Field Day Teaches Research-Based Solutions for Weed Control
JACKSON, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) will host their annual Weed Tour on Thursday, June 20, at 8:30 a.m. at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center, located at 605 Airways Boulevard in Jackson, Tennessee.
The event will feature field presentations of more than 40 weed management tests in cotton, corn and soybeans, providing local farmers with an in-depth look into current UTIA pesticide research. Larry Steckel, UT Extension weed specialist, will lead the tour along with Lauren Lazaro, senior agronomist with Blue River Technology.
Steckel says that farmers across Tennessee are encountering weeds resistant to common herbicides and pesticides, posing a threat to row crop production. “This year’s Weed Tour will showcase our ongoing research to resolve the rising challenge of herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth, commonly known as pigweed, and various other grasses that are now resistant to many commercial pesticides. It’s important that we provide stakeholders with cost-efficient weed management solutions that can help protect their crops.”
The tour will also include demonstrations of a tractor-mounted See & Spray™ test system from John Deere that uses visual recognition and machine learning to selectively spray herbicides and pesticides rather than broadcasting treatments over a large area. This advanced technology will improve accuracy during application, reducing chemical waste while saving farmers money and essential resources.
After the event, tour leaders will be available for consultation to discuss weed control issues and available options, helping attendees address threats to their crops to better ensure a profitable growing season.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.