Location: Northwest Sustainable Agroecosystems Research
Project Number: 2090-11000-010-010-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2022
End Date: May 31, 2027
Objective:
The objectives of this cooperative research are to:
1. Develop a system adaptive capacity by refining best weed management practices into a management toolbox based on fundamental biology and ecology of problematic weed species.
2. Develop decision aids and templates for assessing the benefits and costs of potential alternative herbicide resistance managment strategies.
3. Develop an active and engaged extension and outreach program built around fundamental and applied herbicide resistance management practices.
Approach:
Objective 1 Biology-Based Theme: Conduct herbicide resistance surveys, evaluate weed seedbank dynamics among tillage systems and crop rotations, the timing of viable seed production based on emergence timing, and germination ecology (including temperature, moisture, light requirements), and assess moisture requirement for the activation of soil-applied herbicides for use in decision support tools. Special focus will be on problematic weeds (e.g., Italian ryegrass, cheatgrass, wild oat, common lambsquarters, kochia, Russian-thistle) in PNW cropping systems.
Objective 2 Economic Theme: develop decision aids and templates that producers and community members can use to assess the benefits and costs of potential alternative herbicide resistance management strategies. Such decision aids and templates will include elements pertaining to monetary costs of treatments (including chemicals, equipment, and other), expected benefits (i.e., efficacy) of treatments, timelines for implementation, and additional considerations (e.g., potential impacts on herbicide applications in next planned rotation crop).
Objective 3 Extension and Outreach Program: Foster cooperation through a precision farming network, utilizing innovative or new approaches for co-knowledge production. Evaluate and report outcomes and impacts to stakeholders utilizing traditional and novel methods, including pre- and post-program surveys.
