Resistant weeds

Idaho farmers typically plant about 170,000 acres of sugar beets each year and the crop ranks as the No. 6 agricultural commodity in the state when it comes to total farm-gate revenue. Idaho sugar beet growers brought in $396 million in farm-gate receipts last year.

But Idaho beet growers may be facing a new challenge. Gordon Vail, Technical Product specialist in herbicides tells us about a list of the most challenging weeds.

So Roundup resistant waterhemp which has been newly discovered in Idaho can grow to 8 feet tall and resembles Palmer amaranth, a close relative that farmers fear may soon arrive in Idaho and bring a suite of resistance challenges.

Waterhemp can be differentiated from Palmer amaranth by its shorter petioles, which attach leaves to the stalk. A single waterhemp plant can produce upwards of 250,000 seeds.   

Adjesiwor suspects the waterhemp was introduced in the 100-acre field by cattle that had been fed rations contaminated with waterhemp seeds.