A news release from the Weed Science Society of America last week covered the results of a study in Arkansas cotton fields to determine the effect over time of releasing 20,000 glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth seeds in a patch, within a 1-square-mile area.

Palmer amaranth is native to the Southwest but has been expanding its range for at least 50 years. Most recently it has moved into the Midwest and has been reported in all Corn Belt states except for Minnesota and the Dakotas.

A naturally occurring fungus may prove useful in the fight against Palmer amaranth, an aggressive southern weed that can grow at the rate of two inches a day and outcompete corn, cotton, soybean and other crops for resources, potentially reducing their yields.