Aug. 13, 2021
Division of Agriculture opens herbicide screening tests
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts:
- Deadline to submit samples is Nov. 1
- Testing for seven different herbicides
(287 words)
STUTTGART, Ark. — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is accepting samples to test for herbicide resistance in barnyardgrass and other weed species in rice.
Forms are available from your county extension office. (Find your county office at uaex.uada.edu/counties). The deadline to submit samples is Nov. 1.
“This screening will give us some idea if a producer has been using the wrong herbicide,” said Jason Norsworthy, professor and weed scientist for the Division of Agriculture.
To submit samples:
- Collect approximately 25 mature barnyardgrass seedheads and place in a paper bag.
- If other weed species are being collected for screening, make sure there are ample seeds available. Use a separate bag for each weed species.
- Send one sample per species per field.
“If an individual has more than one field where herbicide failure occurred, they are welcome to send multiple samples,” Norsworthy said. “The sample identification form that accompanies every sample will ask for GPS coordinates and a field name in addition to other information.”
Norsworthy said it’s important to collect mature samples “if we’re not able to germinate them, the tests won’t work.”
The screenings will look at seven herbicides: glyphosate, clomazone, propanil, quinclorac, imazethapyr, cyhalofop, and florpyrauxifen-benzyl.
Norsworthy said results will be returned to county agents in late February or first week of March and those who submitted samples will be notified by the county agent.
“This type of testing has been ongoing since the early 1990s following the confirmation of propanil-resistant barnyardgrass,” he said. “The number of samples submitted for screening has increased in recent years. In the last four years, approximately 150 samples are submitted for evaluation each fall.”
The testing is free and funded by the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact:
Mary Hightower
mhightower@uada.edu