By March 10, the glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass in research plots at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, Miss., should be greening up nicely. It will be a good day to see the latest control measures for the weed pest — up close and personal.

Registration for the Glyphosate-Resistant Italian Ryegrass Field Day will begin Thursday, March 10, at 7:30 a.m., at the Capps Center on the campus of the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville. The event will include field tours and a contingency plan in case of inclement weather.

Tours will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the plot site close to the station. The tour will be in one field and will consist of five, 30-minute stops. The tours will wrap up at 11:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided at the Capps Center in Stoneville.

Currently, 12 counties in Mississippi contain glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass. Arkansas, Louisiana, and North Carolina also report cases of glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass, while resistant populations are suspected in west Tennessee. Many populations in these areas are also resistant to Hoelon and/or the ALS wheat herbicides (Osprey and PowerFlex). The resistant species can compromise traditional burndown programs.

The tours will examine glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass control methods developed by Delta Research and Extension Center weed scientists Jason Bond, Vijay Nandula and Tom Eubank.

Nandula and USDA-Agricultural Research Service weed scientist Jeff Ray will discuss origins of glyphosate resistance in Italian ryegrass in the Mississippi Delta and the evolution of the problem until today. The scientists will discuss the mechanisms of resistance in the weed and the current distribution of the weed.

Research botanist Charles Bryson, USDA-ARS, will address identification of Italian ryegrass. There are several species of ryegrass in the Mid-South.

DREC research associate Robin Bond will discuss the biology of Italian ryegrass, including information on when it emerges and how much seed it produces, etc. University of Arkansas weed scientist Bob Scott will discuss how glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass has spread into his state. Scott will also offer information on managing ryegrass in wheat.

DREC soybean weed scientist Tom Eubank will discuss post emergence control options other than glyphosate. “We’ll be looking at control options and timings with Gramoxone Inteon and tank-mix options with Gramoxone to enhance control,” Eubank said.

DREC weed scientist Jason Bond will discuss fall applications of residual herbicides. “The fall is where we need to put the majority of our efforts,” Bond said. “Just like glyphosate-resistant Palmer pigweed, we need to control it with residual herbicides rather than after it comes up.”

Bond said the timing of the field tours couldn’t be better for producers battling the weed. “Italian ryegrass emerges in the fall, is dormant for the winter and starts growing, depending on the weather, in February or early March. If you haven’t done something to control glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass, after the field day, you need to go do it.”

There will be no registration fee. You can pre-register for the field day and view a draft agenda, at http://www.msucares.com/drec/fieldday.

Research addressing ryegrass management has been ongoing at the Mississippi State University Delta Research and Extension Center since 2005. Weed scientists at Mississippi State University have developed management programs for glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass from this research. The program will be moved indoors in the event of inclement weather. For more information, contact Jason Bond at [email protected]or (662) 820-7794, or Tom Eubank at [email protected], or call (662)-822-1964. CCA credits are available.