Weed Problems

    Nightshade was the worst weed problem for 29% of Northarvest respondents on 36% of the acres
reported. This percentage is up from 14% of respondents and 18% of acres in 1997 when nightshade
also was the worst weed problem. In 1996 nightshade was the worst weed for 12% of respondents on
12% of their acres; it was the second worst weed behind wild mustard (Table 13). The nightshade
problem has increased dramatically in recent years due to wetter weather, high seed production and
dissemination, multiple flushes, and lack of control in row crops.

    Redroot pigweed was the worst weed for 10% of Northarvest respondents, representing 10% of the
acres reported. Canada thistle was the worst weed for 10% of respondents on 9% of the acres reported,
and foxtail was the worst weed for 8% of respondents on 8% of their acres. Ragweed was the worst
weed for 9% of respondents on 6% of the acres reported, followed by kochia for 5% of respondents
on 6% of their acres, cocklebur for 6% of respondents on 6% of their acres, wild mustard for 5% of
respondents on 5% of their acres and lambsquarters for 8% of respondents on 5% of their acres
(Table 13). Wild mustard was the worst weed in 1996, the fifth worst weed in 1997 and the eighth
worst weed in 1998, indicating a shift in weed problems since 1996.

    In Minnesota, nightshade was the worst weed for 30% of survey respondents on 37% of the Minnesota
acres reported. This contrasts to 1997 when it was the third worst weed in Minnesota, reported as the
worst on 14% of respondents' acres. Nightshade was the worst weed on nearly three times as many
acres in 1998 as in 1997. Redroot pigweed was the worst weed for 14% of respondents on 18% of
the acres reported. This is a decrease from 1997 when redroot pigweed was the worst weed for 26%
of respondents on 28% of their acres. Ragweed was the worst weed for 18% of respondents on 17%
of their acres, followed by lambsquarters which was the worst weed for 19% of respondents on 16%
of their acres and foxtail which was the worst weed for 7% of respondents on 6% of their acres (Table 13).

    In North Dakota, nightshade was the worst weed for 29% of respondents on 35% of the North Dakota
acres reported, nearly double 1997 when it was the worst weed for 14% of respondents' on 19% of
their acres. Canada thistle was the worst weed for 14% of respondents on 13% of acres reported, which
is similar to 1997 and 1996. Foxtail, cocklebur and redroot pigweed were each the worst weed for 8%
of respondents on 8%, 8% and 7% of respondents' acres, respectively. Kochia and wild mustard each
was the worst weed for 6% of respondents on 7% of their acres (Table 13). Foxtail and wild mustard
each was a less common problem in 1998 than in 1997. Cocklebur was about the same both years.

Table 13: Worst weed problem in 1998 in Minnesota and North
                 Dakota

    Nightshade was ranked most frequently as one of the three worst weed problems for Northarvest
respondents, with 53% of respondents' acres affected, followed by cocklebur on 31%, Canada thistle
on 30%, redroot pigweed on 22%, ragweed on 22%, lambsquarters on 16% and kochia on 16%
(Table 14). Nightshade was about twice as common a weed problem in 1998 as in 1997, as was
cocklebur.

    In Minnesota, ragweed was ranked most frequently as one of the three worst weed problems on
59% of  respondents' acres, followed by nightshade on 55%, redroot pigweed on 40%, lambsquarters
on 32%, foxtail on 20%, Canada thistle on 13% and cocklebur on 11% (Table 14). Ragweed and
nightshade were almost twice as commonly ranked among the three worst weeds in 1998 as in 1997.
Redroot pigweed was a less commonly ranked weed problem in 1998 than in 1997.

    In North Dakota, nightshade was ranked most frequently as one of the three worst weeds on 53%
of respondents' acres, followed by cocklebur on 38%, Canada thistle on 37%, foxtail on 23%, kochia
on 19% and redroot pigweed on 16% (Table 14). Nightshade and cocklebur were each one of the
three worst weed problems on about 50% more respondents' acres in 1998 than in 1997.

Table 14: Weeds ranked one of the three worst in 1998 in Minnesota
                 and North Dakota