2017 Upper Midwest Weed preview with Tom Peters

Photo by Tom Peters - NDSU/U of M Extension

North Dakota State University and University of Minnesota Extension Sugarbeet Agronomist, Tom Peters, says waterhemp continues to move north. “Our surveys indicate that waterhemp is the most important weed for farmers south of Fargo/Moorhead,” said Peters. “Beyond that, it depends where you are located. Kochia is important, common ragweed is important, and lambsquarters can be an important weed especially under dry years. But beyond that, I have Palmer amaranth on my list as well.”
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Peters says we don’t yet have Palmer amaranth, but farmers also don’t want the weed. He wants farmers to recognize it, saying if it doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t. 

“Since it’s not from around here, it grows very differently,” Peters said. “It germinates and grows later in the spring, but once it starts to grow, it grows very, very quickly. We talk about waterhemp growing one to two inches a day, Palmer amaranth can grow twice that. The second thing is, and it’s like waterhemp, there are male and female plants so we see a lot of diversity.”

Source: rrfn.com