The 4Rs — right product, right rate, right time and right place — have taken root in nutrient management. But when it comes to managing wild oats, growers should add another R for “rotation” and think about the 5Rs.

Here are 5Rs for your wild oat program.

First — the right product 

Look at whether you’re dealing with a light or heavy wild oat infestation and then pick a product that’s suited to the task. Consider using a fully serviced product, which gives you technical support and backing for added insurance.

Second — the right rate

Always use the rate that’s listed on the label, even if it means spending a few extra dollars. Stretching or skimping on rates may appear to work at first, but in the background, those wild oats could be developing resistance and multiplying.

Third — the right time 

Wild oats can quickly reduce the amount of nitrogen available to your crop. Getting rid of them early reduces inter-crop competition, allowing your crop to intercept sunlight and use more nutrients.

Remember: when it comes to application timing, weather matters too. Check out “3 weather watchouts at graminicide timing” for more tips.

Fourth — the right place 

Wild oats’ vertical leaves can make them a really difficult target for herbicide applications. Make sure you’re getting even coverage by using proper water volumes and slowing down your sprayer travel speeds.

Fifth — rotation. 

It’s important to consider herbicide resistance when managing wild oats. Understand what herbicide modes of action you are using to control grasses in your crops. By rotating modes of action from year-to-year and crop-to-crop within the rotation, growers can reduce the incidence of herbicide-resistant wild oats. 

Ask your Syngenta retailer how grass weed herbicides like Axial^®, Axial Xtreme and Traxos^® fit into your wild oats management rotation.