Scout your hay fields to assess winter annual weed pressure
Joshua Putman, Field Crops and Forage Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
Winter annual weeds emerge in the fall and set seed late spring or early summer. In hay production, certain winter annuals will invade older hay stands and may be competing with the crops resources. Such weeds include: marestail, field pennycress, henbit, and chickweed. Management options for these weeds may include chemical control with a spring applied herbicide and timely cutting intervals. Recently Field Crops Specialist, Josh Putman, has been out scouting fields for weed and insect problems in forage fields, wheat, and triticale. Many of the older hay stands seem to have a large number of winter annuals present. It is important to correctly identify these weeds as some can be more problematic than others. If identification or confirmation is needed, please contact Josh Putman at 716-490-5572 or at jap473@cornell.edu. For more information on spring weed control in hay stands, please follow the link here.
Field Crops
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Upcoming Events
Cornell Organic Field Crops & Dairy Conference
March 6, 2026
Waterloo, NY
Farmers, researchers, educators, and agricultural service providers from across the Northeast are invited to the 2026 Cornell Organic Field Crops & Dairy Conference, held Friday, March 6, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Lux Hotel & Conference Center in Waterloo, N.Y.
Co-hosted by New York Soil Health and Cornell CALS, the annual conference brings together leaders in organic grain, dairy, and livestock systems to share practical tools, new research, and farmer-tested strategies to support resilient and profitable organic production.
NY Pork Producers - 2026 Producer Summit & Annual Meeting
March 13 - March 14, 2026
Hamilton, NY
Join NYPP for the 2026 Producer Summit, where producers of all sizes and production styles will explore marketing, branding, selling pork, and current consumer trends through practical sessions designed to help build demand, connect with customers, and add value to their operations.
Mid Atlantic Grain Conference
March 15 - March 16, 2026
We're excited to share that the 2026 Mid‐Atlantic Grain Fair & Grain Conference is coming March 15-16, 2026 in Pennsylvania! This two-day event brings together farmers, millers, bakers, brewers, distillers, researchers, and grain enthusiasts to learn, connect, and celebrate local grains. These events will be offered at two seperate locations.
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