The Iowa Learning Farms conservation webinar taking place Aug. 9 at noon will feature Bill Johnson, Ph.D. professor of weed science, Purdue University. Johnson focuses on developing weed management systems that are safe, economically and environmentally sound, integrate cultural practices with judicious herbicide use, improve efficiency of production, and minimize selection pressure for herbicide-resistant weeds. In addition, he promotes grower acceptance of these weed management systems through education efforts targeting growers, crop consultants, input suppliers, industry representatives and extension educators in Indiana and surrounding states.

In the webinar, “How do Cover Crops Impact Residual Herbicides in Corn and Soybean?,” Johnson will discuss the impact of cover crops on soil residual herbicides, and how persistence of the herbicides may affect corn and soybean production on Midwestern farms. He will highlight how cover crops impact deposition of residual herbicides on the soil and the influence of microbial activity on residual herbicide in the soil. Johnson will also discuss integrated weed management approaches which incorporate more weapons such as cover crops, tillage, and harvest weed seed management in the battle against weeds while sustaining the efficiency of currently available herbicide tools.

“Weeds that are resistant to postemergence herbicides used in corn and soybean are the main crop protection problem problem faced by growers on an annual basis,” said Johnson. “The use of residual herbicides is currently the easiest way to improve control of these weeds. High residue cover crops can be an effective way to supplement residual herbicides on a few selected weeds, but more information is needed on both the positive and negative interactions that can occur between cover crops and soil residual herbicides.”

Shortly before noon CDT, click the link below or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/j/364284172