An exotic invasive shrub, introduced in the 1800s as a garden plant, is being studied to demonstrate how its presence has a cascading damaging effect on natural flora and fauna, no-till agriculture and public health. Ohio State University entomologists are collaborating with Michigan State University and Iowa State University in a three-year research project to determine the distribution of buckthorn throughout Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota and Iowa.

Late-season rains and later than normal canopy closure have led to several weedy soybean fields.