War Against Weeds

This week Joe Ikley and Sarah Ganske are joined by Dr. Tom Mueller (University of Tennessee) to discuss sprayer hose cleanout and herbicide residue risks. The conversation focuses on how hose materials, aging, and system design affect herbicide retention, with research insights comparing dicamba and 2,4-D cleanout challenges. They also share practical recommendations for applicators, including agitation practices, downtime risks, and when hose replacement may be necessary to avoid crop injury. Link: https://utcrops.com/ Transcripts: PDF: https://app.box.com/s/4esrl1zv0dd0za3uojxah0jpwvqdy90i DOC: https://app.box.com/s/frnfuvcvn5t7h6kg11v4cch4jmeigsny

In this episode of the War Against Weeds podcast, Alyssa Essman and Sarah Lancaster Ganske are joined by Purdue Extension weed scientist Dr. Tommy Butts for a deep dive into spray nozzles, droplet size, and deposition. The conversation covers how nozzle selection influences coverage, drift, deposition, and weed control, with practical recommendations for ground applications, pulse sprayers, and managing risk in real-world conditions. Epsisode Transcript PDF: https://app.box.com/s/rci0uzr4ww772196tdfeia0vvrdidzas DOC: https://app.box.com/s/398aewwxuygy3rrf3d968e5iyae6vqc4

In this episode of the War Against Weeds podcast, Sarah and Joe welcome Dr. Katie Dentzman of Iowa State University to explore the human and social dimensions of herbicide resistance management. The conversation digs into why "silver bullet" solutions are so appealing, the real-world barriers to adopting integrated weed management, and how community dynamics shape decision-making in agriculture.

Episode Transcript

PDF: https://app.box.com/s/jttzmn1oq5mxq4n629j7ieo16l1muf7p

DOC: https://app.box.com/s/ek68ebp2ztqu8lsh7msn82427fvavio8

In this episode Sarah and Joe welcome Hudson Takano of Corteva Agriscience for an update on the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC) and the newly released 2026 HRAC Mode of Action poster. Hudson explains HRAC's role in resistance management, how herbicides are evaluated and classified, and what goes into updating the poster. The conversation highlights newly added herbicides, and why some older or low-use herbicides were removed. The episode also looks ahead to future HRAC work, upcoming herbicides, and where listeners can find the latest HRAC resources online. https://hracglobal.com/tools/2026-hrac-global-herbicide-moa-classification Episode Transcript PDF: https://app.box.com/s/i7fb437reya4ipjf8fbwqagw03jq2c6a DOC: https://app.box.com/s/ur49aaooemdaqlswqfnmu15o5frly1e8

In this episode of the War Against Weeds podcast, Sarah Ganske and Joe Ikley explore the emergence of PPO resistant kochia across the northern Great Plains. Joined by BASF scientists Dr. Ingo Meiners and Dr. Aimone Porri, the group walks through how field failures led to greenhouse confirmation and the discovery of novel PPO target‑site mutations. They discuss why these mutations affect some PPO herbicides but not others and how the findings are already shaping resistance diagnostics and management decisions. They end the episode with practical guidance for growers and a broader look at the importance of collaboration in tackling evolving weed resistance challenges.

Transcripts

PDF: https://app.box.com/s/619xibmb42kh782frwg7ul8yhmtl289c

DOC: https://app.box.com/s/xwwkr88cmm9jc59ihjtqbxvic7f1x5y9

In this episode of War Against Weeds, hosts Alyssa and Sarah sit down with Dr. Karla Gage (Southern Illinois University Carbondale) and Dr. Pat Tranel (University of Illinois) to discuss emerging glufosinate resistance in waterhemp and what it means for growers moving forward.

Transcripts

PDF: https://app.box.com/s/0lyejemx8kyjr8s1fcgca6huqw3qaprp

WORD: https://app.box.com/s/la2r3yx4208jm2v8khac9wf8zm5glfab

In this episode of War Against Weeds, Joe Ikley and Alyssa Essman talk with spray technology experts Dr. Tom Wolf and Dr. Jason Deveau about how rapidly spray drones have evolved and why they're challenging to use effectively. They discuss issues like swath variability, droplet behavior, and operator exposure, while also highlighting situations where drones offer clear logistical advantages. The result is a candid, practical look at both the promise and limitations of agricultural spray drones today. Episode Transcript: PDF: https://app.box.com/s/xdhzkf3hazg5jbgrfkcyadfih52mppm3 DOC: https://app.box.com/s/pyl4jbuekymcfmvn62ku0ur5kjenxz9o

In this episode of War Against Weeds, Sarah and Alyssa sit down with Dr. Reid Smeda of the University of Missouri to dig into the biology, history, and management of invasive teasels. From their origins to their modern spread along roadsides, teasels prove to be more troublesome than their quirky seed heads suggest. Dr. Smeda breaks down why they're so difficult to control and shares long‑term strategies for effective management in rights‑of‑way and beyond. Whether you've seen teasel creeping into your county or just want to stay ahead of emerging noxious weeds, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Episode Transcripts PDF: https://app.box.com/s/sn8ypb72g1scf0xxvv1zgkb6916t6p77 DOC: https://app.box.com/s/cli6p5ld0vlemyq0m642y2osk049biof

Teasel resources

https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/forb/dipspp/all.html

https://mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/invasive-plants/common-cut-leaved-teasel-control

https://www.purdue.edu/fnr/extension/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/FNR-649TeaselADA-final-comp.pdf

https://www.nps.gov/articles/cutleaf-teasel.htm

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/cutleavedteasel.html

Bentivegna and Smeda

https://doi.org/10.1614/IPSM-D-10-00026.1

https://doi.org/10.1614/WT-08-043.1

In this episode, Joe and Alyssa talk crabgrass with Purdue's Dr. Aaron Patton and PhD candidate Vera Vuković, covering why smooth crabgrass dominates lawns, how mowing height and fertility can dramatically reduce infestations, and what new research reveals about seed dormancy, germination cues, and emergence timing. They break down practical pre‑ and post‑emergence control strategies—including phenology-based timing and herbicide options—while also touching on emerging issues like quinclorac resistance. https://edustore.purdue.edu/turf-100.html https://turf.purdue.edu/turfgrass-weeds/ Aaron Patton on X: @PurdueTurfDoc Episode Transcripts PDF: https://app.box.com/s/mxdmzk8izjtsben1uin2nq4kyv2b0nz7 DOC: https://app.box.com/s/vimx2nv9cl3vsv3rlaj417pg7uipvrum

Annual ryegrass is rapidly becoming one of the toughest weeds in U.S. row‑crop agriculture. In this episode, Alyssa Essman (Ohio State) and Joe Ikley (NDSU) talk with Tom Barber (University of Arkansas), Charlie Cahoon (NC State), and Larry Steckel (University of Tennessee) about how this weed is spreading, shifting its emergence timing, and developing resistance to multiple herbicide groups. The guests discuss the strengths and weaknesses of current control options, the importance of fall residuals, and how tactics like tillage, cover crops, and harvest weed‑seed control fit into an integrated approach. They also share ongoing research aimed at better understanding ryegrass biology and improving long‑term management.

https://crop-soil-environmental-sciences.uark.edu/people/faculty-directory/uid/ltbarber/name/Tom+Barber/ [crop-soil-...s.uark.edu]

https://cals.ncsu.edu/crop-and-soil-sciences/people/cwcahoon/ [cals.ncsu.edu]

https://utcrops.com/field-crops-team/ [utcrops.com]