Be on the lookout – Palmer Amaranth has been found in Licking County!

Palmer amaranth – what it is and what to do now?

Author: Mark M. Loux, Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University. Revised 11/17

 

What is Palmer amaranth and where is it coming from?

Palmer amaranth is an Amaranthus (pigweed) species that has become a

devastating glyphosate-resistant weed problem in the South and parts of the

Midwest over the past decade. It has caused substantial losses in crop yield and

farm income, and a permanent increase in the cost of herbicide programs.

Preventing additional Palmer infestations in Ohio is a primary goal of the OSU

weed science program, and will require efforts from the entire Ohio agricultural

community. There are several mechanisms for the movement of Palmer amaranth

into Ohio:

  • Movement of equipment from Palmer-infested areas into Ohio
  • The presence of Palmer seed in cotton-derived feed products that are
  • transported from the south into Ohio, or in hay from Kansas
  • The presence of Palmer seed in cover crop and wildlife seed that originates in
  • areas infested with palmer amaranth, such as Texas and Kansas

What makes Palmer amaranth such a problem?

  • Female Palmer plants produce 100,000 to upwards of 500,000 seed
  • Broad period of emergence – April to August
  • Small seed that is well-adapted to minimum and no-tillage
  • Rapid growth – up to 3 inches a day. Postemergence herbicides must be applied when Palmer plants are less than 3 inches tall
  • Readily develops herbicide resistance
  • Dioecious reproductive system (male and female plants). Obligate
  • outcrossing results in rapid spread of herbicide resistance

Herbicide resistance in Palmer amaranth

  • Most populations of Palmer in Ohio are resistant to glyphosate (group 9) and ALS inhibitors (group2). Palmer will not be controlled by burndown or postemergence applications of glyphosate alone. The addition of ALS inhibitors such as Classic and Pursuit will not improve control.
  • Populations in the South have developed resistance to site 14 herbicides (fomesafen, Cobra, etc), and appear to be developing resistance to glufosinate (Liberty, Cheetah, Interline).
  • Diversification of herbicide programs is essential to prevent the development of resistance to additional sites of action – use different sites of action in corn versus soybeans and multiple sites of action in postemergence treatments

Bottom line – steps to take for prevention

  • Know what Palmer amaranth looks like and if there is any in the neighborhood.
  • When purchasing used equipment, know where it has been previously. Avoid purchase of combines that come from Palmer-infested areas. Know where custom harvesting equipment has been previously.
  • Scout recently seeded CREP, wildlife, and similar areas for the presence of Palmer. For any intended seedings of this type, ODA will test seed lots for the presence of Palmer seed. They must pick it up from your operation (do not mail or drop off). Contact ODA for information – 614-728-6410. Seed can also be tested for a fee by the University of Illinois: web.extension.illinois.edu/plantclinic/downloads/herbicide.pdf
  • Avoid use of cotton feed products or hay that might contain Palmer amaranth seed – check with feed supplier for more information. When using manure from another animal operation, know whether they are using cotton feed products or hay from Kansas.
  • Include residual herbicides in corn and soybean programs to control the early-emerging Palmer plants.
  • Scout fields starting in mid July for the presence of Palmer that escaped herbicide programs. Get help with identification if in doubt.
  • Plants without mature seed (black) should be pulled out (uprooted) or cut off just below soil and removed

from field, and then burned or buried at least a foot deep or composted. Plants with mature seed should be bagged and removed from field.

  • Do not run the combine through Palmer patches that are discovered during harvesting.
  • Ohio Palmer plants are resistant to glyphosate (group 9) and ALS inhibitors (group 2). Palmer will not be controlled by burndown or postemergence applications of glyphosate alone. The addition of ALS inhibitors such as Classic and Pursuit will not improve control.
  • Consult OSU and USB Take Action resources for additonal information on management of established populations. u.osu.edu/osuweeds/; takeactiononweeds.com

For identification-Watch the video

 

 

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