LOCAL AND REGIONAL TRANSFER OF HERBICIDE BALLISTIC TECHNOLOGY WITH AN INTEGRATED RESEARCH, TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0227630
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 2011
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2014
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIV OF HAWAII
3190 MAILE WAY
HONOLULU,HI 96822

Performing Department
Natural Resources & Environmental Management

Non Technical Summary
The basic goal of any invasive weed management strategy is to outpace species recruitment with effective elimination to the point of extinction. Besides the invasive biology of a target species, the topography and remoteness of a protected area serve as major impediments to effective accomplishment of management goals. In Hawaii, helicopter surveillance operations are a necessary tool for satellite weed target identification and GIS mapping, but at a great expense (flight time $1000/hr). Subsequent helicopter operations must be scheduled for follow up treatment of those identified targets using the conventional herbicide sprayball technology, which dramatically compounds the cost of the overall operation. Herbicide Ballistic Technology (HBT) is a new weed targeting system, which can be simultaneously mobilized with helicopter surveillance operations for rapid response target elimination upon immediate positive identification. The basic concept of HBT is to encapsulate herbicide into 0.68 caliber projectiles that are launched from a pneumatic device with a muzzle velocity of 100 m/s and demonstrates sub-meter accuracy within a 30-meter effective range. Independent research has characterized HBT helicopter operations in low population density areas with weed acquisition rates >100 targets/hour and operational efficacies >90% target elimination, which exceeds operational parameters of any current conventional methods. The adoption of HBT could result in improving natural area weed management at a significantly reduced cost. The ability to legitimately transfer the HBT platform to our stakeholders is possible through the culmination of establishing FIFRA 24c Special Local Needs (SLN) registrations with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) approved by the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU) and the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii (RCUH), Both PCSU and RCUH serve as umbrella agencies for most of our local stakeholders that includes all of the state watershed partnerships and invasive species committees. This project will facilitate transfer of the technology by conducting a series of mandatory training and certification workshops to qualified field technicians as detailed in the SOP. This new technology was originally developed to meet the unique demands of weed management in Hawaii. However, demands for the platform have extended to the US mainland with their own specific needs in invasive weed management. The first step in accommodating these needs will be through collaboration with regional collaborators in the Cooperative Extension Service to establish field efficacy trials on their respective priority weed targets. This project will accommodate all resources and technical protocols for proper experimental implementation in exchange for their expertise and valid scientific data generated from the trials that will collectively be presented in publication and national meetings as a determination of the universal application of HBT. This data may also be included as a part of an application package for FIFRA 24c Special Local Needs registration in various locations.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
112	7299	1140	40%
136	7299	1140	20%
213	7299	1140	40%

Knowledge Area
136 - Conservation of Biological Diversity; 112 - Watershed Protection and Management; 213 - Weeds Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
7299 - Research equipment and methods, general/other;

Field Of Science
1140 - Weed science;

Keywords

herbicide ballistic technology

invasive weed management

Goals / Objectives
Goals: Herbicide Ballistic Technology (HBT) is a new application platform designed to improve efficiencies of invasive weed management operations. The basic concept of HBT is encapsulation of an active herbicide formulation into 0.68 caliber projectiles that can be administered with a pneumatic device for accurate long-range treatment of individual weed targets. The current state of the technology warrants transfer to local stakeholders for adoption into their management programs. Dr. Leary is the designated certifying agent for an approved SOP-Herbicide Ballistic Technology Operations: Ground and Aerial Herbicide Application. He will develop and conduct a series of 2-day training and certification workshops at multiple locations across the state. The HBT platform will also be tested on a regional scale through a series of field efficacy trials in eleven different states to identify the potential for universal applications in invasive weed management. Objectives: Objective 1. Train RCUH field technicians from the Invasive Species Committees and Watershed Partnerships to become certified HBT Special Operations Technicians Objective 2. Characterize regional utility of HBT through collaborative field efficacy trials Expected outputs: Development of a new CTAHR training and certification course Certify up to ten local stakeholders as HBT Special Operations Technicians Potential to establish new FIFRA 24c SLN registrations in multiple states Potential to develop a regional multi-institutional Hatch project

