1) A few comments about soybean harvest aids/desiccants:
a) General consensus among soybean specialists these days is to wait until R7 stage.
b) I have already written several blogs about this topic (https://ugaweedscience.blogspot.com/2024/08/soybean-desiccationharvest-aid.html)
c) A good/recent article from the University of Arkansas (https://arkansascrops.uada.edu/posts/harvest/soybean-harvest-aids-2025.aspx)
d) Soybean stages of growth
https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/soybean-growth-stages
e) Check out Pages 266-267 in 2026 UGA Pest Control Handbook (https://fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SB28-28.pdf)
2) Classic/Florida Beggarweed/Peanut:
a) I have been getting a ton of questions about the use of Classic for the late-season control control of Florida beggarweed in peanut. "Control" is probably not a great word to use in this situation because in reality, late-season applications of Classic really do not provide "control" in the normal sense of the word but do help improve fungicide deposition and harvestabilty.
b) Expectations for the success of Classic at this time are dependent on the size of the Florida beggarweed plants that get treated. Simply, the bigger the plants, the less effective Classic will be. I recently applied Classic + 2,4-DB to one of my peanut fields to get a better feel on what actually happens. Basically, the Florida beggarweed plants were stopped in their tracks at the time of application. What this means is that beggarweed plants that were at or slightly above the peanut canopy are now not effecting fungicide deposition. But plants larger than this are. The picture below is of 3 different Florida beggarweed plants in this field that illustrate this point. So, if beggarweed plants are towering above the peanut canopy (Plant #3), probably not worth the effort/expense to apply Classic. Here is what the Classic label says about Florida beggarweed control in peanut: "Apply before Florida beggarweed reaches 10" in height or begins to bloom".
c) For more information about the use of Classic in peanut, check out the 2026 UGA Pest Control Handbook, page 225 (https://fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SB28-24.pdf)
d) Other options for Florida beggarweed control in peanut at this time of year include paraquat in a non-selective applicator (weed wiper, rope-wick), mowing, or hand-removal.
