Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The annual meeting was held at the Comfort Suites DIA, Denver, CO on Nov. 18, 2004. The meeting was called to order at 8:00 by Case Medlin. Phil Stahlman provided an update on the CSREES-USDA Special Grant Research Initiative Proposal Managing Invasive Weeds in Wheat, on behalf of Tony White. A lengthy discussion followed the matter. Carol Mallory-Smith had taken the proposal before the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and received approval from that group. The proposal was the number one priority of NAWG in 2005. The proposal has moved on to congress and it is not clear of the current status. There was additional discussion on the matter of whether there is a need for a new proposal or if it would be better to continue with an expanded version of the current initiative, Aegilops cylindrical. It was brought up that Washington State University (WSU) may not be in favor of continued housing of the Aegilops cylindrical on an expanded basis. It was also pointed out the there is better chance of continued for expanded funding if the Special Grant Research Initiative remained at WSU. A motion was made, seconded and approved to request to that WSU continue to administer the existing Aegilops cylindrical special grant with the inclusion of the expanded scope and funding of the Management of Invasive Weeds in Wheat proposal developed in 2003. A discussion followed on the status of a review paper on feral rye. There had been some delays in pulling the information together. However, a publication goal of late 2005 was suggested. Darrel Hanavan led a discussion on several issues revolving around the current federal budget climate, genetically modified wheat, and wheat export markets. A particular focus was discussioned between U.S. and Canadian grower organizations and Monsanto during the period leading up to Monsantos suspending the development of Roundup Ready wheat. Lee Sommers gave a report on reorganization of Western Coordinating Committees such as ours and listed several changes. One change of note is that we are now to be referred to as WERA-077 under the new naming guidelines. James Parochetti followed with update on the matter and budget issues from USDA-CREES. State reports which are listed with greater detail within the Annual Report (SAES-422) followed. Following state reports it was decided that the 2005 meeting of the WERA-077 would be held at the time of the America Society of America Annual Meeting in November at a location in Salt Lake City, UT. Ralph Whitesides of Utah State University was appointed Chair of the WERA-077 for 2005 with Case Medlin rotating to secretary.

Kansas State University researchers evaluated tank mixtures of Beyond, Finesse, Clarity, and/or Saber (2,4-D), and the experimental product BAS 777, with and without UAN for weed control and safety to Clearfield Wheat. Beyond and Finesse tank mixes caused the most chlorosis and stunting when applied early in the spring, but injury was reduced as applications were applied later in the spring. Finesse followed by Beyond at two and four week intervals resulted in more injury than Beyond followed by Finesse. Wheat yields were reduced 13, 9, and 10%, respectively when treated with Beyond followed by Finesse at a four week interval, Finesse followed by Beyond at a two week interval and the tank mix of Beyond and Finesse applied at late spring compared to the untreated check. Spring-applied Beyond treatments averaged 36% control of feral rye, with fall-applied applications averaging 92% control. Control was highest with UAN concentrations of 25% or higher. Fifteen to 30% crop injury was observed in tank mixtures of Beyond plus Clarity applied with 25% v/v UAN. Wheat yields were reduced by 26 to 28% with the Beyond plus Clarity tank mix, and the Beyond plus Saber tank mix had a 9% yield reduction. BAS 777 controlled volunteer rye similar to Beyond with no change in response to rate increases. Spring-applied applications controlled volunteer rye 42% or less, while control with fall-applied applications was 80 to 92%. By the end of May, volunteer rye control for most spring-applied BAS 777 and Beyond treatments averaged 37% compared to the average of 84% for most fall-applied treatments. The KSU researchers also compared Olympus Flex to Olympus, Maverick, and Osprey for control of downy brome by rate and time of application. Control was not significantly different between fall and spring applications for Osprey, but for all other treatments the fall application was significantly higher at 73% compared to 63% spring-applied. There was little or no wheat injury from fall treatments but spring-applied treatments stunted wheat growth, with increasing rates causing more stunting. Olympus Flex at rates of 2.13 up to 3.18 oz/A were among the highest yielding for both fall and spring applications. Also evaluated at experiment sites in Kansas were application timings of Finesse Grass and Broadleaf and market standards. The