Progress 08/01/08 to 07/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Rapid and accurate weed identification is at the core of an integrated pest management approach. A major limitation hindering weed identification is the decreasing availability of taxonomic services available to crop producers, crop management advisors, county extension agents, diagnosticians, and others associated with crop production. To fill this gap, we developed an electronic multi-entry key for identifying weedy plant species in small grain fields. The key was built using commercially available software (Lucid Builder) and is available at the High Plains IPM Wiki website (http://wiki.bugwood.org/HPIPM:Small_Grains). A total of 343 weed species belonging to 41 families were included in the multi-entry key. In the key, these weed species can be identified utilizing 50 morphological and phonological features groped in 8 categories (a. Location in which plant was collected, b. Current life stage of the plant, c. general description of the plant, d. life cycle, e. botanical family, f. stem characteristics, g. lower stem and underground characteristics, h. inflorescence characteristics). Additionally, we included a "helpful resources" category that provides links to many useful on-line sites including the Montana Cropland Weed Management web site, eFlora.org, Weedometer, and numerous weed identification keys. With funds provided by WIPM, we coordinated 22 authors from 7 states to produce fact sheets containing information on the biology, ecology, and integrated management of agricultural and rangeland weeds. Contents of these fact sheets included information on 1) Identification and Life Cycle, 2) Habitats, 3) Impacts, 4) Biology and Ecology, 5) Management Approaches, 6) Biological Control, 7) Mechanical and Cultural Control, 8) Chemical Control, 9) Examples of herbicides that can be used, and 10) References. Photos and line drawings were also included to ease weed identification. These fact sheets (Table 2) were web-published using the wiki format in the Bugwood HPIPM web site (http://wiki.bugwood.org/Main_Page). Finally, these fact sheets were linked to a Lucid Key to identify common agricultural and rangeland weed species. We conducted several training session targeted towards producers and extension specialists to demonstrate how to use multi-entry weed identification key. We intend to continue conducting training sessions as part of our regular extension activities. PARTICIPANTS: Names and affiliation of authors contributing to the weed fact sheets published at the Bugwood HPIPM web site (http://wiki.bugwood.org/Main_Page). Author Affiliation: Evette Alison, Montana State University; Terry Angvick, Sheridan County Extension, Montana State University; George Beck, Colorado State University; Elizabeth Brown, Colorado Natural Areas Program, Colorado State Parks; Jeff Edwards, Goshen County Extension, University of Wyoming; Sandra Frost, Big Horn Area (Park and Powell Counties), University of Wyoming; Melissa Graves, Montana State University; Jim Jacobs, NRCS, Montana; Joe Julian, Douglas County, Colorado State University; Andrew Hulting, Oregon State University; Steve Lackman, Yellowstone County Extension, Montana State University; Drew Lyon, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Jane Mangold, Montana State University; Mark Major, Teton County Extension, Montana State University; Michael Moechnig, South Dakota State University; Hilary Parkinson, Montana State University; Tim Prather, University of Idaho; Mary Rumph, Powder River County Extension, Montana State University; Lowell Sandell, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Rachel Soto, Meagher County Extension, Montana State University; Jack Stivers, Lake County Extension, Montana State University; Cheryl Wilen, University of California, Davis TARGET AUDIENCES: The electronic ID key and the fact sheets aim at providing farmers, County Extension Agents, and agricultural professionals with easy-access information on identification and management of agricultural weeds. We conducted several training session targeted towards producers and extension specialists to demonstrate how to use multi-entry weed identification key. We intend to continue conducting training sessions as part of our regular extension activities. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The development of an easy to use electronic weed identification key provides an opportunity to crop producers, crop management advisors, county extension agents, diagnosticians, and others associated with crop production with a tool to conduct rapid and accurate plant identification, a required step in the development of an integrated management program. It also provides easy access to weed biological and ecological information as well as biological, cultural, mechanical, and chemical management recommendations. The integration of the electronic key with weed fact sheets has enhances the development of IPM strategies. Users across the High Plains Region can use this HPIPM web site to obtain information on reduced-risk pest approaches and adapt this knowledge to the specifics of where they live or work. Additionally, the weed information enhances the High Plains IPM Guide by providing users with a single starting point for pest management for all regionally important pests. The 2007 Pest Management Strategic Plan, published by the National Information System for the Regional IPM Centers (available online http://www.ipmcenters.org/pmsp/index.cfm), identifies the need of providing research-based information on integrated approaches to manage weeds as a regional priority for increasing systems' efficiency. However, prior to this project the High Plains IPM site failed to provide easy access to plant id, a first step in the development of an integrated pest management program. The integration of a simple to use weed identification key with biological, ecological, and management information into the High Plains IPM Guide provides necessary information to facilitate the development and adoption of IPM practices across the region.