Project Methods
Objective 1. Train RCUH field technicians The training and certification workshop will be based on the Standard Operating Procedure Herbicide Ballistic Technology Operations: Ground and Aerial Herbicide Application SOP Learning Priorities: I. Roles and responsibilities a. Project coordinator b. Operations Manager c. Applicator d. In-flight Data Recorder e. Designated Flight Follower f. Vendor Pilot g. Support staff II. Specific Requirements a. Training and certification b. Proficiency testing c. Personal Protective Equipment d. Pilot AMD certification III. Procedures a. Mission Planning b. Preflight checklist and brief c. In-flight configuration and seating arrangement d. In-flight operation and safety e. Handling and storage guidelines f. Communications g. Situational awareness h. Reloading i. Operational conclusion and disassembly Classroom instruction will be complemented hands-on equipment assembly, technique and rehearsal with an emphasis on safety. To achieve certification, participants must pass a written examination based on their knowledge of the SOP and also demonstrate proficiency in the target trials to be certified as HBT Special Operations Applicator. Objective 2. Characterize regional utility of HBT. This objective will characterize the efficacy of a localized basal HBT application on priority invasive woody species with an experimental design that compares chemistries and rates from a single trajectory. Priority weed targets: Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) Salt Cedar (Tamarix spp.) Mesquite (Prosopis spp.) Pampas grass (Cortederia jubaata) Field experiments will be installed as a 2x4 factorial to compare two different (color-coded) herbicide active ingredients (Imazapyr @19 mg a.i.; Triclopyr @400 mg a.i.) at four different dose rates 6, 12, 18 or 24 units to be applied to a single localized basal region of the target from a single trajectory. This treatment design is to be replicated at least three times for a minimum of 24 experimental targets. An experimental target is a single, isolated specimen that is categorized by specific canopy dimensions and other observed features in bark development (see categories below). For this efficacy trial it is preferred that all selected experimental targets are of relatively uniform size, but this may not be practical and if that is the case experimental targets should be blocked according to a size classification. Treatment projectiles are to be administered with a pneumatic device that is factory-calibrated to project capsules with a muzzle velocity of 80 m/s. Projectiles should be delivered at 5 meters from the target and localized at 50 cm from root crown. Evaluation of the treatments will be performed by a simple observational rating system for leaf canopy defoliation as an indicator of herbicide activity. Ratings will be conducted on a 3-month schedule (90-100 days) on four separate occasions for one full year. The canopy defoliation rating system consists of a (1-4) nomenclature with the following designations: 1- complete defoliation 2- >50% defoliation 3- <50% defoliation 4- No defoliation

Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: My target audiences for the FY 2014 were: Maui Invasive Species Committee Kauai Invasive Species Committee Oahu Invasive Species Committee Oahu Army Natural Resources Program West Maui Mountain Watershed Partnership Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Over 50 aerial missions were conducted with practitioners participating in 2014. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? New results were presented at professional and scientific meetings: New results were presented at the following professional and scientific meetings in the 2014 reporting period: 1. Hawaii Water Works Association Annual Conference. Makena Beach, Maui, HI 2. Meeting the Challenge: Preventing, Detecting, and Controlling Invasive Plants. University of Washington Botanic Gardens, Seattle, WA. 3. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting. Montreal, QC 4. 22nd Annual Hawaii Conservation Conference. Honolulu, HI 5. Western Society of Weed Science Annual Meeting. Colorado Springs, CO. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We currently have five active certified applicators (RCUH) under the direct supervision of the principle investigator with six others receiving training. Efficacy trials were conducted in North Dakota and Montana, with demonstrations conducted in California and Colorado.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2014 Citation: Rodriguez, R., Jenkins, D., Leary, J.K., and Mahnken, B.V. 2014. A Custom GPS Recording System for Improving Operational Performance of Aerially-Deployed Herbicide Ballistic Technology. ASABE Paper No. 141899605. Montreal, Quebec Canada. doi: 10.13031/aim.20141899605

Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Stakeholders Maui Invasive Species Committee Kauai Invasive Species Committee Oahu Army Natural Resources Program West Maui Mountain Watershed Partnership Changes/Problems: The HBT platform is currently listed as a 24c Special Local Needs registration for legal use in Hawaii. While minor progress has been made in regional locations. It will require a much greater investment comparable to the investments made in Hawaii to realize the potential for adoption in new locations. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? See above I have trained 9 professional technicians in operational use patterns with HBT How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? In 2013, this project was highlighted in eight different popular media stories including: local news television broadcasts reaching the general public across the state (see table below). Five demonstrations were conducted bringing awareness to the President of the Weed Science Society of America, the Deputy Director for the National Invasive Species Council and the Hawaii Senate Ways and Means Committee. This last year, this project has provided direct training opportunities to nine different practitioners in scheduled operations Popular media that include news articles and television broadcasts providing short-term outcomes bringing awareness, knowledge and technology to local and national audience # Date Author Media Title 1 Aug 2013 Litman D Broadcast on Daily Planet with the Discovery Channel Canada Toronto, Canada Paintball Plant Wars 2 July 2013 Gutierrez B Broadcast on CBS affiliate Hawaii News Now KGMB. Honolulu, Oahu Paintball guns the latest weapon against invasive plant species 3 July 2013 Choi K Broadcast on ABC affiliate KITV 4. Honolulu, Oahu Kauai scientists use painbtall guns to combat invasive plant species 4 July 2013 Nuwar R Blog post in Smithsonian magazine.com In Hawaii, Scientists Are Battling Invasive Plants with Herbicide-Shooting Paintball Guns 5 July 2013 D’Angelo C Published in The Garden Island Newspaper. Lihue, Kauai Miconia down-Herbicide ballistics used to combat invasive species on Kauai 6 March 2013 Tummons P Published in Civil Beat Paintball Poison: Airborne Marksmen To Take Aim At Invasive Plants 7 Feb. 2013 Sarhangi S Published in Honolulu Magazine. Honolulu, Oahu Environment: Weed Wars. In the fight against invasive plants, conservationists are bringing out the small guns 8 Nov. 2012 Leary J Published in Hana‘ai. CTAHR Sustainable Organic Agriculture Program, Honolulu, Oahu Release Secusio: Transitioning to a Biocontrol Management Program for Fireweed (Senecio madagasceriensis) on Maui 1. http://www.discovery.ca/Default.aspx 2. http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/22893437/paintball-guns-the-latest-weapon-against-invasive-plant-species 3. http://www.kitv.com/news/hawaii/Kauai-scientists-use-painbtall-guns-to-combat-invasive-plant-species/-/8905354/21081834/-/21477uz/-/index.html 4. http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/smartnews/category/cool-findings/ 5. http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/miconia-down/article_6efea176-f037-11e2-8dcb-0019bb2963f4.html 6. http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2013/03/07/18537-paintball-poison-airborne-marksmen-to-take-aim-at-invasive-plants/ 7. http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/February-2013/Weed-Wars/ 8. http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/sustainag/news/articles/V13-Leary-secusio.pdf What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We have a new batch inventory and Helicopter flight time reserved for FY14 that will enhance our data set towards building more robust projections in strategic decision support.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In 2012, I have collaborated with the four Stakeholders (see target audience) providing training for training for nine individuals. No progress on objective 2 due to lack of available funding opportunities.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2013 Citation: Leary, J., Mahnken, B., Cox, L., Radford, A., Yanagida, J., Penniman, T., Duffy, D., and Gooding, J. 2013. Reducing Nascent Miconia (Miconia calvescens DC) Patches through Accelerated Interventions Utilizing Herbicide Ballistic Technology (HBT). Inv. Plant Sci. Mgmt. (Accepted with revisions; submitted on July 1, 2013)
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Leary, J., Gooding, J., Chapman, J., Mahnkan, B., Radford, A., and Cox, L. 2013. Calibration of an Herbicide Ballistic Technology (HBT) Helicopter Platform Targeting Miconia calvescens in Hawaii. Inv. Plant Sci. Mgmt. 6(2) 292-303. DOI: 10.1614/IPSM-D-12-00026.1 (with press release)

Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: This research and development project was started in 2007 and supported in part by grants with the USDA Tropical-Subtropical Agriculture Research Program, the USDA-NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant Program and the Hawaii Invasive Species Council Research and Technology Program. In January 2012, a new pesticide product HBT G4U-200 with Garlon 4 Ultra was registered by The Nelson Paint Company through the Hawaii Department of Agriculture for legal application to treat miconia (Miconia calvescens) and strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum). The registration is effective until 2017. Miconia is the most important invasive plant species in the state of Hawaii. It has expanded beyond control on the Big Island and the current delimited population is scattered across an estimated 17,000 ha of the East Maui Watershed. It is a self-fertile species that can produce millions of propagules in a single fruiting cycle with a frugivorous dispersal range that exceeds 1 km. Thus, a single, mature individual can impact over 300 ha of watershed making incipient satellite populations the most critical targets towards an effective containment strategy. These populations reside in extremely remote areas that are inaccessible by ground. The HBT platform introduces a new capability to effectively eliminate these targets from helicopter. This advancement in technology has encouraged the adoption of more comprehensive surveillance operations in these remote areas and has literally cut the cost of aerial operations in half with the combined capability of real-time target elimination. Current research is focused on calibrating the operational performance of the HBT platform, which is being supported by a grant through the US Forest Service, Special Technology Development Program with a direct match provided by the Maui and Kauai Invasive Species Committees (MISC and KISC, respectively). This project is implementing a full 150K-unit batch that is projected to eliminate up to 8000 satellite targets. To date, over fifty HBT surveillance operations have been recorded on Maui and Kauai covering almost 700 hectares of intact watershed and discriminately eliminating 3267 incipient miconia satellites, serving to protect an additional several thousand hectares. One of the final phases of the project is to train and certify applicators for deploying this technology. Over the last four months, I have conducted three separate workshops to formally introduce the Standard Operating Procedure for Herbicide Ballistic Technology Ground and Aerial Operations along with the registered SLN label. A total of twelve RCUH technicians have received initial training towards certification, with two MISC employees already certified and collaborating with me on our Forest Service project to contain miconia. PARTICIPANTS: Major collaborating partners: Nelson Paint Company Dow AgroSciences LLC Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Pesticide Branch Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) Kauai Invasive Species Committee (KISC) Exotic Plant Management Team, National Park Service In three seperate workshops I have trained and certified twelve technicians to become HBT applicators. Through a grant with the US Forest Service, 2 MISC technicians have participated in a combined 27 sorties recording 1831 targets eliminated. TARGET AUDIENCES: This project is a unique in that our target audience is also our participants with direct efforts focused on transferring the HBT platform. Major target audiences: Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) Kauai Invasive Species Committee (KISC) Exotic Plant Management Team, National Park Service PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
This project highlights a comprehensive research and extension program for transferring a technology that was developed in Hawaii for Hawaii. Adoption of HBT by the ISCs is showing a change in behavior to maximize the value of limited resources and improve our capability to quantify measurable outcomes (e.g. target reduction, protected area, etc.). This new capability for real-time target elimination has literally doubled the value of aerial surveillance operations that would previously require two separate flights scheduled for reconnaissance and treatment, respectively. As a result of our calibrations, we have been able to accurately calculate costs of an operation. For instance, we are able to search one acre of remote watershed are where no targets are detected in 47 seconds at a cost of $12.50. Every target acquisition adds another 32 seconds plus an average of 32 projectiles per target with an added cost of $18.66 per acre. This technology promotes surgical application techniques where use rates are equivalent to <1% of the maximum allowable rates. A majority of the incipient populations we are searching are less than one target per acre. We are also calibrating our target reduction rates, which currently average 57%. This value is being used to project search saturation strategies towards extinction of incipient populations to undetectable levels. Miconia is the most aggressive invasive species in Hawaii where previous management efforts were being outpaced by biological recruitment. The adoption of the HBT platform has changed the behavior of the end-user with better dedication to surveillance generating good intelligence on the extant population and be able to prioritize limited resources to the highest valued target areas with better accuracy. For instance, among the eight incipient populations currently being managed we are projecting a 90% reduction in populations with a search saturation schedule of 4-5 monthly visits and a progressive measurable reduction in flight time and projectile resources with each successive operation. This project is an adaptive management approach in technology transfer, through collaborations with our state Invasive Species Committees and Watershed Partnerships. Unlike agricultural settings, invasive weed management within natural areas can be very difficult to quantify returns on investments. Through operational data management we have improved our capabilities to project progress and make smarter decisions for optimizing the use of limited resources. Our current projections suggest that we can reduce all known incipient populations within the next 10 operations over a 2-year period.

Publications

• Leary, J., J. Gooding, J. Chapman, B. Mahnkan, A. Radford, L. Cox, 2013. Analytical performance of an Herbicide Ballistic Technology (HBT) Helicopter Platform Targeting Incipient Populations of Miconia calvescens DC in Hawaii's Remote Watersheds. Inv. Plant Sci. Mngmt.doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1614/IPSM-D-12-00026.1
• Anonymous. 2012. RCUH Standard Operating Procedure- Herbicide Ballistic Technology Operations: Ground and Aerial Herbicide Application Approved and adopted by the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, University of Hawaii.
• Anonymous. FIFRA sec. 24(c). Special Local Needs Registration. 2012. HBT-G4U200 with Garlon 4 Ultra. EPA SLN No. HI-120001. Expiration 2017. 100% contribution