Are you seeing early season weeds? Here are some management tips

Some farmers are taking advantage of warmer temperatures right now, and while mild weather can help jump-start the season, it also gives weeds a head start.

“Southern Illinois University in Carbondale did some research showing that in a bare dirt situation, waterhemp will emerge faster than if there are winter annual weeds or a cover crop. So, the people that have their ground prepped to plant or do have it planted, they’ll see waterhemp come up in those fields first because the soil will warm up a little faster, more sunlight to warm it up faster, etc. So, if you are planting early and have a clean seedbed, the risk of earlier germination is certainly there,” said Matt Geiger, an agronomic service representative with Syngenta.

Geiger says it is important to go back to the basics when managing weeds in early spring and to get an herbicide on the crop pre-emergence.

Related Stories
Market analyst Kevin Huddleston said news of trade deals could rebound cotton prices in late fall, and producers need to be ready to strike deals.
Texas A&M 4-H Director Montza Williams joins for an update on the expected timeline for the program’s new facility and all the associated benefits.
Shaun Haney, host of RealAg Radio, joined us to break down the latest data on Canadian farmland values and share insights on how it impacts producers.
Key signs of the U.S. beef herd’s recovery are improved pasture conditions, lower feed costs, and increased regulatory alignment and support for producers to implement targeted grazing practices.
Dr. Mark Svoboda with the National Drought Mitigation Center discusses a new global drought report and resources to help operations increase drought resilience.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Wed, 11/19/25 – 7:30 PM ET | 6:30 PM CT | 5:30 PM MT | 4:30 PM PT
As we continue our Countdown to Convention sponsored by Culver’s, we see how FFA helps students and alums like Kat Walker build skills for life through ag education.
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economist Bernt Nelson provides an updated outlook on the current U.S. cattle market.
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer discusses the status of USDA disaster aid, including delays to Stage 2 of the SDRP program, and what farmers should watch for as lawmakers negotiate an end to the government shutdown.
Taryn Fischels, Product Marketing Manager for Precision Upgrades at John Deere, joins us to share a sneak peek of her chat with FarmHER’s Kirbe Schnoor on the Dirt Diaries podcast.
Sen. Roger Marshall explains which types of beef are imported into the United States, how there’s room for new imports, and logical reasons for current high prices.