2021 Spring Farm

2021 Logan County Farm Outlook LINCOLN DAILY NEWS March 18, 2021 Page 13 I nvasive plants present one of the most difficult problems facing Central Illinois farmers today. There is a great need to control and eradicate invasive plants because they can adversely impact profitability. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service says an invasive plant is one “whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm, or harm to human health.” These plants often produce many seeds, may have aggressive root systems, and “thrive on disturbed soil.” Invasive plants may cause devastation to agriculture by reducing crop yields and affecting livestock production. Among the thousands of invasive plants are several that cause issues around the Central Illinois area and are hard to control. Troublesome invasive plants to watch for include garlic mustard, kudzu, common waterhemp, giant ragweed, common cocklebur, and ivy leaf morning glory. These invasive plants come in various shapes and sizes. Traits may include root systems that are aggressive and may displace native plants and kill vegetation in addition to decreasing crop yields. Invasive plant causing problems for many farmers is Palmer Amaranth, an annual weed which the USDA says “may grow more than three inches a day eventually reaching more than six feet tall.” This weed “produces thousands with invasive plants in Central Illinois The ongoing struggle Common Cocklebur Garlic Mustard Kudzu Continue 4