The wet fall and winter and now spring season is triggering weeds, such as glyphosate-resistant water hemp and Palmer amaranth, to be problematic across wide areas of Texas, according to Southwest Farm Press.
Given that a single water hemp or Palmer amaranth plant can shed 500,000 to 1 million seeds, one weed left in the field is too many, stated Jason Ott, Texas AgriLife specialist and Nueces County agent in his latest weed report.
Often, the most competitive weeds are those that emerge prior to, or at the same time as the crop. These weeds are quite effective at competing for the same consumable environmental resources such as water, nutrients and sunlight that the crop seedling needs for healthy growth, Ott said.
It has become more important than ever to scout fields for weed escapes and treat them. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Research, after conducting numerous field studies, recommends managing glyphosate-resistant weeds now.