War Against Weeds

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.

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...

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  

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 aime...

In this episode of War Against Weeds, Sarah and Joe sit down with Dr. Jane Mangold of Montana State University to unpack the ecology, spread, and management of cheatgrass and other invasive grasses. Jane explains why species like cheatgrass and ventenata are thriving in the Western U.S., how fire and climate patterns influence their behavior, and what tools land managers can use to stay ahead of infestations. The conversation covers biology, prevention, grazing, herbicide strategies, and new resources available to support rangeland health.   https://www.invasivegrasses.com/

In this episode of War Against Weeds, hosts Alyssa Essman and Joe Ikley sit down with Melissa Widhalm, Associate Director and Regional Climatologist at the Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC). Melissa introduces WEST — the Weed Emergence Scouting Tool — an experimental, temperature‑based system designed to predict first and peak emergence of key weeds like giant ragweed and waterhemp across the Midwest.

In this episode Alyssa Essman and Sarah Lancaster sit down with Washington State University toxicologist Dr. Allan Felsot for a crash course in Toxicology 101. Dr. Felsot breaks down how the EPA evaluates pesticide safety, explains the difference between hazard and risk, and clarifies common misconceptions about chemical exposure, tolerance, and persistence. The conversation also touches on glyphosate, PFAS-related concerns, and why effective science communication—and early education—matter for helping the public understand pesticide technology.

Season 11 opens with Dr. Brad Hanson of UC Davis, who joins Joe and Alyssa to unravel the resurgence of broomrape, a challenging parasitic weed threatening California's tomato processing industry. Brad explains how broomrape's underground lifecycle, tiny long-lived seeds, and strict reliance on host plants make it difficult to detect and manage. The episode covers the difference between broomrape species appearing in North America, why processing tomatoes are especially vulnerable, and how broomrape spreads through equipment and soil movement.   Here are some sources Dr. Hanson shared for the listeners:  UC broomrape page (in progress)...

On our last episode of season 10, all three hosts have a discussion on the future of weed science with Dr. Larry Steckel (University of Tennessee) and Dr. Aaron Hager (University of Illinois). They reflect on the evolution of weed management, including the increase of specific weed species, and the challenges of herbicide resistance. Both emphasize the need for integrated approaches, including cover crops, precision technology, and cultural practices.

Joe Ikley and Sarah Lancaster discuss the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN) and the Kansas Mesonet with directors Daryl Ritchison and Chip Redmond, respectively. NDAWN, with over 250 stations, provides high-resolution weather data, including soil moisture and temperature measurements. Kansas Mesonet, with 94 stations, focuses on real-time data for agricultural and emergency management purposes. Both networks emphasize the importance of accurate weather data for herbicide application, particularly wind speed, inversions, and delta T measurements. The conversation highlights the critical role of Mesonets in agriculture and emergency response.

Sarah and Alyssa sit down with dryland experts Jeanne Faulk Jones (Kansas State University) and Dr. Drew Lyon (Washington State University). They highlight the challenges of managing weeds in semi-arid regions, including key weeds like Palmer amaranth, Kochia, and perennial grasses. They also discuss various strategies for water conservation and weed management.   Smallgrains.wsu.edu Facebook page: K state sunflower district agronomy X: cropswithgenie

Dr. Jason Norsworthy from the University of Arkansas sits down with Alyssa and Sarah to discuss the United Soybean Board's weed management project. This project involves screening for resistance to our most used herbicides in our most problematic pigweed species.

This week Alyssa and Joe chat with Dr. Jason Bond (Mississippi State University) all about redvine! This week's episode is also a crossover episode with The Mississippi Crop situation Podcast, so check them out here! https://extension.msstate.edu/shows/mississippi-crop-situation

Alyssa Essman and Sarah Lancaster sit down with Dr. Aaron Hager (University of Illinois) and Ryan Henry (UPL) to discuss Group 5 herbicides. They cover the historical use and mechanisms of these herbicides, as well as degradation, metribuzin rates, and new herbicides to the market.    Paper mentioned in the episode: Optimizing metribuzin rates for herbicide-resistant Amaranthus weed control in soybean link: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/weed-technology/article/optimizing-metribuzin-rates-for-herbicideresistant-amaranthus-weed-control-in-soybean/ECF728739388A3DB5BA2290B1105A385

Joe & Sarah sit down with Scott Cully and Dean Grossnickle to discuss herbicide premixtures. Scott, a senior field research biology expert, highlights his role in developing products like Acuron and Storen. Dean, a technical development lead, explains his commercial perspective. They detail the development process, including formulation challenges and the importance of proper adjuvant selection. They emphasize the need for accurate application to avoid issues and the benefits of pre-mixtures for ease of use and consistent results.

Sarah & Joe sit down with Dr. Eric Patterson from Michigan State University to chat about the The HERMON (Herbicide Resistance Monitoring Network) project. This project aims to create a network of researchers to develop and share new resistance tests and management strategies. The project includes 10 states and focuses on key herbicides like glyphosate, PPO inhibitors, and dicamba.   Link mentioned in the episode:  https://www.seedworld.com/us/2025/06/19/a-unified-front-on-weed-resistance/

This week Sarah and Alyssa chat with Dr. Todd Gaines from Colorado State University. They discuss the role of cytochrome P450 enzymes in herbicide metabolism and resistance. Dr. Gaines mentions ongoing research to understand the regulation of these enzymes and the potential for using gene editing to combat resistance. They also touched on the impact of stress on P450 activity and the development of new herbicides.    Here is the article mentioned in the episode: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pld3.70102

This week on the War Against Weeds Podcast, Sarah and Alyssa chat with Dr. Allan Fritz, a professor in wheat breeding at Kansas State University! They discuss potential outcrossing between wheat and its wild relatives, particularly jointed goatgrass. The conversation touches on the potential for transgenic wheat and the regulatory challenges posed by consumer acceptance and market concerns. Link from the episode: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://wsweedscience.org/wp-content/uploads/OP5Carol.pdf

This week Sarah and Joe talk about canola production with Drs. Breanne Tidemann and Mike Cowbrough. They discuss the origins of canola, winter vs spring cultivars, and the challenges associated with growing canola.

This week Alyssa and Joe chat with Office of the Indiana State Chemist Jessica McVay and Scottie Pouliot about cover crop contamination in seed lots, and all the work they do behind the scenes.