Properly preparing seedbeds can be the difference between strong and weak stands, which ultimately impacts sugar yield. Uncontrolled weeds can reduce sugarbeet yield by more than 90 percent. If a weed emerges and matures, it can contribute many seeds back into the soil seed bank.

Depending on the weed species, seeds may be viable for many years:

• Kochia is capable of producing 14,000 seeds per plant, although the seeds have a relatively short life in soil
• Wild oat is capable of producing 60 to 200 seeds per plant which may remain viable for up to six years
• Green foxtail is capable of producing 5,000 to 12,000 seeds per plant with some plants producing up to 34,000 seeds (depending on plant size)

In terms of herbicide resistance, the seeds that fall into the soil are the seeds capable of building a resistant population. To minimize the evolution of herbicide resistance, manage weed escapes and deplete next year’s weed seed bank by:

• Starting with a clean field
• Recognizing the lack of control early
• Scouting early and often
• Cleaning equipment
• Varying weed control practices, including tillage
• Not allowing weeds to reproduce by seed or proliferate vegetatively
• Applying a preplant herbicide

Reduce the number of weeds in sugarbeet fields by applying an effective preplant herbicide like Touchdown® CT2 or Gramoxone® SL 2.0. Touchdown CT2 provides an alternative to tillage and delivers down-to-the-roots, systemic control of a broad spectrum of emerged annual and perennial grass and broadleaf weeds. Gramoxone SL 2.0 herbicide delivers outstanding broad-spectrum contact control of the most difficult to control weeds in sugarbeet fields. Ensuring clean fields before planting begins can help provide a successful start to the season and ultimately help you grow more sugar.

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©2016 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions.  Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties.  Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration status. Gramoxone SL 2.0 is a Restricted Use Pesticide. Gramoxone^®, Touchdown^® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.