Palmer Amaranth Confirmed in Southwest New York
Joshua Putman, Field Crops and Forage Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) is a serious problem for many growers throughout the United States because of its competitiveness and effect on agricultural production. Palmer amaranth is commonly confused with other pigweeds and is often difficult to identify in the early stages of growth. Much of the Palmer amaranth in the United States is resistant to several classes of herbicides such as glyphosate, and it's common for many of these to be resistant to ALS-inhibiting herbicides such as Pursuit and Classic.
Earlier this fall, it was noticed in two dry bean and several soybean production fields in Steuben County. This is the second population of Palmer amaranth to be found in New York, but is the first population to be found in a crop production setting. The fields are located along a high traffic roadway where it's possible that the specimens came in on a tractor trailer or piece of machinery. It is important to know the biology of Palmer amaranth to avoid its potential to spread to surrounding counties.
Palmer amaranth is aggressive as it competes for nutrients, sunlight, and water. Palmer amaranth has dioecious reproduction, so individual plants are either male or female, which forces outcrossing and genetic diversity. Under ideal conditions, Palmer amaranth can grow 2-3 inches per day and within a few months of emergence, can reach heights of 6-8 feet. It is a highly prolific seed producer in that it can produce 100,000-600,000 seeds per female plant. The seed is also very small and can be transported via machinery, mud, or travel on the bottom of your shoe. As the plant matures, it forms a poinsettia appearance and is a key characteristic for identification. It has been found that the presence of this weed species can double or triple your cost of management on the farm. If you suspect you have this weed species, please contact your local specialist or CCE office for correct identification and management. You may also see the link below for more information.
Upcoming Events
WNY Pastureland Conversion & Soil Health Field Day
July 16, 2025
Middleport, NY
Join American Farmland Trust for the Western New York Soil Health Field Day on July 16, 2025, at Zeliff Farm in Middleport, NY, from 9:00 AM-3:15 PM. Learn about pasture conversion, soil health benchmarking, biochar in grazing systems, and best grazing practices. Plus, enjoy hands-on demos with the NY Soil Health Trailer, drones, and cover crops! Check out the attached agenda for more information about the field day and REGISTER HERE. Zeliff Farms is a regenerative beef operation who has recently partnered with AFT on outreach and education to farmers including learning circles and evaluating biochar effects on soil health.
IPM Strategies to Protect Corn and Soybean Seed in NY

July 30, 2025
Hamburg , NY
SWNYDLFC and Cornell IPM are hosting a grower meeting to discuss integrated pest management strategies for protecting corn and soybean seed in New York.
FAMACHA Training for Sheep and Goat producers in Woodhull NY
August 13, 2025 : FAMACHA Training in Woodhull
Woodhull, NY
Join us for a discussion and hands-on training for internal parasite integrated pest management in sheep and goats. Certification is available to all students participating in the workshop.
Announcements
No announcements at this time.