The 2026 Wisconsin Extension Weed Management Workshop, themed “Managing in a Resistance Era,” highlighted researchers’, graduate students’, farmers’, and consultants’ work to manage a costly issue in agriculture: herbicide resistance.
With tight margins, on-farm decisions like selecting adjuvants to help herbicides effectively get into plant tissues to whether or not to cover crop are essential pieces of the puzzle to keep operations profitable.
Dr. Rodrigo Werle addresses the crowd at the 2026 Wisconsin Extension Weed Management Workshop in Arlington on Sept. 2.
Dr. Patrick Tranel, professor of weed science at the University of Illinois, showed that weeds are evolving to become smarter. Whether through specific target-site resistance or non-specific metabolic resistance, weeds that have adapted to be resistant to specific herbicides or the ways in which the herbicides work survive even when herbicide applications are done perfectly.
Dr. Patrick Tranel presents “Why Have the Rules Changed for Managing Herbicide Resistance?“
The WiscWeeds Team highlighted the status of herbicide resistance to several pre- and post-emergent herbicides for both corn and soybeans as well as new technologies coming to market soon that will expand soybean herbicide tolerance profiles.
Farmers Steve Hoffman, Karl Geske, Pat Mullooly, and Andy Bensend shared their experiences with weed management whether as farmers, consultants, or both.
Steve Hoffman, Karl Geske, Pat Mullooly, and Andy Bensend participate in a weed management panel discussion.
Greg Dahl, director of adjuvant education with the Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology discussed selecting proper adjuvants and how they can help herbicides better pentrate, stick to, and kill weeds.
The day ended with a field tour of the WiscWeeds plots at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station and Babcock ice cream.
Greg Dahl presents, “Making Good Adjuvant Decisions: Selection, Performance, and Practical Lessons.”
UW–Madison Extension’s Weed Management Workshop is an annual event hosted by UW–Madison Extension and Dr. Rodrigo Werle’s WiscWeeds program. Stay tuned for recordings of both keynote talks, and visit our webpage for 2027 event information coming soon.