?Keep Palmer Amaranth off Your Farm? workshop to be held

IOWA CITY ? Palmer amaranth, a new weed to Iowa and a serious threat to production agriculture, has now been discovered in at least 48 counties. Farmers, farmer advisers and others interested in learning how to identify and manage this new threat may attend a ?Keep Palmer Amaranth off Your Farm? workshop at several eastern Iowa locations, according to Meaghan Anderson, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

?With Palmer amaranth discoveries quickly increasing across the state, proper identification is key to controlling infestations and preventing movement to crop fields,? Anderson said. ?With early identification, eradication of this problem weed is still possible in many areas.?

According to Anderson, farmers and scouts should be observing high-risk areas for Palmer amaranth. These include areas with significant equipment movement, suspicious-looking waterhemp infestations, newlyseeded conservation plantings and areas near animal agriculture operations.

Workshop topics will include Palmer amaranth identification, management in crop and CRP areas, and a discussion of common questions and concerns regarding Palmer amaranth.

There is no cost to attend. However, those interested in attending a workshop should pre-register by contacting the ISU Extension and Outreach county office at the phone numbers below. Two-hour workshops will be held in Washington March 2, at 6:30 p.m., with a light meal ISU Extension and Outreach Washington County Office, 2223 250th St., Washington. Pre-register by calling 319-653-4811.

The workshop qualifies for Certified Crop Adviser credits. Credits have been applied for. Sign-up sheets will be available on the day of the workshop.