Illinois farmers have a new weed on their radar: Asian copperleaf, confirmed for the first time in the state after showing up in a Stephenson County cornfield post-harvest.
The non-native summer annual species, Acalypha australis, was first documented in New York in 1990 and then in Iowa in 2016. Illinois is now the third state with a confirmed population, according to a community announcement.
Aaron Hager, a weed science professor at the University of Illinois, emphasized the importance of early identification and management.
‘It’s more advantageous to remain in front of a new weed challenge’
“Our goal is to give Illinois farmers and weed management practitioners the information necessary for them to scout and identify populations of Asian copperleaf,” Hager said. “We hope this will allow any additional populations to be identified so that management can be implemented to reduce the movement of seed to additional fields. It’s more advantageous to remain in front of a new weed challenge rather than allow it to get in front of us.”…