Palmer Amaranth Found In Redwood County
MDA investigating the source
of the plant, planning eradication efforts
St. Paul, MN: The
Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), in collaboration with University of Minnesota
Extension, has confirmed a new Palmer amaranth infestation
in a soybean field in Redwood County.
In mid-September, a farmer noticed several weeds he
suspected as Palmer amaranth – a highly invasive weed. Genetic testing of four
plants found in the field confirmed they were Palmer. MDA staff have scouted
fields within a five mile radius of the soybean field and have not found any
other plants. The MDA is investigating where the Palmer amaranth seed came
from.
“Given the limited
number of plants, we are optimistic this infestation is contained to a small
area,” said Mark Abrahamson, MDA’s Director of Plant Protection. “Given its
potential harm to our ag industry, we will search for a source of the plant and
work with the farmer to monitor the area next year. We have successfully
eradicated the plant in other parts of the state and will work to achieve the
same results in Redwood County.”
Palmer amaranth was first discovered in Minnesota in 2016 in
Lyon and Yellow Medicine counties. In 2017, the plant was found in Todd and
Douglas counties. Because of eradication efforts at those sites, no Palmer
amaranth has been in the four counties in 2018.
Palmer
amaranth can grow 2 to 3 inches a day, typically reaching 6 to 8 feet, or more,
in height. Left uncontrolled, a single female Palmer amaranth plant typically
produces 100,000 to 500,000 seeds. It is resistant to multiple herbicides, can cause substantial yield losses, and greatly increase weed
management costs in soybeans and corn.
Because of the impacts it can have to Minnesota’s crops, Palmer
amaranth is listed as a Prohibited Weed Seed. This means no Palmer amaranth seed is allowed in any seed offered for sale in the state. It is also on
Minnesota’s Prohibited Noxious Weed Eradicate List. All above and below ground
parts of the plant must be destroyed. Also, no transportation, propagation, or
sale of this plant is allowed.
The invasive weed is native to the southwestern United States
and northwestern Mexico. It has been found in over half of the states,
including Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
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