Herbicide-resistant crops, such as glyphosate-resistant (GR) soybean, allow for broad-spectrum, flexible weed control with minimal crop injury; however, the development of GR weeds, such as horseweed, has forced reliance on alternative herbicides for control of these weeds. While preplant (PP) herbicides provide excellent control of GR-horseweed, there are currently no POST herbicide control options within soybean. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of dicamba for the control of GR-horseweed when applied PP, POST, and sequentially in dicamba-resistant soybean. Dicamba applied PP at 600 g a.e. ha−1provided 90 to 100% control of GR-horseweed 8 wk after application (WAA) across three field trials conducted in Ontario in 2011 and 2012. Similarly, sequential applications provided 91 to 100% control. This technology provides a much-needed POST option of dicamba to be applied as a rescue treatment to control weed escapes caused by late emergence or poor initial control following a PP herbicide application.

Six field trials were conducted over a two-year period (2014, 2015) to determine the level and consistency of glyphosate-resistant (GR) Canada fleabane control with glyphosate plus saflufenacil plus a third tankmix partner. GR Canada fleabane interference reduced soybean yield 73% compared with the weed free control. At 4 and 8 weeks after application (WAA), glyphosate plus saflufenacil provided 99% and 88% control of GR Canada fleabane respectively, and at 8 WAA, reduced GR Canada fleabane density by 96% and biomass by 89%. Glyphosate plus saflufenacil plus dicamba improved the control of GR Canada fleabane to 100% and 97% at 4 and 8 WAA, respectively. At 8 WAA, glyphosate plus saflufenacil plus amitrole reduced GR Canada fleabane density and biomass 99% and 97%, respectively. At 8 WAA, glyphosate plus saflufenacil plus dicamba at 300 or 600 g a.i. ha −1 reduced GR Canada fleabane biomass 97% and 98%, respectively. Tank-mixing dicamba with glyphosate plus saflufenacil applied pre-plant improved control of GR Canada fleabane; however, this caused 14% and 46% crop injury at 2 and 4 WAA, respectively. Soybean yield for saflufenacil alone and saflufenacil tankmix treatments were similar to the weed free control, with the exception of dicamba (600 g a.i. ha −1).

Tolpyralate is a new 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibiting herbicide for POST weed management in corn; however, there is limited information regarding its efficacy. Six field studies were conducted in Ontario, Canada, over 3 yr (2015 to 2017) to determine the biologically effective dose of tolpyralate for the control of eight annual weed species. Tolpyralate was applied POST at six doses from 3.75 to 120 g ai ha−1and tank mixed at a 1:33.3 ratio with atrazine at six doses from 125 to 4,000 g ha−1. Regression analysis was performed to determine the effective dose (ED) of tolpyralate, and tolpyralate+atrazine, required to achieve 50%, 80%, or 90% control of eight weed species at 1, 2, 4, and 8 wk after application (WAA). The ED of tolpyralate for 90% control (ED90) of velvetleaf, common lambsquarters, common ragweed, redroot pigweed or Powell amaranth, and green foxtail at 8 WAA was ≤15.5 g ha−1; however, tolpyralate alone did not provide 90% control of wild mustard, barnyardgrass, or ladysthumb at 8 WAA at any dose evaluated in this study. In contrast, the ED90for all species in this study with tolpyralate+atrazine was ≤13.1+436 g ha−1, indicating that tolpyralate+atrazine can be highly efficacious at low field doses.

Waterhemp is one of the most troublesome weeds in the US and is spreading into Ontario. In 2014, a waterhemp population was not controlled with glyphosate in a field in Lambton County, ON. This population was the first confirmed glyphosate-resistant (GR) waterhemp in Canada. In 2015, waterhemp seeds were collected from 48 fields in Lambton (32), Chatham-Kent (2), and Essex (14) counties to determine the occurrence and distribution of GR waterhemp in Ontario. Waterhemp plants were grown in a greenhouse and sprayed when 10 cm in height. In addition to glyphosate (a group 9 herbicide), collected populations were screened for resistance to imazethapyr and atrazine, representing herbicide groups 2 and 5, respectively. Visual control estimates for biomass reduction were completed at 1, 3, and 5 wk after application. Glyphosate-resistant waterhemp was confirmed in 40 fields, representing 82% of all sampled fields from the three Ontario counties. Of the 49 populations collected, all were resistant to imazethapyr (group 2) and 76% were resistant to atrazine (group 5). Of all the populations tested, 61% of all samples were found to be resistant to all three herbicide groups. This study is the first to confirm GR waterhemp in Ontario.

