you more money.

1. Replace any of the tillage applications normally conducted in the spring with a Roundup WeatherMAX application.
2. Spray and seed the same day with Roundup WeatherMAX. If you are using Roundup Ultra and Roundup Dry, wait at least 1 day (24 hours) to till or seed.
3. If quackgrass or dandelions are present, apply Roundup WeatherMAX at least 72 hours prior to the last tillage pass or seeding.

* 1997 Farm Operations Costs Guide, Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. Tillage costs range from $5 to $8 per acre.

Low Disturbance

Problem
In low-disturbance seeding with narrow openers, early germinating annuals or winter annuals compete strongly with the crop. Left untreated, annual weeds use huge amounts of moisture and nutrients and can rapidly out-grow the emerging crop.

Early in the spring, these weeds are often very small, but upon close examination, the weeds are present and ready to cut into your bottom line.

Solution
Farmers with experience in direct seeding say that getting the crop off to a fast, clean start is essential for a successful direct seeding program, especially when narrow openers like knives and spoons are used. Roundup WeatherMAX easily pays for itself by eliminating annual weeds and helping to conserve moisture and nutrients for the crop.

Research conducted using the original Roundup^® herbicide showed that a preseed application followed by an in-crop herbicide treatment returns almost $35 per acre more than if just an in-crop herbicide is used; and about $20 per acre better return than a 2,4-D burn-off - without the cropping restrictions found with phenoxy herbicides. And given Roundup WeatherMAX's better, more consistent control of annual weeds, you can expect an even better net return.

1. In the spring, apply a minimum of 0.33 litre per acre of Roundup WeatherMAX for a wide range of annual grass and broadleaf weeds and winter annuals.
2. Spray annual weeds and seed the same day with Roundup WeatherMAX. If you are using Roundup Ultra and Roundup Dry, wait at least 1 day (24 hours) to till or seed.
3. For winter annual control; apply Roundup WeatherMAX early in the spring. If you cannot seed within several days of winter annual burn-off, a second application of Roundup WeatherMAX may be necessary prior to seeding to control emerging annual weeds prior to seeding.
4. If winter annuals were controlled in the fall, apply Roundup WeatherMAX as close to seeding as possible to maximize weed germination before spraying.
5. If quackgrass or dandelions are present, apply Roundup WeatherMAX at least 72 hours prior to the last tillage pass or seeding.
6. Spraying can also take place after seeding but before crop emergence.

High Disturbance

Problem
Even though conventional thinking would logically support the notion that direct seeding with sweeps takes care of annual weeds, farmer experience and research shows that annual weeds are a problem even in high disturbance seeding systems:

• if the seedbed is moist - likely under direct seeding conditions - weed transplants can be a problem.
• late seeding allows weeds to get established early in the spring and steal moisture and nutrients from the crop.
• under dry conditions, replacing a tillage operation with a Roundup WeatherMAX burn-off saves moisture for the crop.
• big winter annuals like flixweed and stinkweed are usually too tough for sweeps to control at seeding.
• tiny micro-annuals can be missed by high disturbance openers.
• seed placement is often compromised by the need to work deeper to control annual weeds.

Solution
An application of Roundup WeatherMAX provides a high net return by controlling annual weeds in high disturbance seeding systems. With a preseed burnoff, transplants aren't a problem because Roundup WeatherMAX controls the entire plant - roots and shoots. Roundup WeatherMAX stops them before they have a chance to rob moisture and nutrients from the crop. Winter annuals and micro-annuals are also controlled effectively with Roundup WeatherMAX.

In research conducted with the original Roundup™ herbicide, a preseed burn-off provided a greater return of two to four bushels of wheat per acre. And with the better, more consistent control of Roundup WeatherMAX, you can expect these benefits, and more.

1. In the spring, apply at least 0.33 litre per acre of Roundup WeatherMAX for a wide range of annual grass and broadleaf weeds and winter annuals.
2. Spray and seed the same day with Roundup WeatherMAX. If you are using Roundup Ultra and Roundup Dry, wait at least 1 day (24 hours) to till or seed.
3. Because Roundup WeatherMAX does not provide residual control, apply as close to seeding as possible.
4. If quackgrass or dandelions are present, apply Roundup WeatherMAX at least 72 hours prior to the last tillage pass or seeding.

Winter Annuals

Problem
  Winter annuals, (weeds that germinate in the fall, over winter in a rosette stage and then grow in the spring) must be controlled early since they can often become too large for mechanical control and are voracious users of nutrients and water. Research at the University of Nebraska shows that winter annuals can use three inches of soil moisture in 30 days. This is supported by recent research at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Lethbridge where early control of winter annuals saved between 8 to 11 per cent soil moisture.

Solution
  The earlier you control winter annuals with Roundup WeatherMAX, the more moisture you will save. That translates directly into higher yields and better net returns.

1. Control winter annuals early for the best yield potential - as soon as spraying is possible in the spring. Or control winter annuals in the fall with Roundup WeatherMAX to save even more moisture.
2. Apply at least 0.33 L of Roundup WeatherMAX per acre for control of winter annuals. If you are using Roundup Ultra and Roundup Dry, wait at least 1 day (24 hours) to till or seed.
3. Spray the same day as seeding with Roundup WeatherMAX.

Narrow Leafed Hawksbeard

Problem
As a winter annual, narrow-leaved hawk's beard starts growing early in the spring and often grows to a size that makes it difficult to control with cultivation. In addition, its fibrous tap root allows narrow-leaved hawk's beard to 'stick-handle' through cultivators while it clings to a soil clump.

