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Articles by Eric Prostko
11 cues to keep your peanut weeds departed
Although weed control is one part of a total peanut production system, it is crucial for success. And because it’s a nightmare to dig and harvest weedy peanut fields, here are some reminders today to help you get the most out of your peanut weed control programs in 2026. Do whatever it takes to start weed-free using a combination of cover crops, deep tillage and herbicides. Plant in twin rows if you have the choice. You will get about a 10% bump in weed control in comparison to single rows.
Controlling ryegrass in corn is scary but doable
If ryegrass continues to get out of hand in the Southeast, growers might have to start following the Mid-South’s lead.Brad Haire I penned this article the day after our 2026 Weed Science Tour in southern Georgia. Twenty-six grower meetings reaching more than 1,170 folks. For an assortment of reasons, not every grower attends local county production meetings. One of the topics that I discussed at these grower meetings was ryegrass control in field corn.
Non-GMO corn doable with right weed control
One of the things that I have been hearing during 2026 travels is that there is renewed interest in growing conventional field corn, or non-GMO. Less expensive seed costs and potentially higher premiums are extremely attractive considering the current economic situation down on the farm.
Do drift reduction agents reduce weed control?
All growers who apply herbicides on row crops have heard something about the new requirements for the implementation of the Endangered Species Act. For now, these requirements will take effect with all new herbicide/insecticide registrations and re-registrations and eventually all agricultural pesticides. In a nutshell, these ESA requirements will formally address pesticide runoff/erosion and off-target movement, or drift.
Which is better, Prowl or Sonalan for peanut weeds?
I have been asked the following question way more than once: “Which herbicide is better for weed control in peanut, Prowl or Sonalan?” I have conducted a plethora of field studies over the years to try and answer this question. Here is what I can tell you after all this time. Prowl was first registered for peanut use in 1981. Sonalan was first registered for peanut use in 1988.
Work new corn hybrids into Southern weed program
According to the most-recent USDA report, farmers in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina will harvest 1.195 million acres of field corn this year, or about 40% more than last year. I am not sure if this acreage trend will continue in 2026, but I am certain that there will always be weeds to worry about in the corn patch. Most cotton and soybean growers are familiar with the Enlist weed control system.
Benghal dayflower threatens crops amid perfect storm
My colleagues and I have been working on the control of Bengal dayflower since the early 2000s. Despite the effective control data that has been generated, Benghal dayflower continues to cause major headaches. This year, Extension county agents have expressed their concern that this might be one of the worst years ever for this weed, especially in counties where Benghal dayflower is a “relatively” newer pest.
Farmers face uphill battle against aggressive Palmer amaranth
If you were to take a drive out to the University of Georgia Ponder Research Farm in south Georgia, you would see more than 2,000 individual weed control research plots. Within those research plots, you would also see that most are void of Palmer amaranth and other weeds. Despite the development of cost-effective programs, Palmer amaranth continues to be troublesome for farmers. So, what is the disconnect between the research farm and the commercial farm? The first disconnect is scale.
AI weed control advice may be incorrect and illegal
So far this production season, I have received at least two inquiries from local consultants regarding the validity of AI-generated weed control recommendations. One was regarding the use of Sonalan (ethalfluralin) in field corn and the other the use of Aatrex (atrazine) in peanut. In both situations, using these herbicides in these specific crops would have resulted in serious crop injury and would have also been illegal, since these are not EPA-registered uses.
Essential tool for weed control in crop production
Put a bunch of weed scientists together in a small room, and it can often be cantankerous. However, one subject that every weed scientist agrees on is the use of residual herbicides. Why? Because almost 100% of the time moisture-activated residual herbicides are applied, apart from where herbicide-resistant weed populations exist, they work. The juice is definitely worth the squeeze. (Figure 1). We can’t all be wrong.
Growing food without pesticides?
I am an avid listener of several podcasts on many topics. I appreciate the diversity of people and topics that podcasters have on their respective shows. The UGA peanut podcast “All About the Pod” is a pretty awesome one. Sometime in the last several months, a few of my favorite podcasters have interviewed speakers addressing the concept of “regenerative agriculture.” Despite more than 42 years of working in production agriculture, I was a bit unsure of what that concept really meant.
Effect of carrier volume and nozzle type on spray deposition within the canopy, disease control and yield in peanut
AIXR Air Induction Extended Range DAP days after planting GPA gallons per acre TTI Turbo TeeJet Induction WSP water-sensitive paper XRC Extended Range 1 INTRODUCTION Peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) is one of the major row crops grown in the southeastern United States, with the state of Georgia being the top producer with an annual contribution of 40% to 55% of the total production in the United States (USDA-NASS, 2024).
