Spring Oat Herbicide Options

With recent rainfall and warming weather patterns, spring oat and weed growth will soon speed up. Below is a listing of herbicide options to consider for weed control. You will notice that all the herbicides listed primarily control broadleaf weeds.

Herbicides labeled for use in spring oat include:

• 2,4-D (amine and ester)
• Aim
• Callisto
• Clarity/dicamba
• Harmony SG and Harmony Extra (numerous generic alternatives available)
• Maestro
• MCPA
• Peak
• Sentrallas ("Harmony + Starane")
• Starane Ultra and Starane Flex
• Stinger

Make sure to apply the correct herbicide rate within the appropriate oat growth stage and not to exceed the maximum weed height, otherwise crop injury or poor weed control will result. Some herbicides need to have adjuvants added to the spray tank, so be aware of this fact. Also, some of these products (e.g., Harmony products and related generics) restrict use on certain oat varieties.

We continue to receive questions about weedy grass (especially foxtails) control in oats. No viable "grass herbicides" are labeled for use in spring oats. Note that PowerFlex, Ospray, Axial, and Finesse will severely injury/kill oats. Penn State University researchers are evaluating Prowl H2O, Anthem Flex, Diuron, and a few others applied at delayed pre or early post timing as possible options. Stay tuned for results…

On a final note, I realize it’s a little too soon to be thinking about preharvest aids in oats, but only certain 2,4-D products and Aim are labeled for this utility. For more information and use restrictions on these products mentioned above, refer to Table 2.5-8 in the Penn State Agronomy Guide or the current product label.