Woolley cupgrass is here and probably isn't going to go home. Several characteristics make woolly cupgrass difficult to manage. The seeds germinate over a wide range of temperatures so woolly cupgrass can germinate early in the spring with additional flushes occurring throughout the season. The large seeds germinate from up to four inches deep and produce large, vigorous seedlings. Also, the seedlings are more tolerant to several soil applied herbicides than giant foxtail, which has made control difficult.
Uncontrolled plants are prolific seed producers.
Single woolly cupgrass plants can produce over 150,000 seeds. Once established in a field, seed dormancy will ensure that infestations will continue into the future. Chris Boerboom, UW Extension Weed Specialist , offers these woolly cupgrass management strategies. Because woolly cupgrass is probably spread by contaminated field equipment, till and harvest infested fields last to prevent moving seed to noninfested fields. After tilling, chopping silage, or combining in infested fields, thoroughly clean the equipment.