Farmers will soon benefit from a new weed seed test that will help them stay ahead of invasive, prolific Palmer amaranth weed infestations. The new genetic test can detect one Palmer seed in a mix of 200 pigweed seeds with 99% accuracy. Researchers hope it will be commercially available by the end of 2021. A team of scientists from Minnesota, Colorado and Michigan started collaborating on an identification assay in 2018 after Minnesota prioritized tamping out the aggressive invasive. Palmer amaranth was first found in September 2016 in the state; later that fall, the ag commissioner listed Palmer as a prohibited noxious weed seed. That listing means that any seed lot contaminated with Palmer is not legal for sale. Seed lots properly labeled must have a noxious exam that includes genetic testing to determine if any amaranth seed found is Palmer.