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) giant ragweed has been confirmed in Ontario, Canada. Giant ragweed is an extremely competitive weed and lack of control in soybean will lead to significant yield losses. Seed companies have developed new herbicide-resistant (HR) crop cultivars and hybrids that stack multiple HR traits. The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of glyphosate and glyphosate plus dicamba tank mixes for the control of GR giant ragweed under Ontario environmental conditions in dicamba-tolerant (DT) soybean. Three field trials were established over a 2-yr period (2010 and 2011) on farms near Windsor and Belle River, ON. Treatments included glyphosate (900 g ae ha−1), dicamba (300 g ae ha−1), and dicamba (600 g ha−1) applied preplant (PP), POST, or sequentially in various combinations. Glyphosate applied PP, POST, or sequentially provided 22 to 68%, 40 to 47%, and 59 to 95% control of GR giant ragweed and reduced shoot dry weight 26 to 80%, 16 to 50%, and 72 to 98%, respectively. Glyphosate plus dicamba applied PP followed by glyphosate plus dicamba applied POST consistently provided 100% control of GR giant ragweed. DT soybean yield correlated with GR giant ragweed control. This is the first report in Canada of weed control in DT soybean, specifically for the control of GR giant ragweed. Results indicate that the use of dicamba in DT soybean will provide an effective option for the control of GR giant ragweed in Ontario.

Tolpyralate is a new Group 27 pyrazolone herbicide that inhibits the 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate dioxygenase enzyme. In a study of the biologically effective dose of tolpyralate from 2015 to 2017 in Ontario, Canada, tolpyralate exhibited efficacy on a broader range of species when co-applied with atrazine; however, there is limited published information on the efficacy of tolpyralate and tolpyralate+atrazine relative to mesotrione and topramezone, applied POST with atrazine at label rates, for control of annual grass and broadleaf weeds. In this study, tolpyralate applied alone at 30 g ai ha−1 provided >90% control of common lambsquarters, velvetleaf, common ragweed, Powell amaranth/redroot pigweed, and green foxtail at 8 weeks after application (WAA). Addition of atrazine was required to achieve >90% control of wild mustard, ladysthumb, and barnyardgrass at 8 WAA. Tolpyralate+atrazine (30+1,000 g ai ha−1) and topramezone+atrazine (12.5+500 g ai ha−1) provided similar control at 8 WAA of the eight weed species in this study; however, tolpyralate+atrazine provided >90% control of green foxtail by 1 WAA. Tolpyralate+atrazine provided 18, 68, and 67 percentage points better control of common ragweed, green foxtail, and barnyardgrass, respectively, than mesotrione+atrazine (100+280 g ai ha−1) at 8 WAA. Overall, tolpyralate+atrazine applied POST provided equivalent or improved control of annual grass and broadleaf weeds compared with mesotrione+atrazine and topramezone+atrazine.

Seeding date and the duration of weed emergence influenced the duration of the critical weed-free period in carrot. The critical weed-free period extended up to 930 growing degree days (GDD), when carrot was seeded in late April. In contrast, the critical weed-free period was short and lasted 414 to 444 GDD, when seeded in mid to late May and weed biomass was less than 650 g m−2. It is important for growers to scout fields for weeds until 930 GDD to protect the yield potential of the carrot crop in earlier planted crops; however, for carrot planted in mid to late May, weeds emerging after 444 GDD did not reduce yield. A useful strategy to reduce reliance on herbicide application would be to delay planting until late in May.

Trials were established in 2003, 2004, and 2005 in Ontario to determine the effects of residues of mesotrione, atrazine, and mesotrione plus atrazine 1 and 2 yr after application on broccoli, carrot, cucumber, onion, and potato. One yr after mesotrione application, injury was 43, 37, 18, 24, and 0% in broccoli, carrot, cucumber, onion, and potato, respectively. The addition of atrazine to mesotrione in the year before planting increased injury to 55, 53, 30, 42, and 3% in broccoli, carrot, cucumber, onion, and potato, respectively. Plant dry weight and yield were also decreased by mesotrione residues the year after application in all crops except potato. The addition of atrazine to mesotrione accentuated the reduction in dry weight and yield in broccoli, carrot, cucumber, and onion. There was no injury, or reductions in dry weight or yield in any crop planted 2 yr after application of mesotrione alone or in tank mix with atrazine. A recropping interval of 2 yr is recommended following applications of mesotrione or mesotrione plus atrazine for broccoli, carrot, cucumber, and onion. Potato can be safely planted the year following application of mesotrione plus atrazine.