Field Note: Velvetleaf Management

Also Known As: Buttonweed, Butterprint, Elephant Ear

A common weed you’re probably very aware of or have seen around is velvetleaf. While not terribly difficult to control in a normal corn and soybean rotation when utilizing proper rates of herbicides, there are a few special management options to consider when trying to control velvetleaf in your field.

Corn: Corn herbicides containing mesotrione such as Resicore®, Explorer®, or Halex GT® are often extremely effective for controlling velvetleaf. For extreme infestations of Velvetleaf, an 8 ounce rate of Resource herbicide can be utilized for effective control of Velvetleaf up to ten inches tall in both corn and soybeans. Be sure to add a good quality crop oil concentrate to this mix such as Herbimax® and a spray grade ammonium sulfate for best results.

Soybeans: Velvetleaf can be slightly more difficult to control in soybeans when not managed properly. As always, be sure to start with a recommended rate of a pre-emergence herbicide with residual for the best start in the fight against velvetleaf. Farm Nutrients recommends utilizing a program including the active ingredient Imazethapyr common name Pursuit for problem fields. There are many options available, but our best luck for a pre-emergence advantage on velvetleaf has come from Matador-S herbicide. This product includes three modes of action and is effective against many common soybean weeds including velvetleaf and amaranth species such as waterhemp, redroot pigweed, and palmer amaranth.