Iowa State University Extension & Outreach To Hold “Weed Week” Seminars

(Le Mars) — Farmers have noticed that the herbicides they have been using for
their crops have not been as effective as was the case in years past. The reason,
is because many of the targeted weeds found in fields have been able to build up
resistance to those herbicides. Iowa State University Extension crops specialist
Joel DeJong says crop protection chemical companies have not been able to introduce
a new line of herbicides since the 1980’s.

DeJong says Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are hosting a series of
“Weeds Week” seminars at locations through out the state this week. The seminar
scheduled for Northwest Iowa is scheduled for Wednesday and will be held at the
Western Iowa Tech Community College auditorium at Cherokee. DeJong and fellow Iowa
State University Extension crops specialist Paul Kassel of Spencer are leading the
discussion of what farmers can do to help reduce the resistance level of weeds.

DeJong says even if crop protection companies were able to develop a new line of
herbicide, it would still be several years before the product could be introduced
to the marketplace.

That “Weeds Week” seminar to be held Wednesday will begin at 10:00 a.m. Interested
farmers should register online by Tuesday, or contact either Joel DeJong or Paul
Kassel, so they will have an accurate meal count.