This is the Sugar Beet Report, bringing you the latest information from NDSU throughout the sugar beet growing season. It's the start of another sugar beet season and weed control is a hot topic. However, this year appears to be different from 2023. For example, planting will begin in mid April as compared to mid May. Our guest today is Tom Peters, NDSU and University of Minnesota Extension Sugar Beet Agronomist. Tom, how do you envision weed management in 2024 versus 2023?

Bruce, your observation is spot on. You're absolutely right. So in 2024, because a lot of our planting was in mid May, we focused on waterhemp. In 2023, I think we're gonna see much more kochia. So some of the kochia will remove by tillage. I'm afraid some of the kochia is going to germinate and emerge after tillage, and that's the kochia that I'm worried about. Our number one kochia control herbicide is ethafumizate or Nortron, and I want our growers to be aware of that.

Is all of kochia glyphosate resistant?

Sometimes our populations are glyphosate resistant. Sometimes they're susceptible. And it's really hard, Bruce, to predict which one you have. I think our growers know best, mostly from their experiences. But one rule of thumb that I use a lot is if your farm is along a railroad track, chances are it's glyphosate resistant kochia. If you're growing along fence lines and you have kochia, I'm thinking more times than not, it's glyphosate sensitive yet.

You know, Tom, I've heard a bit about Spin-Aid for kochia control. Is that viable?

Spin-Aid is a new herbicide, but it's an old herbicide. So the active ingredient in Spin-Aid is Phenmetafam. So years ago, we sold that product, and it was called betenol. We're using Spin-Aid again, and the most important point on Spin-Aid is it needs to be applied over very small weeds. Weeds that are less than a half an inch in side. Further, our Spin-Aid rates are dependent on the size of the kochia, the size of sugar beet, but most importantly, Bruce, the atmospheric conditions at application, especially the temperature. And that will dictate our rate. 2nd, Spin-Aid will need to be a repeat application. And I think in some cases, we might even be making 3 applications to adequately control kochia.

What about Roundup, Tom? Are there ways growers can optimize Roundup performance against kochia?

Yeah. I thinking for some growers, Roundup is still a very viable option for controlling kochia. But my recommendation is to use a taloamine adjuvant in combination with 1 of the glyphosate products. So use a tallowamine adjuvant at either 1 quart or 2 quarts per 100 gallons of water, depending on what glyphosate formulation you use.

Thanks, Tom. Our guest has been Tom Peters, NDSU and University of Minnesota Extension Sugar Beet Agronomist. This has been the Sugar Beet Report, bringing you the latest information from NDSU throughout the Sugar Beet Growing Season.