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Waterhemp a growing concern in Ohio

Ag researchers are growing concerned with the presence of waterhemp in Ohio fields.

Waterhemp found in west central Ohio was found to be resistant to glyphosate found in some herbicides. Mark Loux with the Ohio State University says the research, while limited, would seem to indicate the further east the waterhemp can be found, the less resistance the plant is to some herbicides.

“It’s all resistant to one class of herbicide we use called ALS inhibitors which are used pretty widely. But glyphosate resistance, in areas like West Central Ohio have had it the longest we’ve found glyphosate resistance there.” says Loux.

To combat waterhemp in Ohio, Loux says farmers need to conduct on-site surveys of their fields at least through late August.

“Go by your fields and try to get a look at as much of them as you can. If you see something sticking up that you don’t recognize, pull them out before they produce seed because once you have those weeds and they have any amount of seed it’s basically a game changer.” says Loux

Loux says farmers who have had a decent herbicide program this year may have held off the waterhemp but they still need to check their fields regularly.