Solution

1. Assess the size of narrow-leaved hawk's beard in your field and ensure your Roundup application is correct for the weed size that you are treating.
2. For narrow-leaved hawk's beard less than 8 cm (3 inches) in height, apply 0.33 L/acre of Roundup WeatherMAX.
3. Use at least 0.50 L/acre of Roundup WeatherMAX when narrow-leaved hawk's beard is between 8-15 cm (3-6 inches) tall.
4. Spray and seed the same day as applying Roundup WeatherMAX. If you are using Roundup Ultra and Roundup Dry, wait at least 1 day (24 hours) to till or seed

Buckwheat

Problem
Wild buckwheat is an especially difficult weed to control. It germinates quickly in the spring and use available moisture and nutrients. The tiny cotyledons can go unnoticed at seeding until the first true leaf emerges. If wild buckwheat seedlings aren't adequately controlled before seeding, they can quickly over-run a crop and cause yield losses even if they are controlled later with a post-emergent spray.

Solution

1. To save money and improve control of wild buckwheat, use a preseed application of Roundup WeatherMAX.
2. Assess the size of wild buckwheat seedlings in your field and ensure your Roundup application is correct for the weed size that you are treating.
3. For wild buckwheat in the 1-2 leaf stage, apply 0.33L/acre of Roundup WeatherMAX.
4. Use at least 0.50 L/acre of Roundup WeatherMAX when wild buckwheat is in the 3-4 leaf stage.
5. Spray and seed the same day as Roundup WeatherMAX application. If you are using Roundup Ultra and Roundup Dry, wait at least 1 day (24 hours) to till or seed.

Weeds in Canola

Problem
Annual weeds in canola can seriously damage yield, increase dockage and reduce grades.

Annual weeds in canola can be a problem in any canola production system:

• herbicide-tolerant programs - winter annuals and spring germinating annual weeds will be present prior to seeding and waiting to control them with post-emergent application will result in lost yield. Early post-emergent applications may mean later flushes of annual weeds compete with the crop and re-infest the field.
• traditional pre-emergent programs - annual weeds may escape herbicide activity or weeds like stinkweed may not be controlled by the herbicide.

Solution
In any canola production system, a preseed burn-off of annual weeds with Roundup WeatherMAX ensures a clean start to the crop.

In pre-emergent weed control systems, a pre-seed burn-off enhances pre-emergent weed control, especially if both incorporations were conducted in the fall.

In herbicide tolerant programs, a preseed burn-off allows the crop to develop without annual weed competition and the in-crop spray can be timed for the optimum control. If multiple flushes of weeds dictate a second post-emergent application, Genuity™ Roundup Ready^® Canola is the only herbicide-tolerant canola system where a second application is practical and profitable.

In Pre-emergent Weed Control Systems

1. Apply 0.33 litre per acre of Roundup WeatherMAX prior to seeding.
2. If both incorporations were conducted in the fall, apply Roundup WeatherMAX to control winter annuals or early-germinating spring annuals to eliminate extra spring tillage passes.
3. If one incorporation was conducted in the fall, either:
   • Apply Roundup WeatherMAX early to control annuals and delay the second incorporation until the soil has warmed up to activate the herbicide
   • Conduct the second incorporation early in the spring and follow up with Roundup WeatherMAX to control annuals that germinate after tillage but prior to seeding.
4. Spray and seed the same day with Roundup WeatherMAX.
5. If quackgrass, dandelions or other perennial weeds are present, apply 0.67 L/acre or more at least 72 hours prior seeding.
6. A post-seeding Roundup WeatherMAX application prior to crop emergence is also a good option, especially if low disturbance seeding is used.

In Herbicide Tolerant Canola Systems

1. Use Genuity™ Roundup Ready^® Canola. Genuity™ Roundup Ready^® Canola allows a split application of Roundup WeatherMAX (if needed) - one early post-emergent and one later post-emergent to control multiple flushes of weeds and to promote high yield potential.
2. Apply 0.33 litre per acre of Roundup WeatherMAX prior to seeding.
3. Spray and seed the same day with Roundup WeatherMAX. If you are using Roundup Ultra and Roundup Dry, wait at least 1 day (24 hours) to till or seed. (Note only Roundup^® brand herbicides are registered for Genuity™ Roundup Ready^® Canola).
4. If quackgrass, dandelions or other perennial weeds are present, apply 0.67 L/acre or more at least 72 hours prior seeding.
5. Follow up with recommended post-emergent applications of Roundup WeatherMAX. Click here for more information on Roundup Ready solutions.

Weeds in High Value Crops

Problem
Crops like peas, lentils and flax are slow to emerge, become established and compete with weeds. These crops are also highly yield-sensitive to annual weed competition and have few effective in-crop weed control options. If annual weeds aren't adequately controlled before seeding, yield losses can be huge.

Solution
A preseed burn-off with Roundup WeatherMAX controls annual weeds that might be missed by tillage or that are hard to see at seeding. For early-seeded crops where weeds may not be present, a post-seed burn-off with Roundup WeatherMAX (prior to crop emergence) is especially important as the crop is often slow to emerge under the cooler, early spring temperatures.

1. In the spring, apply at least 0.33 litres per acre of Roundup WeatherMAX for a wide range of annual grass and broadleaf weeds and winter annuals.
2. Spray and seed the same day with Roundup WeatherMAX. If you are using Roundup Ultra and Roundup Dry, wait at least 1 day (24 hours) to till or seed.
3. Because Roundup WeatherMAX does not provide residual control, apply as close to seeding as possible.
4. If quackgrass or dandelions are present, apply Roundup WeatherMAX at least 72 hours prior to the last tillage pass or seeding.
5. Spraying can also take place after seeding but before crop emergence and is recommended when few weeds have germinated under early seeding scenarios.