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Farmers needed to submit waterhemp samples for herbicide resistance research

The University of Illinois is encouraging Illinois farmers to submit waterhemp samples for a research project looking at the frequency of group 15 herbicide resistance.

Weed science professor Dr. Aaron Hager tells Brownfield there are two populations of waterhemp in Illinois that have confirmed resistance and if there are more it is important to get ahead of the problem.  

“Because virtually every layered residual herbicide option in soybeans is group 15. So, this could impact the recommendations we would make either for group 15 use in a pre-plant or pre-emergence scenario, or as a layered residual as well.”

He says the discovery of new resistant populations would also help research teams determine a solution.

“If they are able to identify the genes that are responsible for this an ultimately identify why these genes are behaving the way that they are, that takes us many steps closer finding a solution to this issue around group 15 resistance.”

He says the research is being led by graduate student Travis Wilke and is fully funded by the Illinois Soybean Association. The University will also collect 100 samples from across the state in addition to submissions from the public.

Farmers are asked to collect two female plants at least 30 feet inside of a field and 30 feet apart, then place them in separate paper bags with a designated sample submission form. Click here for further instructions.

Audio: Interview with Aaron Hager