Pat Shingleton for October 8, 2009
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We’re close to harvest time in south Louisiana, including sugar cane and soybeans. Arkansas farmers are struggling with a menacing weed that is compromising the cotton crop. “ABC World News Tonight” reports “pig weed” is dominating the fields. This summer, pesticides that originally controlled the weed are no longer effective. Experts declare it uncontrollable as it chokes more than a million acres of cotton and soybeans. Some farmers have spent more than $500,000 fighting a plant that won’t die. Pig weed grows 3 inches a day and is as big as a baseball bat at its base. It not only kills crops, but destroys the blades on combines and cotton pickers. A new, engineered herbicide won’t be available for 7 years.
Fastcast: Sticky.
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, high near 91. Southerly winds 5 mph to 15 mph. Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, low around 74. Southerly winds 5 mph to 10 mph.
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