most effective spring treatments for downy brome were: Maverick alone or tank mixed with Finesse at 67 to 73%, or Olympus alone or mixed with Glean or Finesse at 87 to 92%. The fall treatments provided the highest downy brome control. Fall-applied Maverick or Olympus provided 92 to 98% control, while Everest alone or mixed with Glean or Finesse only provided 77 to 88% control. Grain yield, grain moisture, or test weights were not affected. Oklahoma State University researchers concentrated their grassy weed control efforts in winter wheat in two broad areas, (1) control of winter annual grasses in winter tolerant canola cultivars using Assure II, Poast Plus, Select, and Roundup Ultra Max II, and (2) continued development of existing and relatively new herbicides labeled in winter wheat that have reached the market. Experiments were established at Chickasha, Lahoma, Orlando, and Perkins, Oklahoma to investigate combinations of Olympus Flex (i.e. Olympus + Osprey), Finesse Grass & Broadleaf (i.e. Everest + Glean), and Everest + Finesse for control of cheat (Bromus secalinus), and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum). In general, Olympus Flex was more consistent from location to location in controlling Italian ryegrass than Finesse Grass & Broadleaf. Olympus Flex controlled Italian ryegrass 91% when applied in the fall. This treatment applied in the spring controlled Italian ryegrass 88%. Finesse Grass & Broadleaf controlled Italian ryegrass 76% when applied in the fall. Finesse Grass and Broadleaf controlled cheat approximately 95% and as well as other herbicide alternatives such as Maverick or Olympus. The biggest advantage of Finesse Grass & Broadleaf seems to be its broadleaf control potential. Finesse Grass & Broadleaf controlled Carolina geranium, henbit, and cutleaf evening primrose at least 98%, which was better than Maverick (which tends to control these weeds 80% to 90%), and much better than Olympus (which controlled these weeds 60%, 94%, and 75%, respectively). Texas A&M University Researchers also evaluated the new herbicide products available for the 2004/05 growing season. Ospreys control of Italian ryegrass did not exceed 70% regardless of adjuvant included in the application. Wild oat control with Olympus was comparable to that of Maverick. Also of importance was the documentation of Hoelon resistant Italian ryegrass in Texas. The location of the resistant ryegrass was contained and further spread should be minimal. Numerous experiments were conducted in eastern Washington in 2004 to evaluate various aspects of winter annual grass control in winter wheat. These projects included; (1) a jointed goatgrass seed longevity study designed to determine how long a grower must rotate to a spring crop to eliminated jointed goatgrass, (2) the second year evaluation of suspected spring annual jointed goatgrass plants (in collaboration with Oregon State Univ.), (3) downy brome population dynamics in facultative spring wheat to evaluate dormant planting of spring wheat following dry autumn weather to determine d. brome pest management, economics and d. brome seed bank dynamics, (4) a Clearfield rotation study to evaluate 2nd and 3rd year rotations with Clearfield wheat included in the rotation at varying intervals to determine risk of developing imazamox resistant populations of jointed goatgrass, and (4) a study to evaluate control methods for rattail fescue, which is being conducted with Oregon State Univ. and the Univ. of Idaho. Researchers at the Univ. of Wyoming conducted several studies to evaluate control of downy brome, jointed goatgrass, and feral rye with various herbicide combinations. In general, downy brome (evaluated at 4 studies) was controlled better with fall applications (67%-85%) than spring applications (45%-70%). Downy brome control with Olympus or Maverick was similar when applications were made in the fall and better than Finesse Grass & Broadleaf and Osprey. Downy brome control in the spring was best with Olympus, then Maverick, and then Osprey, while Finesse Grass and Broadleaf was not evaluated in the spring. Jointed goatgrass control was evaluated at one site. BAS 777 controlled jointed goatgrass 95-99% when applied in the fall and 90-95% when applied in the spring. On average jointed goatgrass control with BAS 777 was reduced 10% when Clarity was included in fall applications and 15% when Clarity was included in spring applications. Olympus + Define controlled jointed goatgrass 80% when applied in the fall but less than 5% when applied in the spring. BAS-777 controlled feral rye 15% to 20% better with fall than spring applications. The adjuvant included also impacted control of feral rye with methylated seed oil being best, followed by crop oil concentrate, and non ionic surfactant. Oregon State University graduate researcher assistants from the Corvallis research location reported their results from studies on the dormancy and germination of jointed goatgrass and vernalization requirements in rattail