As you drive down the interstate and back country roads, you probably notice fields of purple or green scattered throughout the countryside. They are the first signs of vegetative growth in the spring, when temperatures begin to warm. These fields may look like beautiful flower gardens to some, but it can be a weedy nightmare for a farmer. These winter annual weeds are usually more defined in no-till or minimum tillage fields. A winter annual seed germinates in the fall,

It’s the first week of April and all fieldwork is at a standstill in a large portion of the Corn Belt. As the rain continues to fall, most farmers are confined to the office or shop with concerns about when they will get their crop planted. At this time, tiles are running full and most farms are at field capacity. There are added concerns of N, P, and K applications that have yet to be applied. It is important to not jump the gun and get in a hurry to plant if the soil co