Woolly cupgrass was never considered a major grassy
weed pest until relatively recently. As herbicides became more effective,
and weed management practices made life miserable for other weeds, a niche
was left for woolly cupgrass to exploit and fill and thrive in. Why woolly
cupgrass has become such a big problem in many areas of the North Central
corn belt is not certain, but its ability to survive herbicides in one of
them, possibly because dormant branching nodes at the base, or crown region,
of the plant can regrow after imperfect herbicide treatment.Lets take a peak at woolly cupgrass seedlings:
