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Asian copperleaf emerges in Iowa farm fields

Photo of Asian copperleaf courtesy of Meaghan Anderson, Iowa State University

A new weed species has been identified in five Iowa counties and an extension agronomist says the plant could be a threat to row crops.

Meaghan Anderson with Iowa State University says it’s unknown how Asian copperleaf was introduced to the state. “It’s the lack of information that we have about it, and the fact that when we’re finding it there’s so much of it in these crop fields, that lends us to be a little bit concerned.”

Iowa State University Extension says a USDA Risk Analysis found the species does not show strong invasiveness or weediness characters, but has been classified as ‘high risk’ because of its high level of uncertainty.

Anderson tells Brownfield Asian copperleaf remains under the crop canopy throughout the growing season and seems to emerge in the fall. “It’s recognized because it creates kind of a carpet underneath the crop canopy and it’s very noticeable at harvest.”

She says farmers are asked to keep an eye out for the plant as fields are harvested and report any detections to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.