{"id":4067,"date":"2016-10-24T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-10-24T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/firstascentstaging.com\/iwm2019\/scouting-for-weeds\/"},"modified":"2025-04-21T09:55:17","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T13:55:17","slug":"scouting-for-weeds","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/growiwm.org\/scouting-for-weeds\/","title":{"rendered":"Scouting for Weeds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Scouting for Weeds<\/h1>\n\t\t\t
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Timely weed scouting tells you<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>
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  1. What weed species are in a field,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Where they are, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Weed density<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>
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    All of these pieces of information are very important to design a management program that fits the specific needs of that field.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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    Scout early, scout often:<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>
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    Since many weed species become more challenging to manage as they get larger, scouting should start early, and be repeated at several key times throughout the season, in order to catch weeds when they are young. Herbicide applications are rarely effective against mature weeds, increasing management costs.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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    Herbicide-resistant Palmer<\/span><\/a> <\/a><\/span>amaranth<\/span><\/a> <\/span>and waterhemp<\/span><\/a> must\u00a0be sprayed with effective herbicides before they reach 4 inches tall in order to control these weeds successfully.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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    Weed species identification:<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>
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    Accurate weed ID is important for effective management because herbicide recommendations vary according to species, as do some mechanical, cultural, and biological strategies. Some species can look similar to each other from afar, but may have drastically different management requirements. They should be examined closely before choosing herbicide programs. Weed identification resources are available here<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, or by contacting your state\u2019s extension weed science specialist.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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    Scouting procedure: <\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>
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    The goal when scouting is to note the weed populations throughout the whole field. For a 100-acre field, make 5-10 stops across the field. At each stop, walk 10 paces (or 30 feet) and record the following:<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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