Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Meeting called to order by Chair Corey Ransom. Corey Ransom welcomed the group and asked Lee Sommers to provide information about the current status of the WERA-077 project. Lee Sommers in formed the group that we must submit application for renewal of project by January 15 or May 15 in order to be reviewed. The goals of the project may be similar to the current group, provided it is agreed that the goals of the group should be the same. We must find some agreement of what the objectives should be. Objectives for the new project should be posted to the website soon, so that Lee can send to other AES directors. All present agreed that the project should continue into the future. Lee Sommers suggested that outreach and education could be strengthened in a new proposal. Joe Yenish would like some help with the new website to make it a nice central repository of information on grass weeds in wheat. Corey Ransom asked what the focus of the new project should be. Phil Westra mentioned that the Jointed Goatgrass Research (JGGR) group was one of the most important things to have happened for ag research since it stimulated cooperative research, provided a small source of funding, and resulted in a large amount of quality research. The JGGR project was a direct result of discussions from the WCC-77 project. Corey Ransom asked whether the group should be expanded to all weeds in wheat, rather than just grass weeds in wheat. Joe Yenish pointed out that grass weeds remain the most difficult and expensive to control. Corey Ransom suggested keeping the name "Invasive weeds in wheat" to keep the focus broad enough to not exclude any research avenues in the future. Phil Westra emphasized that it is important to keep in mind the separation between the coordinating committee (WERA 077) and the JGGR project. Joe Yenish pointed out that the JGGR project (as well as any future NRI grants) are products from the group. Drew Lyon also mentioned the feral rye publication as an output of the group. Phil Westra suggested that if we plan to create/revise objectives to continue the group, we should focus on creating draft objectives at this meeting. All agreed that the bulk of this annual meeting should be spend outlining potential future directions for the WERA 077 group. Lee Sommers updated the group on some relevant events at the Federal level, including: restructuring of USDA with added focus on conveying the need for agricultural research; new farm bill; and creation of the National Institiute of Food & Agriculture, patterned after NSF, with a trained scientist as the head of the program. Potential research and extension funding sources include: specialty crop research, organic research, small farms, and biomass production. One office will oversee NIFA, ARS, ERS, FWS in order to increase the resources available for formula funding (capacity programs) as well as competitive grants. Capacity programs seem to be safe at the moment. There is a heavy focus on integrated research and extension projects. Lee Sommers expects to see guidelines or details soon with respect to AFRI (matching, indirect costs, etc.), but likely a 30d turnaround on the actual RFA. Weed science societies could potentially put input into the comment times for RFAs, as all have a comment period. There was a brief discussion on the current status of the JGGR Initiative. Andy Hulting suggested working on draft objectives for the WERA77 renewal while Lee Sommers and Phil Westra are present. As of this meeting, the current objectives for WERA 077 are: 1. Coordinate research regarding the biology, ecology, and genetics of ryegrass, feral rye, and other invasive weeds in wheat. 2. Coordinate the evaluation of new management and wheat breeding technologies for controlling invasive weeds, development of best management practices (BMPs), and assessment of herbicide resistance management strategies in various cropping systems . 3. Develop educational outreach programs based on research findings regarding invasive weeds in wheat, including programs initiated by the National Jointed Goatgrass Research Program, targeting producers, crop consultants, extension personnel, or professional scientists. 4. Merge information from research studies into an effective technology transfer program to illustrate how these invasive species can affect net profits and to reduce the economic impact of ryegrass, feral rye and other invasive weed species in wheat. 5. Conduct surveys to monitor the extent and spread of weeds in wheat through surveys or similar methods. Phil Westra thought that when other researchers (not just applied weed researchers) are involved with grants, potential for success increases. He suggested adding some more basic components of research as an objective for the new project. After much discussion, the following objectives were proposed as a starting point to discuss at the 2009 WERA 077 meeting: 1. Coordinate research into the discovery, development, and integration of management technologies for controlling invasive weeds in wheat. 2. Coordinate research regarding the biology, ecology, and herbicide resistance of invasive weeds in wheat, integrating applied, genetic, and molecular approaches. 3. 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. Andy Hulting provided a summary of the decision on the Italian ryegrass proposal submitted to NRI last year. The review panel saw several positives in the proposal, and it seems that the proposal is worth revising and resubmitting. Joe Yenish provided a copy of the letter of intent for the feral proposal, and informed the group that the proposal was not invited for a full proposal. The group discussed how the letter could be improved for future submission. Corey Ransom asked for other ideas for on collaborative research that might be fundable. Drew Lyon suggested a possible proposal for organic control of winter annual weeds in wheat. Organic and Integrated proposals may be a niche with good funding potential for this group. Joe Yenish suggested carbon sequestration, fixation, climate change, fertilizer (carbon) use of rye vs.wheat. Andy Hulting suggested biofuel production. All agreed that it is imperative that we have a good turnout at the upcoming 2009 meeting in order to stimulate discussion about collaborative research projects. We should begin advertising the meeting soon in order to allow participants to make travel plans in conjunction with the WSWS meeting. Discussion about the agenda for the March meeting, and goals for the meeting were discussed. The group solicited nominations for secretary for 2009. Andrew Kniss nominated Andy Hulting. The nomination was seconded by Phil Westra. The vote was unanimous in favor of Andy Hulting becoming secretary in 2009. Andrew Kniss will move from secretary to chair at the conclusion of the 2008 meeting. At 5:00pm, the meeting was adjourned for the evening, and set to reconvene at 8:00am November 12. Discussion about feral rye AFRI proposal. Joe Yenish agreed he would write a first draft of a Letter of Intent for the proposal, and send it out to interested parties for review. Brief reports were given by participants. Andrew Kniss suggested that due to the short time between 2008 and 2009 meetings (since moving meeting to coincide with WSWS in March), that full state reports could be postponed until the 2009 meeting and cover research and extension activities for 2008. Discussion of grass weeds in wheat website. http://jointedgoatgrass.wsu.edu/index.htm Joe Yenish needs help getting the site up to date and content added to the site. The JGGR portion of the site has a fair amount of information, but the other species need information. It was decided to bring this topic up at the 2009 meeting and ask for volunteers to take an 'ownership' role for a species. It would help tremendously in getting support for this project if a small funding source were available to help find information to post to the sites. Possible funding sources for this project include WSWS or a small IPM grant. Plans for the 2009 Meeting It was agreed that we should send an announcement about the 2009 meeting to the WSWS membership to be sure everyone interested in participating may make appropriate travel plans, since the meeting will be held in conjunction with WSWS. Corey Ransom will get an announcement out to the WSWS. Andy Hulting will contact Carol Mallory-Smith to ask about meeting arrangements. Andrew Kniss will begin work on the renewal information. Prior to the 2009 meeting, Andrew Kniss will send the renewal information to the WERA077 listserv and let them know that review and approval of the information will be an agenda item at the 2009 meeting. Potential Agenda Items: " Renewal of project (approval of objectives, etc.) " Potential future meeting times (WSWS or WSSA or other) " Discussion of research and extension activities - divided by species? indicate information on the topic that will be presented at the upcoming meeting " Ask for state reports prior and have individuals lead discussion on various topics (species, regions, etc.) " Discussion of website " Review of the purpose of the group, previous accomplishments " Invite the current CSREES rep to speak briefly " Potential speakers to present information... such as Roger Sheley, or other range management perspective " Coordinated grant efforts " Election of new secretary/chair

The committee will meet in the future with the Western Society of Weed Science at a spring meeting. Detailed reports on state accomplishments will be presented at the meeting in March, 2009.