2 tweaks to your peanut weed control that will pay off
At a recent county production meeting in southwest Georgia, one of the more colorful peanut farmers who calls me from time to time asked me if I had anything new to talk about. I do. Now, some of the weed science information I have been delivering in 2025 may seem old news, such as starting clean, using multiple residual herbicides, applying postemergence (POST) herbicides in a timely fashion and hand-weeding escapes before seed rain.
Soybean weed control options without dicamba in 2025
Earlier this year, a federal district court vacated the Engenia, Tavium and Xtendimax labels. As it stands right now, growers will not be able to legally use any of these products for soybean weed control in 2025. It is anybody’s guess what will happen with these dicamba registrations in 2025. So, how can soybean growers manage weeds in the absence of dicamba in 2025? Before I go any further, soybean growers must be conscious of the various weed resistances that they may have on their farms.
10 tips to better manage your jugs, sprayer cleanout
One of the best and worst parts of my job as a weed specialist is troubleshooting field problems. Just never know what you are going to see, and it is always a time to learn and grow. Despite my 32 years of Extension experience, I am often humbled by how much I have yet to learn. I have spent much of my peanut research career investigating the effects of non-peanut herbicides on the growth, development and yield of peanut.
Handling ALS resistance in peanuts
The 2024 peanut season in Georgia has been interesting to say the least. Depending upon the location, many growers had to delay planting, or delay replanting in some fields, due to the unusually wet weather. From April 1 to June 1 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus, 14.25 inches of rainfall occurred. Historical rainfall for this period at this location is 6.86 inches. Because of these delays, peanut growers are now in the time frame when a postemergence (POST) herbicide needs to be applied.
Rain, rain and more rain and herbicide selectivity
It’s Saturday, 10:24 am on May 18. It’s raining again. Like many growers in Georgia, I have had lots and lots of rain to deal with (>13” of rainfall since April 1). This has made it very hard to get things done in the field and it has also led to increased herbicide injury in some peanut fields (Figure 1). Just because an herbicide is labeled for use in a particular crop, it does not mean that a grower will never see any type of injury.
Coverage is key piece to weed puzzle
As I traveled the road this winter with my Ichabod Crane-like partner delivering the weed science gospel, I was often humbled by the many positive comments I received from growers regarding my Tailgate Talk articles. I always appreciate feedback, especially when it is positive! In a conversation with a Jenkins County, Ga., grower, who just so happens to like my articles, I mentioned to him that I am getting so old now that I am running out of things to say and do not want to be overly repetitive.
Should you care about water carrier pH?
One of the most common questions I received on the UGA 2024 Weed Science Revival Tour, or county weed meetings, was “Do I need to worry about water carrier pH?” Best I can tell is that a traveling pH-adjusting salesman’s car broke down somewhere in south Georgia, so he had some extra time to chat it up with farmers in the area. If you were to ask me to rank the many factors that influence herbicide performance, water carrier pH might (?) be on that list, but definitely not at the top.
Evaluation of Inference Performance of Deep Learning Models for Real-Time Weed Detection in an Embedded Computer
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6 tweaks to make large fields as weed free as small plots
As I drove around south Georgia this summer, I could not help but notice the clean peanut fields as well as the not-so-clean peanut fields. Made me wonder what’s going on and how I can do a better job of getting my message out there. Often, I take some soft punches from folks about the practicality of small-plot research. It’s not real world they say! Generally, I do not disagree, but small-plot research does prove the overall concept that when herbicides are applied correctly, they usually work.
Scott announces Ag Committee Democrats
Ranking Member David Scott announced the fellow Democrats that will serve with him on the House Agriculture Committee. The group includes 11 first-term representatives. Returning to the committee are Reps. Jim Costa, Jim McGovern, Alma Adams, Abigail Spanberger, Jahana Hayes, Shontel Brown, Stacey Plaskett and Sharice Davids.
Selling an idea is like selling a commodity
If I have a dollar and you have a dollar, and we each give each our dollar, we still each have a dollar. If I have an idea and you have an idea, and we share our ideas, then we each have two ideas. These ideas we have in our heads will influence what we do. So, we must be careful who we listen to and we should challenge these ideas in our own minds.
Brazil farmland tour: Cotton, ethanol and acreage expansion
We completed a ten-day farmland tour of Brazil hosted by Commstock Investments. As far as I know, everyone made it home safe and sound. I pushed them pretty hard. While they might be a little worn out, they can check the Brazilian frontier off their bucket list. We seemed to time our trip perfectly. If we had arrived a week earlier, we would have been met with a lot of rain. The forecast was for a drier second half of January and that appears to be transpiring.
