[kenmb]

Ya, my peas look better a day after Viper too. The added N with 10gpa and I usually have rainwater in the storage tanks off the shop roofs as a carrier. Odyssey is out because I put flax on my pea stubble so the carry over is a problem. I haven't checked this year's pricing yet but Viper was about that last year. I don't use N is bulk so left buying the little jugs for an extra $2 or $3.
I got my weed ID screwed up though. It's annual sow thistle and prickly lettuce I am dealing with so will likely go with Viper again to keep the flax option open for next year.

I am concerned with lack of rain and activity of the Edge I have down for mustard and Authority on peas. Won't know for sure till we get a good rain and there is a flush of weeds to see how it plays out. That's a good point on organic matter and Edge Brad. I see poorer control where there is heavy trash.

If I get into a better pre emergent weed control plan maybe I can avoid the expensive in crop options. I have peas going on Mustard ground which usually isn't off till after a few good frosts so post harvest spray option is typically gone because no regrowth occurs after the combine cuts the weed tops off. My peas are pretty much weed free so have to see what I can do to save a few bucks and perhaps put less stress on the peas if I can avoid an in crop broadleaf herbicide. Though, as noted, Viper doesn't seem to stress them. Maybe I just resign to keep using Viper till something changes.

 

[kenmb]

Patch spraying with Authority is something that never occurred to me till a week ago when I first started thinking on how to reduce the use of expensive options. I know pretty well where all the problem areas are so it is not that difficult to mix a tank to start the field and target those areas then leave the Authority out of the next tanks and do the bulk of the field.

Peas with Viper are the only group 2 i use. I am getting loaded up on group 4 with the Viper, Buctril M on Flax and Infinity FX on barley to control the volunteer flax. Flax is a small component of the rotation at 10% of acres and may up it to 20% so the repeated group 4 is not used on many acres but it is interesting how I feel like I am being funneled into certain choices. With 100's of chemical options I end up looking at my possibilities and see very few based on all the factors that come together.

So expanding the discussion into rotation which is necessary to look at the big picture, growing flax becomes an important piece of the initial post on options for peas.

 

[kenmb]

Dad isn't sure what he used prior to Odyssey, thinks was Pursuit on occasion, probably some MCPA. Things have changed alot over the years with better chemical program, higher seeding rates and preharvest glyphosate to make combining so much easier than years ago. We used to swath peas back then too.

As for rod weeders, have three of them. I was a little guy when I remember dad putting some cultivator shanks on the front of the Anderson. Thing to remember is a rod dragged horizontally across the ground does not penetrate until you loosen the soil first. Seed with discers, get a flush of weeds (usually wild oats) then rod weed just before the crop comes up or even after it has emerged. And if you get a good heavy rain between seeding and rod weeding you are remembering why you put cultivator shanks on.