Surfactant concentrations from 0.0008 to 12.5% (w/w) in spray volumes from 19 to 475 L/ha were tested with and without rimsulfuron on giant foxtail. Both factors varied at 5-fold increments so treatments with equal surfactant concentrations and rates could be compared. As surfactant concentration increased from 0.0008 to 0.1%, rimsulfuron activity increased from less than 20% to more than 90% growth inhibition. This increase was dependent on surfactant concentration. As surfactant concentration increased from 0.5 to 12.5%, rimsulfuron activity decreased to less than 20% at all spray volumes. This decreased activity and the associated surfactant phytotoxicity was dependent on surfactant rate, not concentration. Thus rimsulfuron can be much less active when applied with too little or too much surfactant.