Improve your corn’s nitrogen efficiency
With high fertilizer and fuel prices continuing in 2023, corn farmers will be seeking ways to improve nitrogen efficiency in order to keep a check on costs without hurting yields. North Carolina State University Extension corn specialist Ron Heiniger acknowledges it will be a challenge, but he said it can be done. At the North Carolina Commodities Conference at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham Jan.
US hay stocks fall to lowest level since ’74
High fertilizer prices and drought in 2022 handed hay production in the United States its biggest decline in 11 years with stocks at their lowest level since data collection began, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. The stats were part of the Jan. 12 Crop Production Summary from NASS, which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The report includes information about all U.S. crops, their production, acreage, and yield.
WSU advances statewide broadband project
For thousands of households across Washington state, participation in banking, health care, work, school, and even democracy is difficult, or even impossible, due to unreliable access to high-speed internet. Washington State University Extension is collaboratively leading the charge to expand that access. When the Washington State Broadband Office reached out to WSU Extension for help in 2019, the university’s outreach arm was already well positioned.
Southern root-knot nematode in soybean
Southern root-knot nematode (RKN) is a yield-limiting pathogen that is troublesome for many Delta soybean producers. The leading defense against the disease on susceptible acres is to plant a resistant soybean variety. Results of the Arkansas 2022 field performance test were recently released for soybean varieties marketed as resistant to the pathogen. Each year since 2016, the Lonoke Plant Pathology Program at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture conducts these screenings.
Southwest alfalfa growers face new insect pests
Two new pests to alfalfa growers in the West already appear to be troublesome in their damage, and problematic in their control. The Alfalfa Leaftier (Dichomeris acuminatus) and dot lined angle (Psamatodes abydata) were discovered in low desert alfalfa in 2021 and 2022, respectively, according to Michael Rethwisch, entomologist with the University of California Cooperative Extension in Blythe.
Higher egg prices are the new normal in 2023
Egg prices not expected to decrease in 2023.Shelley E. Huguley Record-high egg prices are making headlines right now, but when can consumers expect some relief? Oklahoma State University Extension specialists say several factors are to blame for the significant price spike, and the sticker shock is expected to continue through the first quarter of 2023.
7 ag stories you can't miss
Did you miss some news this week? We’ve got you covered. Here’s a collection of the top headlines in agriculture. U.S. officials reject latest Mexican GMO corn proposal Following a Monday meeting with Mexican officials, McKalip and Taylor issued a joint statement saying changes proposed by Mexico are not sufficient to resolve the ongoing dispute over genetically modified corn.
Tips on using lesser-quality forages
Hay and forages after last summer’s extreme drought come at a premium price and are of great value, especially with winter storms that piled snow on top of potential winter grazing resources. After a snowy winter in parts of the Great Plains, producers might be digging into their feed piles and notice spoilage or mold. Molds can occur any time of the year, and the risk of problems can show up early or late in the year as well.
Why future corn rows may be narrower
Look through equipment brochures from the 1930s and you’re likely to see pictures of check-row corn, planting with either horses or a small tractor. The rows were typically 40 inches wide and spaced so corn could be cultivated in two different directions. Why? Because cultivating corn to physically yank out weeds was essential in the days before chemical weed control. When farmers could narrow up row spacing, they did — first from 40 inches to 36 inches, and then to 30 inches.
State-specific dicamba rules remain same for Minnesota
Minnesota farmers in 2023 will operate under the same state-specific use restrictions as last year for three dicamba herbicide products, according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The affected dicamba formulations are Engenia by BASF, Tavium by Syngenta and XtendiMax by Bayer. These are the only dicamba products labeled for use on dicamba-tolerant soybeans. The restrictions are aimed at curbing off-site movement of the products.
Cultivating Master Farmers: Apply now
Sometimes the best way to learn is a conversation with someone who’s been there, done that. Now in its 18th year, the Cultivating Master Farmers program has provided just that: expert farm and family mentorship from folks who have walked the walk. This unique mentoring program links young farmers with a wealth of information from Prairie Farmer’s Master Farmers.
Bring next generation back to rural Missouri
It’s no secret that many small towns across Missouri and the U.S. are declining in population as young people move away, drawn by further education and job opportunities. Far too often, rural communities do not offer things young people — and young families — need and can get in more urban areas. Some towns are working hard to change the narrative, and it is wonderful to see. Boutiques on the town square offer local places to shop. New and remodeled homes provide places to live.
