WERA_OLD77: Managing Invasive Weeds in Wheat
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
WERA_OLD77: Managing Invasive Weeds in Wheat
Duration: 10/01/2009 to 09/30/2014
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
In the United States invasive, alien plant infestations may cover over 100 million acres of land and spread rapidly each year. Impacts to U.S. agricultural production are enormous. Invasive weeds currently infest more than 20 million acres of winter wheat in the western U.S, costing producers over $500 million in yield losses annually. Dense infestations of weeds may result in complete crop failure while lower populations decrease yield, increase dockage, and decrease harvesting efficiency. Downy brome (Bromus tectorum) and jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica) remain difficult to manage weeds in many winter wheat production regions. In addition, feral rye (Secale cereale), ryegrass species (Lolium spp.), cheat (Bromus secalinus) and rip gut brome (Bromus diandrus) among other grass species threaten the economic viability of winter wheat production.
A thorough understanding of weed biology, ecology, and genetics is required to develop best management practices for the management of feral rye, annual ryegrass, and other invasive weeds in wheat. Strategies to slow or stop the evolution of herbicide resistance, which can limit the effectiveness of current weed management technologies for many of these species, also need to be developed. Sharing research information and coordinating research and extension efforts among weed scientists (both public and private) in the western U.S. improves understanding of invasive weeds and their management and facilitates the rapid transmission of new knowledge to wheat growers. Currently, management information regarding many of these species is limited, particularly for annual ryegrass and feral rye. The overall goal of this coordinating committee is to develop a networking structure that ultimately ensures that wheat producers have the most accurate, non-biased information possible for economical and sustainable management of invasive weeds in wheat.
Objectives
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Coordinate research into the discovery, development, and integration of management technologies (including mechanical, chemical, and cultural) for controlling invasive weeds in wheat-based cropping systems.
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Coordinate research regarding the biology, ecology, and herbicide resistance of invasive weeds that infest wheat, integrating applied, genetic, and molecular approaches.
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Integrate educational outreach programs and research findings regarding invasive weeds in wheat, targeting producers, crop consultants, grain merchandisers, grain processors, extension personnel, and other scientists.
Procedures and Activities
Develop and extend research-based information regarding cultural and chemical control practices, seed dormancy and longevity, genetics, and population dynamics of invasive weeds. Information regarding plant biology and ecology will allow the development of improved management strategies with an ultimate goal of reducing the economic impact of invasive weeds on wheat growers. Example coordinated research efforts include: (1) conducting regional integrated management projects to evaluate the effect of multiple control practices on invasive weed populations; (2) development of methods to manage existing weed seed banks and methods to reduce movement and dispersal of invasive weed seed sources and; (3) establishing Best Management Practices (BMPs) for problem weed species that incorporate economic and herbicide resistance management components
The scientific knowledge base for invasive weeds in wheat will be expanded through the publication of peer reviewed journal articles, extension publications and the development of accessible databases.
Growers will understand how to use herbicide-resistant crop technology as part of an integrated weed management program to manage invasive weeds and prolong the utility of the technology in various cropping systems. Producers must also understand the importance of herbicide resistance management in conventional and herbicide-resistant cropping systems. Therefore, continued education on delaying the onset of herbicide resistance in weed species is a primary objective of this coordinating committee.
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- The scientific knowledge base for invasive weeds in wheat will be expanded through the publication of peer reviewed journal articles, extension publications and the development of accessible databases.
- Growers will understand how to use herbicide-resistant crop technology as part of an integrated weed management program to manage invasive weeds and prolong the utility of the technology in various cropping systems. Producers must also understand the importance of herbicide resistance management in conventional and herbicide-resistant cropping systems. Therefore, continued education on delaying the onset of herbicide resistance in weed species is a primary objective of this coordinating committee.
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
Project activity in the past has resulted in several collective, interdependent activities. Some of these activities include the development and successful implementation of the National Jointed Goatgrass Research Program (www.jointedgoatgrass.org), comprehensive review papers on jointed goatgrass and glyphosate tolerant wheat, several multi-state research articles, and the development of local education programs on weed problems in wheat. Future activities will continue to build on the foundation set by the program in past years. Review papers will be developed on other invasive weeds in wheat. Regional management workshops will be conducted in the Great Plains, Intermountain states, and Pacific Northwest to educate participants on BMPs in wheat.
Information regarding the biology and management of invasive weeds, including species such as annual ryegrass and feral rye, will be provided to research and extension personnel, crop advisors/consultants, and growers in each state. Education on issues such as managing the use of herbicide-resistant crops and preventing or delaying the onset of herbicide resistant in all invasive weeds in wheat is an important educational theme.
The most critical aspects of this coordinating effort are to develop the network of scientists responsible for generating new knowledge related to weed management and the ability to then effectively transfer the important research results to producers allowing individuals to enhance their current weed management programs. Methods of technology transfer would include online information databases, informational meetings, extension publications, field tours, popular press articles, and other media sources. To take advantage of this collaboration and approach the herbicide resistance problem from a more global perspective, we propose to conduct regional diagnostic clinics related to invasive weeds in wheat in the next 1-2 years. Attendees at these clinics will include not only research and extension faculty and staff and individual growers but might also include members of state and local legislatures, state wheat grower commissions or producer boards, members of the agricultural chemical manufacturing industry, and state or local weed management groups and societies. These clinics will be delivered in a distance fashion within or among the cooperating regions and states. Other extension related projects that this group could coordinate would be to capitalize on the extension resources of the PIs and collaborators to develop content suitable for posting on the eXtension website (http://about.extension.org/). These resources would serve as a source of material that could be used for real-time professional development activities by both the general public and Extension faculty as more and more users become familiar with the eXtension environment. Research findings will also be presented and published in more traditional outlets such as referred journal publications, research reports, as proceedings of regional and national weed science societies, or as a thesis or dissertation.
Organization/Governance
Chair: 1. Maintain a liaison with the Administrative Advisor, CSREES Advisor, and other organizations with related interests. 2. Arrange for the annual meeting (room, overhead/slide projector, etc.) at site chosen by the membership. 3. Solicit items of business, prepare agenda, and preside at the annual meeting. 4. Appoint subcommittees as necessary to carry out WCC-77 business.
Recording Secretary: Record and submit minutes of the annual meeting to the Administrative Advisor and member participants. To provide continuity in leadership, the recording secretary becomes chair and a new individual is elected to serve as recording secretary.
Subcommittees: No standing subcommittees are employed and subcommittees are appointed as necessary by the chair to accomplish specific tasks.
Literature Cited
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Frihauf, J. and S. Miller. 2003. Clearfield winter wheat system: a new technology for selective control of winter annual grasses. Reflections 13:16-17.
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