fescue. Results from one year of study indicate that flowering of rattail fescue is delayed without vernalization, indicating that it may be an obligate winter annual grass. Other researchers are studying the impact of wheat cytoplasm on the seed set of jointed goatgrass x wheat hybrids. Trials are also underway to investigate a foot rot disease resistance gene that, under natural field conditions, appears to have moved from wheat (Madison) to JGG. Other findings include results from ALS resistant downy brome biotypes trials. In these trials one biotype was resistant due to metabolism and the other had site based resistance. Oregon State University researchers at Pendleton continue evaluations of downy brome control in winter wheat with propoxycarbazone-sodium (Olympus), mesosulfuron (Osprey), both alone and in combination (Olympus-Flex), flucarbazone-sodium (Everest), and with PRE applications of flufenacet (Define, Axiom). Other trials were designed to evaluate adjuvants and tank mix partners in Clearfield wheat. Addition of UAN solution increased injury of the Clearfield wheat and slightly increased downy brome control. Also evaluated was the tolerance of Clearfield wheat lines to imazamox at multiple locations in eastern Oregon. Advanced lines for proposed release in the PNW had tolerance similar to FS-4 (Fidel). Tolerance to imazamox in 2-gene Clearfield spring wheat was evaluated. Finally, a cooperative study of rattail fescue (Vulpia myuros) biology, ecology, and control was initiated with Carol Mallory-Smith, Donn Thill, and Joe Yenish. Germination temperature optima, seed dormancy and longevity in the soil, vernalization requirements, and control in wheat and fallow are being investigated. University of Nebraska researchers are conducting experiments jointly with Stephen Miller at the University of Wyoming to determine best management practices for using Clearfield wheat technology to control jointed goatgrass and minimize the development of imazamox-resistant goatgrass populations. There appears to be a residual effect on jointed goatgrass density in the non-Clearfield wheat crop following a Clearfield wheat crop in the winter wheat-fallow rotation. In other experiments these researchers found that spikelets of jointed goatgrass placed on the soil surface were quickly preyed upon by rodents and remaining spikelets that germinated were short lived. Other experiments were designed to examine the effects of tillage timing, tillage type, and other cultural practices on jointed goatgrass density in winter wheat. Plowing the wheat seedbed prior to planting was effective in eliminating jointed goatgrass and in increasing wheat plant height, wheat stem counts, and wheat grain yields. Burning the seedbed also resulted in a decreased jointed goatgrass population and increased plant height, but lower wheat yields resulted. The emphasis of recent field studies with winter wheat in Utah has been to document the favorable role of alternative crop rotations with respect to managing difficult annual weeds like feral rye, wild oat, jointed goatgrass, and foxtail species. Safflower appears to be the most favorable alternative crop for Utah since a strong market exists for the crop, the same agronomic planting and harvesting equipment serve either wheat or safflower, and selective herbicides that fit well into the rotation are available which are especially active against the annual grass weeds identified above. A further refinement to the rotation has surfaced that makes safflower even more attractive and rests in the observation that safflower can follow immediately behind winter wheat in the cropping sequence to provide an additional cash crop in each six-year period using the winter wheat-safflower-fallow scheme. The grass type annual weeds tend to increase in severity in winter wheat as the wheat-fallow rotation is practiced repeatedly; whereas they quickly decline by practicing the wheat-safflower-fallow for a couple of cycles. Results have shown that the system of including dicot crops in the rotation will likely be even more effective once herbicide-resistant wheat cultivars become available in the Intermountain region. Significant Jointed Goatgrass Extension education efforts were undertaken in Utah during the 2004 cropping season. A stop during the Blue Creek Dryland Farm Field Day on June 30, 2004 was dedicated to winter annual grass control in small grains. In addition to this field day activity, an article on jointed goatgrass management in Utah appeared in the July 2004 edition of the Western Farmer-Stockman magazine. This article outlined the use of safflower as a part of a crop rotation system that was effective in controlling jointed goatgrass in the wheat producing regions of Utah. This magazine article reached farmers and ranchers throughout the west (excluding California) and was a strong effort to put the jointed goatgrass control information into the hands of the farming community.

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