Tom Peters
About Tom:
Thomas (Tom) Peters is the Extension sugarbeet agronomist and weed control specialist at North Dakota State University and the University of Minnesota, supporting farmers growing sugarbeets in Minnesota and North Dakota. Peters’ position is a partnership between both universities. His interests are a weed control system that combines various mechanical and cultural control techniques complimenting pre and post herbicide use in sugarbeet and weed control in crops in sequence with sugarbeet.
About the Panel:
Panel: Holy smokes! Weeds were everywhere in 2025. We need a new perspective.
Wednesday, December 3
2-2:50 p.m.
Orchestra CD
Panelists include:
Logan O’Rourke, River Hills Ag Service
Curt Burns, C.B. Agronomics LLC
Dorian Gatchell, Minnesota Agricultural Services
Darrol Ike, AgroInfoMN
I pride myself on the summer travel I take to observe agricultural fields. What is a lasting memory of 2025? Weeds were everywhere in all areas I traveled in Minnesota and Eastern North Dakota. And waterhemp was number one. I observed waterhemp in small grains, and in soybean and dry bean. I walked through beautiful corn fields, but found waterhemp below the canopy. And of course, waterhemp was especially prolific in sugarbeet fields. I don’t have the answers. However, I know we need to spend some time brainstorming to find new ideas. My approach is to cast a wider net.
I have significant respect for our crop consultants in Minnesota. Our consultants have a viewpoint across the cropping sequence and have the benefit of experience. Our consultants walk thousands of acres of fields; fields in different geographical areas that received a multitude of unique environmental conditions.
This panel discussion is our opportunity to learn from them. To appreciate their experience and to grasp their perspective on how we navigate this dynamic and ever-changing challenge.