Buehler - 7/25/2016 11:05
MJD02 - 7/25/2016 09:20
It works pretty well. With prices the way that they are, its one of the better cash crops. Its 17/cwt at the moment, which is down about $10 from a few years ago. The local elevator ships it to Texas or something as bird seed instead of selling it to an oilseed crusher.
It has many of the same problems as sunflowers. Broadleaf weeds really take off in it, and it actually makes a good nurse crop for alfalfa because of this. It has a tendency to root down and really dry the ground out, but it can make a good crop on a dry year because of this. It would be nice to have a pre emerge option for kochia, but nothing is specifically labelled for it at the time.
Glad it is working out for you.
IIRC I put Authority MTZ out ahead of my cover crop that year. I put it on the fallow and it does as well as anything else. I believe at least the Spartan chemistry is labeled for sunflowers. If I were you I'd run at least a strip and see what happens.
Its too hot to walk beans....
