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
Dairy
Business
Livestock
Grains
Upcoming Events
Dairy Feeder School
October 29, 2026 : Dairy Feeder School
Freedom, NY
- One day on-farm training for dairy farm feeders
- Offered in English and Spanish
- Stations with hands-on activities/demos
Tax 102: Tax planning and strategies for Farmers
November 4, 2026 : Tax 102: Tax planning and strategies for Farmers
This webinar follows the "Introduction to Income Taxes" webinar from September, going more into depth on topics including: understanding common tax concepts, tax strategies, long-term approaches to managing taxes, and more!
Labor Roadshow: Practical Workforce Strategies for Agricultural Professionals Across New York
November 30, 2026
December 21, 2026
The Agricultural Workforce Development Council of New York State (AWDC) will celebrate a decade of connecting and educating agricultural professionals when Labor Roadshow X returns this December with five in-person events and two webinars across New York State.
For nearly ten years, the Labor Roadshow has brought agricultural professionals together to learn, connect, and navigate the evolving challenges of agricultural labor. The 2026 event will continue that tradition with timely, expert-led discussions focused on the issues affecting farms and agricultural employers today—including labor law and compliance, employee engagement, retention, and workplace culture.
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