Plan for FFA success in Minnesota
All great teams are the sum of its parts, and it takes all involved working in unison toward a common goal to achieve success. Maple River High School’s agriculture department and FFA chapter are achieving because of a lot of parts working together.
What did I write that check for?
Evidently, I’m one of the very few people left on earth who writes a check as payment for most every monetary transaction I perform. My wife thinks I must be stuck somewhere in the 19th century, and I can detect a not-so-subtle snicker from either of my sons anytime I pull out the checkbook. And, yes, I can also hear the mumbling and sighs from the line of people behind me at the checkout line in every store where I do business.
Questions save lives
For the decade from 2009 to 2019, Kansas suicides per 100,000 people were 27.5% higher than the national rate. Male farmer and rancher suicide rates were twice that of the general population. Last week I sat in a seminar during the Cover Your Acres conference unlike any I’d ever experienced in a typical farmer meeting. It wasn’t telling us how to raise crops or livestock, but how we could help our neighbors in a mental health crisis.
Treasures unearthed in the closet
Some of you may remember the late Howard Doster, the iconic-if-somewhat-eccentric Purdue Ag economist. He could be mired down in the most tedious task ever, yet smile and say, “What fun!” The activity I shall describe would have tested even Howard’s patience. I made the mistake of offering to help my wife start cleaning out closets one time too many. Naturally, she wanted to start with the biggest closet — the one with bifold doors that spans the width of the back bedroom.
Pop(corn) culture alive with Nebraska growers
Can you imagine? Americans eat about 17 billion quarts of popcorn every year. That’s enough to fill the Empire State Building 18 times. Out of that, about 44% — an estimated 353.7 million pounds annually — is produced on about 67,000 acres in 30 Nebraska counties. While other states such as Indiana, in some years, may have more acres planted to popcorn, Nebraska remains the top producer because of irrigation.
Watch out for the crosswinds
Nate Kauffman isn’t just a senior vice president with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, he’s also an avid cyclist. His time on the road has led to plenty of time ruminating on how to get the most out of every mile. It also has some interesting connections back to the agriculture industry. For instance, most farmers are familiar with the concepts of headwinds and tailwinds – various factors that can either help or hinder grain prices.
Ag-related tech from CES
At CES in 2023, major manufacturer John Deere was part of the introductory keynote address for the global event in Las Vegas. But by walking some 20,000 steps each day, attendees were able to see a host of farm and ag tech products offered by smaller manufacturers. The slideshow highlights some of this tech, which includes tools from autonomous crop scouting to irrigation management.
Midwest Digest, Jan. 27, 2023
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Agriculture needs sustainable intensification
Farmers likely hear this all too often – we’ll have to be ready to feed 10 billion people by 2050. But how will agriculture meet this oft-stated challenge head on? Rob Saik has a good idea: sustainable intensification. The idea is to maximize the technology available to agriculture to make the most of the inputs we have while also boosting sustainability.
10 facts to help your elevator speech for agriculture
Hans Neleman / iStock / Getty Images Plus At a Glance I ask my graduate students to have an “elevator speech” ready when they encounter someone who might be anti-pesticide. Protecting the environment and endangered species is a good thing, but so is protecting American farmers. Much discussion has occurred about the EPA’s renewed interest in addressing the effects of pesticides on endangered species.
The generic herbicide formulation wasn’t the problem
This past summer, I received an interesting question from a most-excellent peanut farmer. His question had to do with the use of a generic formulation of Valor (flumioxazin) and whether I have seen any differences between formulations. In 2022, he decided to go with a generic formulation to save a few bucks, but he noticed more weeds in his peanut fields. Naturally, he was very suspicious of the generic formulation.
When using Counter in-furrow, avoid certain herbicides
Because more cotton and soybeans were planted, harvested field corn acreage in the Deep Southeast this year was down almost 15% in comparison to 2021. Thankfully, current corn prices are pretty strong, and field corn rotations provide growers with an opportunity to diversify their weed control programs. Although corn planting is still several months away, it is never too early to start prepping for the 2023 season.
The problem with hophornbeam copperleaf
One of the weeds that I heard more about during the 2022 growing season was hophornbeam copperleaf. Over the last 23 years, I have listened to a few complaints from growers about this weed, mostly dairymen, but not enough of them to get on my weed radar. Maybe one complaint is one too many though? My humble apologies! But my farm visits and phone calls/texts/e-mails this year led me to believe that I might have underestimated copperleaf’s potential threat, especially in field corn.
Late-season peanut weeds in wet years
Late summer turned out to be a very wet month in many counties in southern Georgia. The excessive rainfall caused multiple headaches for weed, insect and disease control in peanut. Two things come to my weed science mind in years like this when conditions are wetter than usual.
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