Millions Spent in Hand-weeding Palmer Pigweed
Glyphosate-resistant Palmer pigweed has become the most damaging weed we've seen to date on crops in the South. Researchers at the Southern Weed Science Society (SWSS) Meeting last week in Little Rock, Ark. reported 1.6 million acres of cotton and soybeans are currently affected by glyphosate-resistant Palmer pigweed. As a result, hand-weeding is one practice that has been reintroduced to try and help manage the problem.
At SWSS, Dr. Stanley Culpepper of the University of Georgia reported on results of a study they conducted on hand-weeding in cotton fields. More than 430,000 acres of cotton were hand-weeded this year - 54 percent of cotton acres in Georgia. Grower costs range from $3 to $100, averaging out at $26 per acre. That's a total of $11.4 million spent on hand-weeding just this past year.
Some of the cost is attributed to the physical removal of plants from the field. Unfortunately, producers have learned that just leaving cut Palmer pigweed plants lying in the field allows them to reestablish and continue to threaten crops.
The only hope of staying ahead of this economically devestating weed is scouting crops often and the use of pre-emergence residual herbicides. Syngenta recommends products like Envoke®, Reflex® and Sequence® herbicides to control weeds early while they're still small. Scouting fields becomes essential to know that herbicide programs have been successful and to know the scope of weeds in a field.
To build an herbicide program specific to your fields and weed problems, visit the Resisance Fighter Solution Builder. You can also learn more about Palmer pigweed here:
Important: Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using Syngenta products. The instructions contain important conditions of sale, including limitations of warranty and remedy. Envoke®, Reflex®, Sequence® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. Reflex are not currently registered for sale or use in all states. Please check with your state or local extension service before buying or using these products. Reflex may be used on cotton in AL, AR, LA, MS, MO and TN in accordance with the Special Local Needs provisions of the EPA under a FIFRA Section 24(c) registration. You must have a copy of the approved 24(c) registration in your possession in order to use Reflex, and you must comply with all of the limitations for use set forth in the 24(c) registration.