Italian ryegrass is a winter annual weed. While we rarely talk about it in corn and soybean country, it is a terrible weed for many farmers, especially those who raise winter wheat. The good news is there are many options to slow down this tough weed.
Italian ryegrass has hairless leaves with prominent veins. The leaves also have small auricles that wrap around the stem. The ligule is membranous. The base of the plant is often a purple color. Even though this weed is just an annual, it looks similar to perennial ryegrass. Perennial ryegrass has more narrow leaves that are usually folded in the bud, where Italian ryegrass has wider leaves that are rolled in the bud. Italian ryegrass has been found to be resistant to Roundup, ALS herbicides, and ACCase herbicides in various geographies, which makes it extra difficult to control.