Ranchers, land managers have flexible new tool for fall weed control

Date:09-09-2022

Drought and drought recovery make this fall an especially important time to control many of the toughest broadleaf weeds across the West. New HighNoon™ herbicide from Corteva Agriscience gives ranchers, land managers and county noxious weed specialists the flexible tool they need to help manage those challenges across the diverse Mountain West region.

″Fall treatments offer many advantages,″ said Will Hatler, Range & Pasture field scientist with Corteva Agriscience. ″When late-season moisture germinates new weeds or stimulates regrowth, eliminating those unwanted thirsty plants helps moisture go to growing grass and rangeland recovery, rather than to growing weeds.″

Biennial species that emerge in the fall, such as musk thistle and yellow starthistle, are more easily controlled in the delicate rosette stage of growth. With perennial weeds, such as Canada thistle, knapweeds and rush skeletonweed, fall treatments are more effective — especially after a light frost — because the herbicide rides along as plants move winter food reserves into their roots.

Perennial Canada thistle can sprout from seeds or from its massive root system. This new growth is especially susceptible to fall herbicide applications.	Spotted knapweed threatens grazing land and wildlife habitat across the West. Fall is an excellent time to make serious progress against this invasive weed.

Application Flexibility

Introduced earlier this year, HighNoon herbicide provides a single product that controls more than 140 broadleaf weeds and delivers lasting residual control across a wide range of sites.

″In many states where noxious and invasive weeds pose the primary broadleaf weed threat, there is significant crossover among rangeland, pasture, roadsides and other non-crop use sites,″ Hatler said.

HighNoon gives ranchers, county noxious weed directors and vegetation managers working on grazing land, roadsides, utility substations or rights-of-way a weed control option that simplifies the job.

″Residual control is important for fall applications, especially during drought,″ Hatler said. ″As moisture brings on new weed flushes, HighNoon stays on the job, keeping weeds out of the way well into next spring, which can help speed rangeland recovery.″

HighNoon, part of Corteva’s leading portfolio of crop protection solutions, is available in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Visit HighNoonHerbicide.com to learn more.