Publications
- Menalled, F., R. Koski, M. Graves, and N. Tisserat. 2010. Small Grain Weed Id Key. Available on-line at http://wiki.bugwood.org/HPIPM:Small Grains
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Progress 08/01/09 to 07/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: A major limitation hindering the adoption of Integrated Weed Management (IWM) programs is the decreasing availability of taxonomic services to accurately identify weed species. To provide easy access weed identification, the main goals of our program were to: 1) develop and deliver an electronic multi-entry key for identifying weedy plant species in small grain fields, and 2) train crop producers, crop management advisors, county extension agents, diagnosticians, and others associated with crop production (hereafter, audience) in the use of this electronic key. Using commercially available software (Lucid Builder), we developed a multi entry electronic key that provides easily accessible resources for weedy plant species identification. Field-based characters used in the key include habitat, plant growth habit, current life stage, life cycle, leaves characteristics, inflorescences morphology, presence and type of fruits, lower stem and underground structures. Additionally the key provides helpful resource to ID weeds such as a glossary, photos, and drawing as an aid to identification. To facilitate the adoption of IWM program, the electronic key was linked to current information on weed biology and ecology as well as chemical and non-chemical control recommendations. This information was gathered with additional funds provided by WIPM. To achieve this objective, we coordinated 22 authors from 7 states to produce fact sheets containing information on the biology, ecology, and integrated management of agricultural and rangeland weeds. A total of 99 fact sheets have been produced and web published using the wiki format in the Bugwood HPIPM web site (http://wiki.bugwood.org/Main_Page). PARTICIPANTS: Fabian Menalled. Associate Professor. Montana State University Ned Tisserat. Professor. Colorado State University Ronda Koski. Research Associate. Colorado State University Melissa Graves. Research Associate. Montana State University Evette Alison. Research Associate. Montana State University TARGET AUDIENCES: Crop producers, crop management advisors, county extension agents, diagnosticians, and others associated with crop production PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The electronic key covers a total 314 of weeds belonging to 40 families. These species were selected beceause they are common western crop and rangeland weeds. The electronic key is avalilable through the Montana State University Cropland Weed website (http://ipm.montana.edu/cropweds) and the High Plains IPM Wiki website (http://wiki.bugwood.org/HPIPM:Small_Grains). To train the audience on th use of this electronic key, we conducted several training sessions across Montana. The response of the audience has been highly positive and we plan to incorporate this training into our regular extension/outreach activities. We will also produce news releases and a technical bulleting to explain and promote the use of the guide. The multi-entry key will provide users across the High Plains with a user friendly tool to identify weeds. Because the multi-entry key has been linked to with fact sheets containing information on agricultural weeds and invasive species biology, ecology, and management it will improve the delivery of IPM programs across the region.
Publications
- Menalled, F., R. Koski, M. Graves, and N. Tisserat. 2010. Small Grain Weed Id Key. Available on-line at http://wiki.bugwood.org/HPIPM:Small_Grains
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Progress 08/01/08 to 07/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Rapid and accurate weed identification is at the core of an integrated pest management approach. A major limitation hindering weed identification is the decreasing availability of taxonomic services available to crop producers, crop management advisors, county extension agents, diagnosticians, and others associated with crop production. To fill this gap, using commercially available software (Lucid Builder), we are developing an electronic multi-entry key for identifying weedy plant species in small grain fields. When complete, this key will provide easily accessible resources for weedy plant species identification linked to current information on weed biology and ecology as well as chemical and non-chemical control recommendations. To date, a total of 154 species have been entered in the electronic multi-entry key. Curently, we are in the process of entering and revieweing an additional 160 species. When finished, the electronic multi-entry key will allow user to identify a total 314 of weeds belonging to 40 families. With funds provided by WIPM, we coordinated 22 authors from 7 states to produce fact sheets containing information on the biology, ecology, and integrated management of agricultural and rangeland weeds. Hitherto, a total of 99 fact sheets have been produced and web published using the wiki format in the Bugwood HPIPM web site (http://wiki.bugwood.org/Main_Page). We have linked several of these fact sheets to the electronic multi-entry key. We will continue prodcuing fact sheets and integrating them into the multi-entry key. We have conduced one training session targeted towards extension specialists to demonstrate how to use this key. When finished, we will continue conducting this type of training sessions as part of our regular extension activities. We will also produce news releases and a technical bulleting to explain and promote the use of the guide. PARTICIPANTS: Ned Tisserat, Professor. Colorado State University. Ronda Koski, Research Associate, Colorado State University. Melissa Graves. IPM specialist. Montana State University. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audience: Crop producers, crop management advisors, county extension agents, diagnosticians, and others associated with crop production PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
We are currently developing and evaluating a powerful, user-friendly and informative resource that will allow stakeholders across the region to identify weedy plant species identification. This information will be enhanced with figures, photos. Furthermore, it will be linked to information on the biology, ecology, and current chemical and non-chemical management recommendations. Approximately, 50% of the multi-entry key is finished. When complete, the multi-entry key will provide users of the High Plains IPM Guide with a user friendly tool to identify weeds. Because the multi-entry key will be linked to with fact sheets containing information on agricultural weeds and invasive species biology, ecology, and management it will improve the delivery of IPM programs across the region. We plant to conduct training sessions to demonstrate how to use this key as part of our regular extension activities. We will also produce news releases and a technical bulleting to explain and promote the use of the guide.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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