By Julie Tomascik
Associate Editor
Fields of white snow stretch as far as the eye can see. Only to be broken up by a weed. Another weed. And more weeds.
Leaving some fields choking.
What is it?
A fast-spreading weed, known as pigweed or careless weed. It’s causing problems in West Texas cotton fields and could cost growers much of their harvest if left unchecked.
“It’s a costly headache—both time and expenses—for farmers,” said Val Stephens, Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) state director and cotton farmer in Lamesa.
The weed is spreading aggressively after becoming resistant to the herbicide that once easily eradicated it. It’s a major obstacle facing the world’s largest contiguous cotton patch.
While some fields still remain clear of the weeds, others are covered.
So cotton farmers, like Stephens, scout their fields, hoping to spot the resistant-weed before it gets out of control.
For those areas affected, eradication gets tougher if pigweed goes to seed.
“I have one field that’s affected, and we’ve really had to manage our inputs and how we treat it,” Stephens said.
It’s a cotton-picking headache for farmers and a direct adversary to the cotton plants. Competing for water and nutrients. If too large of an infestation occurs in an area, the pigweed can block out the sunlight.
Herbicides containing glyphosate were once highly successful in killing the weed. Once resistance set in, farmers were forced to find a mix of other herbicides to combat the problem.
That compliance and reliance on residual herbicides—Roundup Ready—caught some farmers off guard.
“A few years ago, the AgriLife Extension agents started warning us about watching our fields closer,” Stephens said. “But it didn’t really hit home until a wider swath of acres was affected.”
But one tried-and-true method works—chopping cotton.
Although that comes with its own issues.
Years of fairly weed-free fields meant hand labor wasn’t necessary.
And that’s led to a shortage of labor now.
“It’s tough work to hoe pigweed from the field, because of the thick stems and deep roots.” Stephens said. “And it’s even tougher because it’s difficult to find folks to chop in the fields.”
Chop the weeds. Haul them out. And burn them. It’s a formula that works when feasible.
But rain has flushed the seeds to other areas of fields. Birds carry them. And farmers can transport them from field to field with their equipment and their clothes. Leading to a rampant spread if not careful.
“I’ve been cautious all summer about cleaning my equipment before I move to cleaner fields,” Stephens said. “You’re always going to have a few weeds that Roundup won’t kill, but we’re seeing areas of high infestation this year. I want to be as careful as possible.”
Miss one weed and it escapes. Possibly making it to seed and further spreading damage.
Weed control costs can amount to $100 an acre, Stephens added.
“Management can be expensive, but it’s an investment that will pay off in the long run,” Stephens said.
And farmers have options. A diverse crop mix. Increased management of fields. And the prospect of dicamba.
“The possibility that dicamba could be approved next year is good news,” Stephens said. “I think we’ll see drastic changes next year in the way we buy cotton seed.”
For now, where there’s cotton in West Texas, there’s pigweed. And it tests farmers’ patience. But Texas is cotton country. The crop is king. And farmers have a history with it. And will for generations to come.
The way they grow it just might change a little.