Mustard in Alfalfa

MUSTARD, MUSTARD, MUSTARD. Yes, their back. London rocket mustard has germinated and growing quite tall. This year with the fall moisture it is growing quit well. It is everywhere, Alfalfa fields, lawns and open lots. Don’t let this weed get to big before you spray. Some is already too tall to get good control. It will stop growing as the weather is cold but as soon as it warms up like our Indian spring do usually in December. You need to be spraying in as soon as possible and no later than January to mid-February. Pursuit and Raptor are still the best-known products on the market for this weed in alfalfa. However Raptor is option the grower may consider if they have grassy annual weeds. Raptor has shown activity on winter annual grasses as well and the cost is close to Pursuit. Mowing, grazing does not control this weed. It may put it off for a while but if you want that premium for clean hay you will have to spray. Homeowners can use almost any broad leaf weed control product for lawns. The most common are those with the active ingredient of 2,4,D. This product can be used safely when the temperatures are less then 90 degrees F.. Once temperatures get higher volatilization occurs and it could damage trees and other desirable vegetation. A pre-emergent herbicide could also be tank mixed with 2,4,D to prevent infestation by un-germinated seeds. If you had this weed in past years, you will most likely have it again this year if you do not take measure to control it early. The key to successful control is early treatment while the weeds are small. If you read my newspaper article in October you may have already sprayed, but be vigilant for late germination seed too. This is a winter annual weed, it germinated way back in late September and through October. One of the popular myths about London Rocket is that it was brought in by a government agency to control erosion after a fire. This is not true. This is one of those weeds that is every ware and may lay dormant as seed in the soil for long periods of time until fall moisture occurs. Subscribe to Eddy County Ag news at: http://nmsueddyag.blogspot.com/ Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating.