Adell Cooperative Union

Waterhemp

A soybean field sprayed too late to for sufficient weed control. The giant ragweed took a hit, but not the waterhemp (photo: Justin Slowey, Sales Agronomist)

Not to be confused with industrial hemp, waterhemp is a serious issue in Eastern Wisconsin,
and the State overall. Our biggest challenge specifically is Round Up resistant waterhemp,
which has been identified throughout our area.

Diacous, adaptive, resiliant. Waterhemp is as much fascinating in its abilities as it is problematic, capable
of producing hundreds of thousands of seeds per plant. This weed also makes multiple flushes
throughout the year (dependant on seed depth), and has many documented sub species with slight altercations in appearance.

Highly concerning, it has also shown resistance to several other herbicides on the market. Dicamba, Liberty Link, Cobra, and
even 2,4-d have become ineffective in specific parts of the corn belt, providing serious concerns going forward.

Dr. Kevin Bradley, Plant Scientist, University of Missouri, has been focused on pigweed resistance
since the early 2000's. “Overlapping” or “layered residual programs” worked best to kill waterhemp in
research conducted at the University of Missouri Bradford Research Farm, Bradley says. Other
research, like that done by Dr. Rodrigo Werle, UW-Madison Extension Weed Scientist, showed similar results in
Lancaster, WI, last year.

If you havn't talked to us yet about options to control waterhemp we highly encourage you to do so.
It is too important to not have a plan in place for this weed. Don't wait until the last minute when
it is too late for control!


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