Bindweed causes direct losses to crop yield. Dense infestations may reduce crop yields by 50 to 60 percent.

It clogs machinery, increasing the difficulty of harvesting. When field bindweed is present, certain crops such as onions, melons, and tomatoes cannot be successfully grown.

In rangeland, field bindweed is a pest because it reduces forage quality and land value.

Because of its impact on agricultural crops, field bindweed is on the noxious weed lists of 18 U.S. states.