Mark Renz; Extension Weed Specialist
Mild temperatures and ample rainfall have resulted in another year of rampant weed growth in Wisconsin fields. Did some of the weeds on your farm not get controlled? Are they now big? If so bring them to the Weed Doctor’s Booth at Farm Technology Days on August 25-27 in Dane County.
At FTD we will be holding a contest for the Biggest Weed in Wisconsin. This annual event asks participants to bring no more than two plants (stems only please) of non-woody, non-poisonous plants cut at the soil surface. Samples will be donated to the Weed Doctor Booth and placed on display throughout Farm Technology.
Weed Specialists will award a daily winner as well as a winner for the entire event. Past winners (plumeless thistle and common burdock) emphasize that to win weeds typically need to be both tall and wide. Tall weeds shouldn’t be a problem in our corn fields this year, but looking for ones that are also wide may be a challenge in 2015!
This year you will have a chance to compete against UW Extension Weed Specialists as well as the UW Madison Weed Science and Crop Science teams. We have been cultivating plants all summer and have some good entries ready for harvest. See if you can beat our entries, and win a free copy of the 2015 Pest Management in Wisconsin Field Crops.
To enter the contest, bring your weeds to the UW-Extension Weed Experts booth in the Progress Pavilion before 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday during Farm Technology Days.
UW-Extension Weed Specialists and county faculty will also be available to help identify your weed species as well as give you management options for any weed problems you may have.
New this year we will be highlighting the importance of herbicide resistant weeds in Wisconsin. Graduate students will have live plants of weed species of high concern for development of herbicide resistance in Wisconsin. They will ask that you test your knowledge of herbicide resistance, by taking a weed id quiz. Participants who get at least 50% correct will also receive a free copy of the 2015 Pest Management in Wisconsin Field Crops.
