Palmer amaranth has been confirmed in Stutsman County, North Dakota. A county weed officer noticed some suspect plants in a field and notified the landowner. One week prior, the noxious weed, along with large amounts of waterhemp, were identified in a Benson County, North Dakota soybean field. It’s not exactly known how the weed got there, but the Benson County Extension agent thinks the weeds may have been there for many years.
Palmer amaranth is native to the southwestern U.S. but was accidentally introduced to other areas and has devastated crops in the South and Midwest. It is a prolific seed producer that can emerge throughout the growing season. It grows rapidly at 2-3 inches per day in optimum conditions and is prone to herbicide resistance and multiple modes of action. It is a highly invasive weed that can dramatically cut crop yields.
Additional information on palmer amaranth and other noxious weeds are available here. To report a suspect plant, go to https://www.nd.gov/ndda/pa or contact your local county weed officer or North Dakota State University Extension agent.
