© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WECS · WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM · WVOF
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Invasive Plant Poses New Threat To Connecticut Farms And Livestock

Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
The leaves of the Palmer amaranth plant (left) often have white or purple chevron-shaped water marks on the upper surface. Palmer amaranth was discovered in a pumpkin field in East Windsor, Connecticut (right).

An invasive weed that’s toxic to livestock and resistant to herbicides has turned up in Connecticut. The state announced Thursday that Palmer amaranth, a type of pigweed, was discovered this fall in two pumpkin fields in East Windsor.

The weed is highly aggressive and potentially damaging to crops. Yield losses of up to 90% in corn have been recorded.

Jatinder Aulakh, a scientist with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, said farmers need to be the first line of defense.

“They need to actively scout for it on their farm and even in their neighborhood and field boundaries,” he said, “because this weed is present in Connecticut now, and we do not know how widespread it is.”

The weed is more common in southern parts of the United States. Its leaves are often identifiable by chevron-shaped water marks on the upper surface.

“We do not exactly know how it made its way into these farms,” Aulakh said. Scientists are working with farmers to determine whether bad seed mixture, dirty farm equipment, wildlife, or a combination of causes is to blame.

Aulakh said one plant can grow up to 12 feet high and produce as many as a million seeds.

“Be very active. This is the time to act,” Aulakh said. “Do not let any plant come to your farm and get established or produce any seeds.”

This story contains information from the Associated Press.

Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. He can be reached at pskahill@ctpublic.org.

Fund the Facts

You just read trusted, local journalism that’s free for everyone, thanks to donors like you.

If that matters to you, now is the time to give. Join the 50,000+ members powering honest reporting and a more connected — and civil! — Connecticut.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

Fund the Facts

You just read trusted, local journalism that’s free for everyone, thanks to donors like you.

If that matters to you, now is the time to give. Join the 50,000+ members powering honest reporting and a more connected — and civil! — Connecticut.