Production Blog

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (DTN) -- What weeds confound your corn, rile your rice or plague your pasture? The nation's weed scientists want to know.

Once again, national and regional weed science societies are asking farmers and others to identify both the weeds most commonly seen and those most troublesome and difficult to control. This year's survey is focused on weeds in grass crops. They include corn, rice, sorghum, spring and winter cereal grains, turf, pastures, rangeland and other hay.

Lee Van Wychen, executive director of science policy for the Weed Science Society of America, said surveys began in 2015 with a two-fold goal. In addition to allowing weed populations to be tracked over time, they also provide a reference source for weed scientists to support research on the most common and troublesome weeds. He said the information is used by policymakers, federal agencies, crop scouts, land managers and, of course, weed scientists.

"This survey is on a three-year rotation," Van Wychen said. "This year, we are surveying weeds in grass crops, pasture and turf. Next year, we will survey weeds in aquatic systems and non-agricultural land. Then in 2025, we will survey weeds in broadleaf crops, fruits and vegetables."

The weed survey for grass crops, pasture and turf was last conducted in 2020. In corn, common lambsquarters and foxtail species were the most common weeds, while Palmer amaranth and waterhemp were the most troublesome. In sorghum, Palmer amaranth was both the most common and troublesome weed.

In spring cereal grains, the most common weeds were common lambquarters and foxtail species, but foxtails and kochia were the most troublesome. For winter cereal grains, deadnettle species and common chickweed were most common. Italian ryegrass and brome grasses were the most troublesome to control.

Survey data and a summary of each survey since 2015 can be found here: https://wssa.net/….

The survey, which can be taken anonymously, can be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/…. The deadline is Labor Day, Sept. 4.

When listing weeds, please be as specific as possible by using the Latin name for each species. A searchable list of weeds can be found here: http://wssa.net/…. The survey can be completed multiple times for the same crop category if there are different weed populations for crops in that category.

Anyone with questions about the survey can contact Van Wychen at Lee.VanWychen@wssa.net.

Jason Jenkins can be reached at jason.jenkins@dtn.com.

Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter,@JasonJenkinsDTN.

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