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Weed Control in Safflower
Safflower is a poor competitor with weeds, so weed competition is frequently a serious production problem. Early season crop growth is slow, allowing weeds to become established before the plant can shade the soil surface. Do not attempt to grow safflower without a good weed control program.
The following herbicides are cleared for weed control in safflower: EPTC (Eptam), trifluralin (various brand names), and metolachlor (Dual II). See current NDSU Extension Circular W-253, North Dakota Weed Control Guide, for specific recommendations. In recent years, herbicides have been used extensively but have not been totally effective in controlling broadleaf weeds. Kochia, Russian thistle and wild mustard are the most difficult weeds to control. Perennials like Canada thistle and perennial sowthistle can be serious problems. Safflower should not be grown on fields with heavy infestations of perennial weeds. Eptam and Dual are weak on Russian Thistle. Eptam is good to excellent for wild oat control while Dual gives fair to poor wild oat control.
If weeds emerge before the safflower, harrowing with a light spike tooth or light coil spring harrow may control some weeds, but damage to the emerging safflower can occur and some plants may be buried. When safflower is planted in wide rows, shallow cultivation between the rows will kill most small weeds.
For more information see the Weed Control Guide at http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/weeds/w253/w253w.htm
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