Italian Ryegrass Control Field Tour Slated for March 27

For a second consecutive year, the University of Kentucky will host the Italian Ryegrass Control Field Tour. Presented by Dr. Travis Legleiter, UK Extension Associate Professor - Weed Science, this year’s tour will take place Thursday, March 27, 2025. (University of Kentucky Research and Education Center)

Italian Ryegrass Control Field Tour Slated for March 27

Will be held at Caldwell County Extension Office

By: Jason Travis, University of Kentucky Research and Education Center

PRINCETON, Ky. — For a second consecutive year, the University of Kentucky will host the Italian Ryegrass Control Field Tour. Presented by Dr. Travis Legleiter, UK Extension Associate Professor – Weed Science, this year’s tour will take place Thursday, March 27, 2025. The day will begin at 9 a.m. CDT with introductory remarks at the Caldwell County Extension Office, located at 1025 U.S. Hwy. 62 W. in Princeton. A caravan will then proceed to the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center in Princeton to tour ryegrass research plots. Topics will cover ryegrass control in the fall and spring prior to no-till corn and soybean planting as well as continued research on ryegrass control in wheat. The field tour will conclude by 11:30 a.m. 

“The battle against Italian ryegrass is increasing in the commonwealth every year with more cases of failed ryegrass burndowns occurring each spring. We are continually looking for better options for gaining an advantage on this troublesome weed and are excited to showcase some of our findings so far at the 2025 Italian ryegrass Field Tour,” Legleiter said. 

Once categorized as solely a problem in wheat, Italian ryegrass has increasingly become problematic in all of Kentucky’s major agronomic crops, now affecting no-till corn and soybean acres. Italian ryegrass (aka annual ryegrass)  is one of the most problematic weed species globally with over 75 unique cases of herbicide resistance reported across the world.   If allowed to compete with corn, Italian ryegrass can reduce yields up to 60%.   Options for Kentucky farmers to control this weed prior to corn and soybean planting will be discussed for maximum control of this increasingly worrisome weed.

For more information about the 2025 Italian Ryegrass Control Field Tour call (859) 562-2569 or email jason.travis@uky.edu.