The #1 weed problem in the country is not in North Dakota, YET.  We need to keep it that way.  Palmer amaranth is a type of pigweed that has devastated crops in the South and Midwest.  It has now been identified in SD, IA, and MN.  We need to establish a zero tolerance for this weed.  Palmer amaranth has these characteristics: 

Palmer amaranth seed heads, Photo Credit Christy Sprague, Michigan State University

• Grows aggressively:  Can grow 2 to 3 inches per day in optimum conditions
• Can grow to 6-8 feet tall
• Has reduced yield up to 91 percent in corn and 79 percent in soybean
• Prolific seed producer:  Up to 1 million seeds per plant
• Emerges throughout the growing season
• Very prone to herbicide resistance (multiple modes of action)
  
  

Palmer amaranth identification

Palmer amaranth identification.  Dr. Christy Sprague, Michigan State University  

Eight Key Points to Palmer Amaranth and Waterhemp Identification.  Penn State University 
http://extension.psu.edu/pests/weeds/palmer-amaranth/eight-key-points-to-palmer-amaranth-and-waterhemp-identification

Palmer amaranth vs. Waterhemp, Ohio State University   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UjFfOfWeXc         

Palmer amaranth ID, Purdue University  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNgRvvnPQJ8    

Palmer amaranth in the news 

Palmer amaranth in Iowa, Iowa State University (August 19, 2016 – Updated Sept 6) 
http://crops.extension.iastate.edu/cropnews/2016/08/palmer-amaranth-iowa-what-we-know

Minnesota Crop News, University of MN (August 23, 2016) 
http://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/2016/08/palmer-amaranth-new-weed-threat-to.html

MN press release announcing Palmer amaranth has beenentified in MN (September 22, 2016) 
http://news.extension.umn.edu/2016/09/palmer-amaranth-detected-in-minnesota_22.html

Minnesota Crop News, University of MN (September 23, 2016)   
http://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/2016/09/palmer-amaranth-in-mn-reporting.html

Palmer amaranth information

Palmer amaranth biology, identification, and management.  Purdue University  
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/WS/WS-51-W.pdf

Photo Credit Tom Peters