Agriculture Roundup for Wednesday, September 6, 2023
A weed that appeared beside an Ontario cornfield should be a concern for all Canadian farmers.
Ontario provincial weed management specialist Mike Cowbrough said the plant found in Wellington County has been confirmed as palmer amaranth.
This particular weed species has been found in the United States but hasn’t been seen in a significant way in Canada. The only other known report of palmer amaranth was in a southern Manitoba bean field in 2021.
The broadleaf weed can grow to a height of eight feet and can spread aggressively. It’s also adaptable against herbicides making it even more difficult to control.