Brittany made two presentations at the recent APRES meeting. One presentation included Sydney Jalali’s research.
Weed Control and Fluridone Use in the Virginia-Carolina Region
B. PENDLETON* and D. JORDAN, NC State Extension, Raleigh, NC 27695; J. FOREHAND, Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, Blacksburg, VA 24061; M. MARSHALL and D. ANCO, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634.
A survey of practices associated with weeds and use of Brake (fluridone) herbicide was conducted in 2024 and 2025 in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The top five weeds mentioned by growers in North Carolina in 2024 were Palmer amaranth/pigweeds (78), sicklepod (35), common ragweed (25), annual grasses (27), and morningglory (10). In 2025, these respective weeds were listed 77, 51, 33, 27, and 9 times. In Virginia during 2024, growers listed common ragweed (11), Palmer amaranth/pigweed (7), morningglory (5), sicklepod (3), and horsenettle (2) as the top five weeds. In 2025, common ragweed (22), Palmer amaranth/pigweed (19), sicklepod (8), morningglory (6), and annual grasses (4) were listed in Virginia. In South Carolina in 2024, Palmer amaranth/pigweed (3), Texas panicum (2), sicklepod (1), and annual grasses (1) were mentioned. In 2025, Palmer amaranth/pigweed (8), annual grasses (7), and sicklepod (6) were listed in this state. Twenty, ten, and four different species were listed in North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina in 2024, respectively. In 2025, twenty, eleven, and eight weed species were listed in these respective states. In 2024, the herbicide fluridone (Brake) was used by growers in North Carolina (13%) and Virginia (29%) but not by growers in South Carolina. In 2025, this herbicide was also not used by the growers surveyed in South Carolina. In 2025, Brake was used in North Carolina by 11% of growers and 41% of growers in Virginia. In 2024, growers were about equally split on whether Brake was more effective than other herbicidesused previously. In 2025, 25% of growers using Brake indicated that Brake was more effective than other herbicides they had used previously in North Carolina. In contrast, this number rose to 75% in Virginia.
In small-plot research conducted in North Carolina from 2023-2025, Dual Magnum plus Brake was no more effective than Dual Magnum plus Valor SX. The combination of Dual Magnum plus Brake plus Valor SX was no more effective than Dual Magnum plus Valor SX. The two-way and three-way mixtures of herbicides were more effective than Dual Magnum. Weed species across trials included Palmer amaranth, common ragweed, annual morningglory, broadleaf signalgrass, large crabgrass, and Texas panicum. Palmer amaranth and common ragweed populations were not resistant to PPO-inhibiting herbicides in these trials.
Peanut Yield, Labor Costs, and Pest Management with Fewer Pesticide Options
S. JALALI, B. PENDLETON*, D.L JORDAN, E. FOOTE, D. REISIG, and L. LUX, NC State Extension, Raleigh, NC 27695.
Acephate, chlorothalonil, and paraquat have been fundamental components of pest management for decades in peanuts. These products may not be available due in part to evolved resistance (acephate) or regulatory decisions and consumer preferences (chlorothalonil and paraquat). Research was conducted over multiple years to determine if spinetoram was as effective as acephate in suppressing thrips (2 years) and if micronized sulfur or copper hydroxide and copper oxychloridewere as effective in protecting peanut from leaf spot disease when applied at the first and last spray compared with this use pattern of chlorothalonil (3 years). In a third experiment conducted at two locations in 2025, leaf spot incidence, defoliation of peanut caused by leaf spot disease, weed population, and time required to hand remove weeds were compared with various pest management programs. Spinetoram was as effective as acephate in protecting peanutfrom thrips injury. Micronized sulfur copper hydroxide and copper oxychloride were effective in protecting peanut from leaf spot disease when applied at the first and last spray likechlorothalonil. Weed populations were higher and subsequent time needed to remove weeds by hand was higher when ALS and/or PPO-inhibiting herbicides were not included in the weed management program.