Over 120 reports of Palmer amaranth investigated in 30 Minnesota counties since 2016



department of agriculture


Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page [ [link removed] ].

October 1, 2025

October Weed of the Month: Update on Palmer Amaranth in Minnesota

Over 120 reports of Palmer amaranth investigated in 30 Minnesota counties since 2016
Palmer amaranth plant with many green oval shaped leaves. [ [link removed] ]

A single Palmer amaranth plant growing in a soybean field.

*Download photo [ [link removed] ]*

________________________________________________________________________



*By Julia Dellick, Minnesota Department of Agriculture* - Palmer amaranth is a fast-growing, annual weed that is detrimental to row crops and can add higher production costs to farmers already dealing with high costs like fertilizer and fuel. Palmer amaranth poses several key problems for modern agricultural producers:


* Palmer amaranth is a fast-growing annual plant that produces 100,000 – 500,000 seeds per plant.
* Plants can reach heights of 10 feet, enabling them to shade and outcompete crops.
* The stalks of mature Palmer amaranth plants are thick and can clog combines. Depending on the infestation size, harvest can be severely impeded.
* Palmer amaranth and related pigweeds have developed resistance to several important herbicide classes utilized in modern agronomic weed management.
* In field trials, Palmer amaranth can reduce corn and soybean yield by 70-90%.

* Unlike other Amaranthus species, Palmer amaranth is not cultivated for food. It is more closely related to pigweeds than to the more well-known edible Amaranthus species in the genus.

These characteristics highlight the potential for significant negative impacts on Minnesota crops if Palmer amaranth is not effectively controlled. For these reasons, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) considers Palmer amaranth to be a high priority noxious weed and has been working closely with farmers, crop consultants, and University of Minnesota Extension educators to eradicate new infestations when discovered.

Since 2016, the MDA has investigated over 120 reported locations of Palmer amaranth in 30 Minnesota counties. Out of these locations, only 44 sites across 17 counties were found to have Palmer amaranth actively growing. Due to the collaborative efforts of landowners working with the MDA, 21 of the 44 sites (48%) have been eradicated of Palmer amaranth. Palmer amaranth is considered eradicated if there have been no plants at a site in three years.

In 2025, five new suspected sites were reported to the MDA, but none were found to have Palmer amaranth present. In addition to the five new sites, the MDA revisited 35 other sites that previously had Palmer amaranth. Only four sites were found to still have Palmer amaranth growing. These sites are being actively managed by the MDA and landowners.

If you suspect you have Palmer amaranth in your fields, here are some steps to take to help prevent Palmer amaranth from becoming a major crop pest in Minnesota:


* Early detection is key,  so learn how to identify Palmer amaranth. It can be challenging to tell Palmer apart from other pigweeds, but it is possible to become familiar with the different species. Visit the MDA’s Palmer webpage [ [link removed] ], the U of M’s webpage, or [ [link removed] ] Minnesota Crop Newsletter [ [link removed] ] to learn about the species. Being able to identify Palmer early will make management much easier.
* Regularly scout fields during the growing season. As Palmer grows, it becomes much easier to identify. If you think Palmer is present, contact the MDA through our Report a Pest. [ [link removed] ]
* Connect with your local Extension Crop Specialist or your crop consultant to develop a preemptive weed management plan to minimize the likelihood of Palmer amaranth establishment in your fields.

________________________________________________________________________



For more information on noxious weeds and invasive insects, listen and subscribe to Smarty Plants [ [link removed] ], a Minnesota Department of Agriculture podcast. 

*MEDIA: *Contact Brittany Raveill, MDA Communications, at [email protected] or 651-201-6131 for more information on Weed of the Month






Stay Connected with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture:   Facebook [ [link removed] ] Twitter [ [link removed] ] Youtube [ [link removed] ] Flickr [ [link removed] ] Flickr [ [link removed] ] Govdelivery [ [link removed] ]  

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:
Manage Subscriptions [ [link removed] ]  |  Unsubscribe All [ [link removed] ]  |  Help [ [link removed] ]



 

________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Minnesota Department of Agriculture ·625 Robert Street N · Saint Paul, MN 55155 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]


body .abe-column-block {min-height: 5px;} table.gd_combo_table img {margin-left:7px; margin-right:7px;} table.gd_combo_table div.govd_image_display img, table.gd_combo_table td.gd_combo_image_cell img {margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px;}