Project Overview

Reports

Commodities

• Additional Plants: Christmas trees, conifers, flowers, greenhouse, ornamentals, roses, trees

• Human Health: workers, residents, applicators

• Natural Areas: forestry (conifer)

Target Pests

Practices

• Pest Management: chemical control, cultivation, cultural control, mechanical control, mulches - general, pesticide application timing, pesticides, prevention, sanitation, weed ecology

• Crop Production: greenhouses, nurseries

The ornamental industry which includes nursery, greenhouse, landscape, and Christmas tree production is a billion-dollar industry in the United States. Controlling weeds in ornamentals is an important aspect, as they can compete with the ornamental plants for substrate, nutrients, water, light, space, and air within the container, as well as in the field, and can harbor pests and pathogens. As a result, there is a decrease in the quality, aesthetic, and market value of the ornamental plants, and sometimes ornamental crops can die due to severe competition with heavy infestation of weed species. Considering the importance of weed management for successful ornamental crop production, developing a North Central United States weed control guidebook for the growers and stakeholders is an immediate need. A regional Working Group (WG) team of scientists, educators, and regulatory specialist with a wide range of expertise can facilitate the generation and development of an effective and practical weed control guidebook for ornamental crop production exclusively for the North Central region. This guidebook will be an extremely valuable resource which will help the growers efficiently develop their weed management plans and herbicide programs. It will provide information on both chemical and non-chemical options for weed control and growers will be able to access extensive lists of all registered preemergence and postemergence herbicides that are labeled and safe to use for ornamental crop production. In addition, management strategies for difficult to control weeds such as yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha), horsetail (Equisetum arvense) to name a few, and management strategies to avoid herbicide resistance development will be discussed in the guidebook. Growers and stakeholders will also get insight on best management practices of herbicides, how pesticides/herbicides can affect the environment, and how to minimize their leaching and runoff. Hence, the project objectives are: Increase awareness about current weed issues within the North Central region; Increase collaboration and communication between faculties, Extension specialists, educators, and growers; Improve knowledge and awareness on weed control practices, herbicide uses, managing herbicide resistance development and environmental impact of herbicides. The anticipated impact of this project will include significantly reducing weed-related economic and environmental impact in the North Central region through heightened awareness and improved weed management practices; Increasing collaborations among diverse scientific and Extension communities on weed management (IPM challenges); Increasing adoption of IPM practices and improving human health in the long run.

Objective 1: Increase awareness about current weed issues within the North Central region.

Objective 2: Increase collaboration and communication between faculties, Extension specialists and educators, and growers.

Objective 3: Improve knowledge and awareness on weed control practices, herbicide uses, managing herbicide resistance development, and environmental impact of herbicides.