Since 2009, Palmer Amaranth has been an issue here in Fulton County, but this not just an issue here.   This is an issue with many areas across the Soybean production areas of the U.S.  In addition to Palmer Amaranth, Resistant Water hemp, Mares tail, and other herbicide resistant weeds are becoming more difficult to control with modern chemistries and available soybean varieties.

During the summer of 2019, Dr. Travis Legleiter, Extension Specialist with the University of Kentucky, his research students and interns and Ben Rudy Fulton County Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent established a Palmer Amaranth Weed Control Plot on a farm East of Hickman, KY.  The purpose of the plot was to demonstrate and collect data on various weed control programs using the G27 resistant Soybeans, Dicamba Resistant Soybeans, and the newly developed but not approved for trade Dicamba and Glufosinate Resistant Soybeans.  Following the application of various herbicide programs, data was collected on the effectiveness of those application.  

On July 16, 2019, a field day was held at the plot location.  Despite the rainy weather approximately 45, producers and retailers attended the field day to review research data from the graduate students and to hear the presentation and view the plots lead by Dr. Legleiter.  Due to the poor weather conditions, the Fulton County Ag. Agent also took drone videos and pictures of the plot and posted them to the Fulton County Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Facebook page, a total of 663 people views the posts of the videos and pictures.  Talking with the individuals that attended the field day some of their main take home points were: Use multiple sites of action, Use both pre and post emerge herbicides, Weed height under 4 inches in critical.

After all of the data has been collected and analyzed, it will be used in developing recommendations for weed control in Kentucky, used in various county program across the state, and collaborated with other state extension programs.