An over-reliance on chemical weed control is exacerbating the expansion of herbicide-resistant weeds as well as off-target crop injury, says Iowa State University weed scientist Bob Hartzler.

“In order to preserve the efficacy of herbicides two things must happen — adoption of integrated weed management and shift the goal of weed management from protecting crop yields to minimizing the size of the weed seed bank,” says Hartzler. “The first requires a shift in behavior, the second a change in attitude.”

Waterhemp challenges

Waterhemp remains the most challenging weed for Iowa farmers to control....