Control of 1-leaf Wild Oat with Insight in red.
Wild oats have been an issue on the Canadian Prairies for years – in fact, they were first introduced to Western Canada in the late 1800s[1]. Since then, they have become resistant to multiple herbicide groups and have been in the top three most abundant weeds in the Prairie weed surveys since the 1970s[1].
With the recent rains, we have begun to see the emergence of wild oats. Wild oats typically germinate in early to mid spring, and prefer cool, wet conditions[1]. In a study done in Manitoba published in 2003, it was found that 25% of wild oats emerge by 365 growing degree days (GDD) (mid May) and 80% emerge by 580 GDD (first week of June)[2]. Because of their early emergence, they are extremely competitive with the crop. Growth of the weed is rapid, with tillering occurring within one month of emergence[1].
Wild oats, ideally, should be controlled early. Not only does the most yield damage occur when wild oats are staged ahead of the crop, but they get increasingly harder to control the larger they get. A pre-burn application should be done to control any wild oats that have emerged prior to the crop. There are many products registered in front of wheat including, but not limited to:
Control of 1-leaf Wild Oat with Insight in red.
We are also large proponents of applying soil applied products, such as Avadex and Fortress. More about that can be found here.
We have been seeing success with controlling wild oats in-crop with a two-pass system in wheat. First pass is done early (2-3 leaf), followed by a second pass just prior to flag leaf. When using this method, it is important to rotate your herbicides. If you use group 2 first pass, use group 1 second pass or vice versa. Depending on broadleaf pressure, the broadleaf herbicide can be included in either the first OR second pass. This is not a strategy for every acre but can be beneficial on those fields with high wild oat pressure. Talk to a Prairie Giants agronomist to see if this strategy could be a fit for your farm.
Recently, there have been new products to hit the market with dual mode of actions to control wild oats. Unfortunately, these products are only as strong as your field’s resistance levels allow. If your resistance levels are high to one or more of the actives, the product may not be effective. These products are meant to be proactive – they should not be used as a rescue tool on problematic fields.
Majority of wild oats (80%) germinate the first spring following maturation, with 97% being germinated by the following year[1]. Therefore, the more wild oats you can control and not let get to seed, the less seeds will be contributed to the seedbank. Incorporating cultural methods, such as seeding early and increasing seeding rates, can also help the crop compete with wild oats more aggressively.
A Prairie Giants agronomist can help you come up with a management plan that best suits your farm!
Sources:
1. Kennedy, Paige. 2023. Weeds to Watch: Wild Oats. Saskatchewan Pulse Growers. [Online] Available: https://saskpulse.com/resources/weeds-to-watch-wild-oats/
2. Geddes, Charles. 2025. Wild Oat Resistance Mangement with Cazado Webinar