We often like to use the easy button on so many things. In some instances, this works for a time, but what can the long-term results be and do we attempt to understand how nature interacts and responds to the practices we do in farming? Controlling weeds is one of those easy buttons that I feel we need to take a deeper look at and understand what the weeds are trying to tell us.

Wild oats (Avena fatua) – they’re fast, sneaky and persistent. If you’re a small-grain producer, you already know this grassy weed can rob you of yield, quality and profits. But here’s the good news: With smart strategies, you can turn the tables.

This month's new products rollout includes products from Envu, Virbac and more.

This month's new product rollout features products from Case IH, Corteva Agriscience and Bobcat Company.

Smaller producers often simply accept as fact that their production costs are going to be higher than their larger counterparts. However, there are ways to become more cost-effective and profitable.

Here is a five-step system for managing hidden costs. While this example focuses on weed control, the system can be applied across many farming and business management areas.

“I’m an optimist, but I have seen fields overrun by kochia, and last year we learned that we have Palmer amaranth and waterhemp,” says Dr. Albert Adjesiwor, University of Idaho Extension weed scientist in Kimberly.

Every day, farmers deal with variables out of their control, from weather to mechanical issues to weed pressure. In recent weeks, a new variable has affected many U.S. growers.

The most effective weed control programs for summer annual weeds in many crops include herbicides that deliver long-lasting, residual weed control.