Arkansas Weed Scientist Has Pigweed Battle Plan

Dr. Ken Smith, extension weed scientist for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, is dead serious about the subject of herbicide resistant weeds, especially the obnoxious pigweed. He wants to see the seed dead before it even has a chance to germinate.

In Pigweed: Kill the Seed, Beat the Weed Smith makes these points:

• Pigweed seed has a fairly short life in the soil.
  
• Deep tillage is a promising tactic that exploits pigweed’s weakness.
• Burndown does NOT destroy pigweed seed, and it may actually stimulate germination by creating light.
• "Zero tolerance" combines hand hoeing and supplemental herbicide application, a method that may ensure pigweed doesn’t reach maturity and produce seed.

-Debra Ferguson