Preventing Palmer Amaranth From Taking Over Your Field

Mar 08, 2017

By Katerina Sharp

Mark Loux, an OSU Extension weed specialist, in a field overrun with Palmer amaranth.

With the corn and soybean planting season right around the corner, farmers need to know how to prevent Palmer amaranth from getting into fields and what to do if the fast-growing weed is already growing.

Palmer amaranth is a rapidly spreading type of pigweed that has become one of the most detrimental and invasive weeds in the southern and midwestern United States, said Bruce Ackley, an Ohio State University Extension program specialist in weed science. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).

The fast-growing plant, which emerges anytime between early May and August, is extremely aggressive and can outcompete crops on almost every level. This has caused substantial losses in crop yield and farm income across the country, as well as a permanent increase in the cost of herbicide programs.

According to Mark Loux, an OSU Extension weed specialist, research has shown the need for a zero-tolerance threshold on Palmer amaranth. The plant so far has been found in 18 Ohio counties, and the majority of the populations are resistant to both glyphosate and acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides. Postemergence herbicide application timing is especially critical and must be applied when the Palmer plants are less than 3 inches tall.

Palmer amaranth can be introduced to a crop field by farm equipment and from the manure of animals that have eaten cotton-derived feed products containing Palmer seed from the South, said Loux. The best way to avoid this type of spread is by thoroughly cleaning out equipment between entering different fields, checking that suppliers have checked for Palmer seed in feed products, and by storing manure in pits for a short time to reduce the seed viability.

Palmer amaranth can also be introduced through the use of seed for cover crops or conservation and wildlife plantings that is contaminated with Palmer amaranth seed. Contact the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) for screening of seed for the presence of noxious weeds, including Palmer amaranth. ODA will screen any type of seed used for cover crops or conservation and wildlife seedings. Loux recommends having this done prior to planting. Contact the ODA Grain, Feed, and Seed Program at 614-728-6410. The seed must be picked up by ODA representatives; it cannot be mailed or dropped off.

To stop an infestation from occurring, experts recommend that farmers start scouting soybean fields in mid-July for Palmer plants that have escaped prior herbicide treatments. Any Palmer plants found should first be checked for mature seeds, which are small black seeds found when shaking or crushing the seed heads. If there are none, cut the plants off just below the soil line, remove them from the field, and burn or compost. If the plant does have mature seeds, cut plants off as before, but bag seed heads on site prior to removing the plants from the field.

When in doubt, get help with identification to avoid contaminating combines and other equipment with Palmer seed. Contact the OSU Extension agronomic crops team at agcrops.osu.edu at any time for help with identification or management advice.

The agronomic crops team is a multidisciplinary group of educators, state specialists and researchers from OSU Extension and from the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, which is CFAES’s research arm.

Source: osu.edu

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.