7-5 IAN Weeds Beating Crops

University of Idaho Extension researchers recently sponsored pest management research tours at the Aberdeen Research and Extension Center and Kimberly Research and Extension Center.

 The annual tour was free and open to the public. They helped growers and field men keep up with the latest advances in local research focused on ways to control weeds, insects and other pests that can cut yields. Participants earned three Idaho State Department of Agriculture pesticide certification credits

 The cold, wet spring held back many crops across the Northwest, but many weeds grew readily, said Don Morishita, a University of Idaho Extension weed scientist who serves as Kimberly Research and Extension Center superintendent: “Weeds don’t seem to be affected much by the cool weather that we have had, not like the crops, it’s delayed crops, and in many cases the weeds are getting a jump on the crops and in particular with our corn.”

 Weeds like lambsquarter and wild oats all seem to have weathered the cold spring and growing normally, Morishita said. A couple of weeds that are slow this spring include redroot pigweed and barnyard grass.