By Andi Anderson
Michigan State University is leading a national effort to fight herbicide-resistant weeds in soybeans with a new $500,000 grant from the United Soybean Board.
The HERMON (Herbicide Resistance Monitoring Network) project aims to improve resistance detection, develop regional support hubs, and train future experts.
The project includes researchers from ten institutions: MSU, Kansas State, Mississippi State, Penn State, Purdue, Texas A&M, the Universities of Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
MSU assistant professor Eric Patterson heads the initiative, supported by fellow experts Erin Hill, Erin Burns, and Christy Sprague.
HERMON will create standardized greenhouse protocols, starting with MSU as the northern hub for weeds like waterhemp and marestail, Arkansas as the southern hub for Palmer amaranth, and Mississippi State for grasses. These hubs will work together to ensure accurate, consistent diagnostics for farmers.
A key innovation is the development of rapid testing tools. Teams from Penn State, Purdue, Illinois, and Texas A&M will identify resistance traits in soil-applied and foliar herbicides—types commonly used by soybean growers.
The need for this research is urgent. A 2014 report estimated herbicide-resistant weeds cost soybean growers over $2 billion annually, a figure that has only grown. The HERMON team wants to reverse this trend with new tools and strategies shared directly with farmers.
Kansas State will lead outreach efforts, including online training videos and panel discussions to educate producers. The project will also fund six graduate students and two postdocs, ensuring future expertise in weed management.
“Our goal is to equip farmers and scientists with the best tools to manage resistance,” said Patterson. “HERMON will build a lasting, collaborative network dedicated to protecting soybean productivity across the U.S.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-fertnig
Categories: Michigan, Education