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Identification and Management of Palmer Amaranth in South Dakota

Updated April 08, 2022
Professional headshot of Sara Bauder

Sara Bauder

SDSU Extension Forage Field Specialist

Written collaboratively by Ruth Beck, former SDSU Extension Agronomy Field Specialist, Gared Shaffer, SDSU Extension Weeds Field Specialist and Sara Bauder SDSU Extension Agronomy Field Specialist.

Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) is an aggressive weed that can be resistant to multiple herbicide sites of action. This weed is native to the southwest U.S. and Mexico but is slowly making its way north.

Proper identification is an important component of managing this weed. Palmer amaranth is from the pigweed family and therefore can be mistaken for waterhemp, redroot pigweed, prostrate pigweed, and other common pigweeds that grow in South Dakota.