Weed resistance is growing. That's right, the resistance of wild oats to groups 1, 2 and 8 herbicides is growing. 70 samples of wild oats were taken from elevator screenings across Saskatchewan in 1998. Of the samples taken, 63% had group 1 resistant wild oat seed, 23% had group 2, and 24% had group 8. Most of the positive results to herbicides in these groups are from the Dark Brown, Black and Grey wooded soils. This is likely because wild oat spraying is done on a much more frequent basis in these areas than in those of the Brown soil zone.
What does this mean to the producer? Well, if you have not developed an action plan for dealing with this growing problem maybe this is good time to start.
The first step toward becoming weed-smart is to rotate your herbicides. Don't rely solely on groups 1 and 2 herbicides and now even group 8 (in 1999 we have also lost use of a group 25 herbicide in this battle). However this is simply a first aid measure against weed resistance. In the long-term, being weed-smart means shifting your cropping system towards an integrated pest management system.
Make use of any and all cultural and crop management techniques at your disposal. That does not mean abandoning chemical weed control, but rather relying on it less. It could be changing the timing of when individual fields are seeded, having a diverse rotation, making use of both post and pre-emergent chemicals for in-crop weed control in your rotation, growing spring seeded and fall seeded crops or possibly including a short-term forage into your cropping plans.
The key is to not rely on any one chemical or cultural method as the total solution. With excessive dependence on any particular management technique, the producer is selecting for a particular weed spectrum. Using an integrated approach to weed control helps keep weeds off balance - hitting them with different management techniques when they least expect it.
Recently a partnership between provincial and federal agricultural departments and industry, comprised of weed experts from the prairie provinces, formed a group called WREAP (Weed Resistance Education and Action Program). The group's goals are: 1) to achieve a harmonized approach in providing information related to herbicide resistance, and 2) to motivate farmers to take action in either preventing weed resistance from occurring or dealing with the resistance problem on their farms. It will include fact sheets as well as an essay writing contest for grade 12 students from the prairie provinces.
The "Managing the Farm for the Future" essay contest is open to grade 12 students whose parents actively farm for a living in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, or the Peace River Region of British Columbia. The contest asks students to describe in 800 to 1000 words, how to manage weed resistance and still pay the bills. According to Neil Harker, member of the WREAP group, "we are looking for essays with the power to influence farmers to take action. The messages must balance the need to generate farm income today with the importance of protecting the farm's value for future generations. And what is first prize? A $10,000 scholarship! As well, one runner-up from each province will receive a $2,000 scholarship.
Entries should be mailed to: WREAP ESSAY CONTEST, 122-15 Innovation Boulevard, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 2X8 and must be received no later than March 15, 1999. Winning essays will be chosen by a panel of judges comprised of representatives from the agricultural print media, scientists specializing in weed management, farmers, and educators. For more information contact: Margaret Thibeault at the AdCulture Group, (905)875-0370, ext. 303.
Now that's how to make an integrated weed management system profitable!