The potential agricultural impact of Japanese chaff flower

 Could Japanese chaff flower have agricultural impact?  A recent field day at Southern Illinois University's Belleville Research Station taught growers how to recognize the plant if they see it in their fields.  See the information below with a link to the full article from Illinois Farmer Today.

"Achyranthes japonica, or Japanese chaff flower, is a relatively new invasive species that is plaguing the Ohio River Valley. This species is a relative to some prominent agriculture weeds and grows in both forested areas and along agriculture field margins. Thus, all land owners/managers should be aware of this rapidly spreading species and know how to identify and control it. Southern Illinois University, the only university conducting research on this species in the U.S., did this at their annual Belleville Research Field Day in July. Over 150 people attended the field day where they learned, in part, about Japanese chaff flower and its threat to their properties. Some of the threats posed by this species is that it has continual germination throughout the growing season, it is a perennial species, and it can spread rapidly by a variety of vectors. Also, Japanese chaff flower has about a 97 percent germination rate; whereas other weed species in the family have about a 14 percent germination rate. ​With help from field days like this, information about Japanese chaff flower, and other invasive species, reaches the public in a positive way. Please do not hesitate to report any sightings of Japanese chaff flower. "   --Lauren Schwartz

Article: Next palmer amaranth or waterhemp?
http://www.illinoisfarmertoday.com/news/crop/next-palmer-amaranth-or-waterhemp/article_246ef8aa-1d7b-11e4-81a9-0019bb2963f4.html