Last winter, many growers and PCAs contacted me because they were having trouble or were largely unable to control Italian ryegrass (Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum) in their cereal fields.  This grass species (see Photo) is widely spread throughout the Sacramento Valley in orchard and field crops and it can be particularly problematic in winter cereals, as it can reduce yields by 80%, by competing for water and nutrients.  

Italian ryegrass is a really tough weed and the application timing is extremely important. Osprey, Simplicity and Axial are usually effective. However, all these herbicides will not work if applied when the ryegrass population in your field...

Italian ryegrass (Lolium perenne spp. Multiflorum), is an annual grass common in Sacramento Valley orchard and field crops (Figure 1). This species germinates and matures approximately at the same time as winter cereals and is highly competitive for soil nutrients during the time when wheat is tillering.  It can also interfere with harvest and it has been reported that Italian ryegrass can cause up to 80% reduction in winter wheat grain yield due to competition for nutrients and water (Liu et al., 2016)

During this time of the year when your wheat is tillering, it is really important to monitor fields for weeds and Italian ryegrass infestations in particular.

Information about weed management can...