Research Vital to Combatting Weeds

By Don Molino, The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network

The Louisiana Soybean & Grain Report

LSU AgCenter Extension Service weed specialist Dr. Daniel Stephenson told the Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board research is vital as weeds become more and more resistant.

"We have four species that are resistant to glyphosate right now: Palmer amaranth, Italian ryegrass, Johnson grass and tall weather hemp.  The Palmer amaranth is spreading through the state, but not like Arkansas. I don't want anybody to jump up an down and think we're spreading like Arkansas, north Mississippi and Tennessee.  But where we have it it is a serious problem and it's popping up in places I never would have expected it to happen," said Stephenson.

"And one place in particular, I'm pretty sure the reason that it's there was because a grower hired a guy to harvest his crop and that guy had been in a field with glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth. Now that's pure speculation on my part but I've seen it happen many times,"  Stephenson continued.

"To me," Stephenson pointed out, "if you buy a piece of equipment make sure that thing is clean because you will bring something that will give you heartburn later."