UNL hosts weed management field day

By Scout Nelson

Recently the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s South-Central Agricultural Laboratory near Clay Center was bustling with activity during the 2024 Nebraska Extension Weed Management Field Day.

Organized by Amit Jhala, a professor and extension weed management specialist, along with his dedicated team, the event attracted 135 attendees including growers, crop consultants, and industry experts.

Amit Jhala, together with Jenny Rees, extension educator, postdoctoral scientist Mandeep Singh, doctoral student Vipin Kumar, and master's student Adam Leise, guided the day's tours. The Jhala Lab team presented a variety of projects focusing on weed control in corn and soybeans.

These projects evaluated the effectiveness and safety of new herbicides and integrated weed management techniques, including the use of cover crops.

Highlights of the field day included demonstrations by Kumar and Rees on the interaction between planting techniques and pre-emergence herbicides to combat Palmer amaranth in soybeans, and the use of oat or barley for weed suppression.

Singh introduced his work on controlling volunteer corn in Enlist corn, while Leise shared insights on comparing different herbicide programs aimed at tackling herbicide-resistant weeds in corn.

Jhala discussed several significant topics such as the optimal timing for terminating cereal rye in corn, sequential residual herbicide applications in soybeans, and the effectiveness of using multiple modes of action in herbicide programs to manage resistant weeds.

Supporting the event were Alex Chmielewski, research technologist; Michael Schlick, research farm manager; Sharon Hatchel, office associate; along with summer students and staff from the South-Central Ag Lab.

Connie Hanson, the agronomy and horticulture events coordinator, also played a crucial role in organizing this successful field day.

This gathering not only provided a platform for learning and exchanging ideas but also highlighted the ongoing research and advancements in weed management strategies critical for today's agricultural practices.

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