For past few years at the Sunbelt Ag Expo, University of Georgia Extension weed specialist Stanley Culpepper and team have evaluated the WeedOut program, particularly looking at how the novel system might fit into a cotton production system.

Culpepper will be one of several UGA Extension specialists and researchers speaking at tour stops on the 2023 Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day July 20. Culpepper will talk about other weed work he and his team are conducting as well.

WeedOut, an Israeli-based company, created a way to reduce Palmar amaranth in fields by irradiating its pollen to sterilize it, resulting in nonviable seed and reducing the pigweed seedbank in fields over time.

“The technology shows promise as another tool to help our growers continue to manage Palmer amaranth, which remains our No. 1 economically challenging weed. But it will just be another tool. We must continue a complete systems approach to managing weeds,” he said. “There is no silver bullet for that.”

During the field day, Culpepper will also discuss other research, including:

“Weed management across Georgia’s cropping systems are dynamic and changing constantly as a result of herbicide resistance, regulatory challenges and the constant evolution of troublesome weed species such as Palmer amaranth, tropical spiderwort, morningglories and annual grasses. Our projects at the Sunbelt Expo are equally dynamic and diverse to help find workable solutions for our growers,” Culpepper said.

The 2023 Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day will be July 20 starting at 8 a.m. in Moultrie, Ga.