Fresh off his fortieth PPO-resistant pigweed tour in the last four weeks, Jason Norsworthy has had a busy summer.

“That’s probably the most tours I’ve ever given at any one location,” says the University of Arkansas weed scientist. “This plot is in Crittenden County and there will be another three or four groups coming through in the next few days. Friday afternoon we’ll put a disk in the field before these pigweeds set seed.”

Many of the tours were given “for guys in the industry. They’ve come from around here as well as other countries to see and understand PPO-resistant pigweed – as far away as Brazil and Argentina. I’ve hosted chemical companies, seed companies, farmers, and consultants from across the U.S.  

“They’re all wanting to know what the solution is. What works? What doesn’t work? What’s the path forward? What does Liberty and dicamba look like on pigweed? What residual herbicides will work or not? How big a pigweed can we kill if it’s PPO-resistant?”

Some of the visitors from the Midwest are “really alarmed” by the plots. “The PPO resistance they have in (Midwest) waterhemp still allows for effective use of many PPO pre-emerge herbicides. That is not the case on our pigweed – we see very little activity with PPO’s applied pre-emerge or post-emerge.

“Honestly, in these plots – along with (university colleagues) Tom Barber’s and Bob Scott’s at other sites in the state – we’re one herbicide away from not being able to grow a soybean crop. Now, that’s scary.”

On the July 18 and 19, Norsworthy will transition from touring pigweed in soybean to touring many of the troublesome weeds of rice “along with an exciting solution.” On those days, showcases of Dow AgroSciences’ Loyant Rice Herbicide Technology will take place. On July 18, the first showcase will be held at the Northeast Research and Extension Center in Keiser, Ark.  On July 19, the showcase will shift south to the Rice Research and Extension Center near Stuttgart, Ark.

Both events begin at 4 p.m. and will conclude with supper beginning at 6 p.m. Tours will be led by Norsworthy and Bob Scott. Farmers and consultants will have the opportunity to learn about Dow AgroSciences’ upcoming rice technology, Loyant herbicide with Rinskor active. Loyant launch is expected in 2018, so this is a good opportunity for farmers and consultants to see the technology in advance.

Topics will include Loyant’s fit in an Arkansas rice program, its activity on resistant grasses, tank-mixes, efficacy, application timing, and symptomology. Attendees will be walking through the plots to witness the herbicide activity, so don’t forget your rice boots!

Registration is not required but is preferred to allow a better estimate for supper. You can register at www.cvent.com/d/kfq6jh/4W or by contacting either Norsworthy at (479)313-1265 or [email protected] or Darla Huff at (317) 337-5105 or [email protected].

“I’m excited about this herbicide because it’s definitely a tool that will help us with our fight against resistant weeds,” says Norsworthy. “It should really help with resistant barnyardgrass and ALS-resistant flatsedge. Growers will be able to see all that and ask questions.”