If you’ve traveled through the countryside lately, you’ve probably noticed a weed standing tall above the soybean fields that is in bloom right now. In fact, you may also have noticed it in your own gardens. This weed is horseweed (Erigeron candensis). It is also called mare’s tail, fleabane, or hog-weed and is in the aster family. (Click on photo to enlarge.)Horseweed is one of the first plants that has become “glyphosate resistant” which means that when GM soybeans are sprayed with glyphosate (active ingredient in Roundup), the horseweed is not killed. With no competition this weed flourishes. In fact, the plants can each have up to 1000 seeds that will soon be airborne landing mostly back in the fields but occasionally floating into your garden.
Horseweed is not yet listed on the Ohio noxious plant list, but this weed is already a major concern for Tennessee farmers. The glyphosate resistant horseweed was first noted in Ohio in 2002, and its spread is quite noticeable this year. The best way to control it is to pull it out as soon as you see it and definitely before it produces viable seeds.
-Macy Reynolds
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