THOSE WILY WEEDS | SCOUTING 101 – USE THE FUTURE TO IMPROVE NOW
Weeds are often present in patches rather than uniformly distributed across a field
Scouting 101 – Use the Future to Improve Now If I had a dream…
Tammy Jones B.Sc., P.Ag Tammy Jones completed her B.Sc. in crop protection at the University of Manitoba. She has more than 15 years of experience in the crops industry in Manitoba and Alberta, with a focus on agronomy. Tammy lives near Carman, Man., and spends her time scouting for weeds and working with cattle at the family farm in Napinka.
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Future weed control consists of armies of drones being deployed to control specific weeds at specific growth stages optimizing herbicide efficacy, while heavily infested areas of weeds are controlled by patch management using inter-row tillage with advanced guidance systems and lasers or flamethrower systems to precisely target and burn weeds to a crisp. In this scenario, prescriptions would need to be built, just as we do with variable rate applications of fertilizer. Precisely defined areas would ensure weeds are sufficiently controlled while avoiding excess use of the drones (battery life) and maximizing the economic advantage. To implement this effective and efficient weed control, the most important tool is a “back to the basics” of accurate field scouting. Regardless of technology, one of the easiest ways to enhance weed control now is that same tool. Patches of weeds exist in the field, either due to the nature of the weed and its seed dispersal; for example, wild oat seeds shed prior to harvest and tend to form heavy patches and many perennials proliferate in patches because of spreading root systems. Or, because of the adaptation of the weed to certain areas of the field—green foxtail prefers good drainage and heat—as an example. Other weeds are not as patchy, typically volunteers from the year before and can be found scattered across the field. In a document about “Site-Specific Management” of weeds, Sharon Clay of South Dakota State University and Gregg Johnson at the University of Minnesota have noted that current scouting is casual, with very little detail on weed densities or distributions mainly due to time constraints. They ask two questions that impact on the implementation of precision tools for future of weed control: Do weeds vary enough in the field to require different management techniques for different areas? and, can we use technology to improve weed management and profitability?
