Source: VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE submitted to NRP
TURNING THE COMBINE FROM A WEED SEED SPREADER INTO A WEED SEED PREDATOR
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1027415
Grant No.
2021-70006-35760
Cumulative Award Amt.
$324,664.00
Proposal No.
2021-04928
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2021
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2025
Grant Year
2021
Program Code
[ARDP]- Applied Research and Development Program
Recipient Organization
VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
(N/A)
BLACKSBURG,VA 24061
Performing Department
School of Plant & Environ. Sciences
Non Technical Summary
The multiple herbicide-resistant (MHR) weed epidemic is threatening sustainable production of key agricultural commodities by rendering valuable herbicides ineffective. MHR is causing reduced crop yields, increased weed management costs, and increased reliance on herbicides with greater environmental persistence, which threatens a reversion to tillage, negating decades of soil health and conservation gains. Seed impact mills process and kill the vast majority of weed seeds as they exit the combine during crop harvest. This new technology is being rapidly and widely adopted in Australia, where it is providing an effective integrated weed management tool for MHR. However, we are yet to fully understand the effectiveness of this system under US production systems. Our multi-state, multi-region team has 12 seed impact mills on-farm across our network, a position enjoyed by no other group. The specific objectives of this farmer cooperative on-farm research and extension project are to comprehensively evaluate seed impact mill efficacy for economic decision driver weeds in soybean and wheat and communicate these results to growers through our GROW (Getting Rid of Weeds) website, social media, developing extension bulletins, interactive workshops/field days, and "peer-to-peer" learning through on-farm programs. Furthermore, we will determine operating costs of seed impact mills and create a cost calculator decision support tool for using this technology. We anticipate that this project will facilitate the adoption of seed impact mill technology in US soybean and wheat production, reducing the development, impact, and spread of MHR weeds, and increasing the sustainability of crop production.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
100%
Developmental
0%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2161549114030%
2161820114050%
2165310114020%
Knowledge Area
216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
1549 - Wheat, general/other; 1820 - Soybean; 5310 - Machinery and equipment;

Field Of Science
1140 - Weed science;
Goals / Objectives
Goals:Short-term:Increased awareness of harvest weed seed control (HWSC) and seed impact millsIncreased understanding of HWSC and seed impact millsImproved integrated weed management (IWM) toolIncreased knowledge of IWM tactics including the use of cover cropsImproved understanding of value IWM tacticsParticipating on-farm sites serve as examples to their neighbors the benefits of HWSC and seed impact millsMedium-term:Increased adoption of HWSC and seed impact millsIncreased adoption of sustainable production techniques that are economically feasible and environmentally friendlyFarmers make more informed IWM decisionsTo achieve our project goals we propose the following integrated research (R) and extension (E) objectives:R1:Evaluate weed seed fate in a commercial combine and seed impact mill weed seed kill efficacy at harvest for key weeds in soybean and wheat.R2:Evaluate the impact of chaff moisture and volume on weed seed kill efficacy and operational efficiency using a stationary impact mill.E1:Communicate seed impact mill kill rates for key weed species to producers.R3: Determine seed impact mill operating costs across harvest conditions and regions in soybean and wheat.E2:Develop a simple, easy to use cost calculator for seed impact mills in soybean and wheat.
Project Methods
By Objective:R1: Evaluate weed seed fate in a commercial combine and seed impact mill weed seed kill efficacy at harvest for key weeds in soybean and wheat.Evaluations will be conducted in weed-free soybean or wheat fields in each experimental site in years 1 and 2 (2022, 2023) for Parts A and B (see below). A total of 12 sites will be distributed evenly between soybean and wheat across the 6 participating states (DE, LA, MD, NC, TX and VA). The specific crops and weed species to be evaluated in the experiment are shown in Table 1.Part A: Weed seed fate in the combine. Do seeds that enter the combine make it to the seed impact mill?Weed seeds to be tested in each crop will vary and were selected to represent a range of seed sizes and shapes (Table 1), while also representing key weeds in each crop across the study regions. Since some of these weeds may exit the combine in the straw fraction and enter the soil seedbank during the proposed testing, we have selected weeds that we can obtain that do not have herbicide resistance, thus are less problematic for our farmer cooperators. For the same reason, certain species were chosen as substitutes for weedy relatives (i.e. rapeseed in place of wild radish or wild mustard) or substitutes for more problematic weeds (i.e. redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) in place of Palmer amaranth or common waterhemp). A seed germination test followed by a viability test (tetrazolium test or imbibed pressure test) will be conducted using standard procedures prior to the field experiments to understand the baseline seed viability levels.Field testing will utilize methods similar to that of Walsh et al. (2012). Ten replications will be conducted for each weed species in each experimental site each year. Weed seed quantity will vary based on species, but a known quantity will be used, in the range ~20,000 seed per sample. A large mesh bag will be attached to the exit openings of the mill to collect the mill-processed sample. Surviving weeds contained in each fraction (straw and chaff) will be quantified through a greenhouse germination assay as described by Schwartz-Lazaro et al. (2017) and Shergill et al. (2020). Simple descriptive statistics will be used to analyze these data.We will also collect equipment metadata (combine make, model, rotor speed, clearance, and other settings) and chaff moisture content. To determine chaff moisture, 2 subsamples of mill-processed chaff will be weighed in the field during harvest followed by oven drying, and weighed again. Based on testing across the 24 site-years (i.e. 12 sites x 2 years), we will be able to characterize the role of chaff moisture, combine type, and combine settings in relation to maximizing weed seeds exiting in the chaff fraction, and thus subjected to the seed impact mill.Part B: Weed seed kill efficacy. Do seeds that enter the mill die?A germination test will be conducted prior to the experiments. For soybean weeds (Table 1), each state will do at least 3 problematic weeds in their region and each weed will have at least 3 locations per year.Table 1. Weed seeds evaluated in objectives R1 and R2.Objective R1: Mills in the fieldObjective R2: Stationary test stand millPart A: seed fatePart B: mill killExpt 1: average chaff rateExpt 2: varying chaff rateExpt 3: varying chaff moistureSoybeanDE, LA (2 loc.), MD, NC, & VAcommon waterhempEach location will do at least 3 problematic weeds in their region and each weed will have at least 3 locations per yearXPalmer amaranthXXXcommon lambsquartersXcommon ragweedXXXXbarnyardgrassXXXXfoxtail sp. (annual)Xgiant ragweedXmorningglory sp. (annual)XXXredroot pigweedXXWheatDE, MD, NC, TX (2 loc.), & VAItalian ryegrassXXXXXwild radishXwild mustardXhairy vetchXXXXXrapeseedXXXXXAbbreviation: loc., location.Methods will be similar to Walsh et al. (2012) and used successfully by PD Flessner during soybean harvest in 2020. Quantified weed seed samples will be sent down a hose and into the seed impact mill during crop harvest. Ten replications will be conducted per species each year. Weed seed quantity will vary based on species, but will be ~10,000 seed per sample. A large mesh bag will be attached to the exit openings of the mill to collect the sample while maintaining adequate air flow. To determine moisture, 2 subsamples of mill-processed chaff will be weighed in the field after harvest. Subsequently, each subsample will be oven-dried and weighed again. Surviving weeds contained in each sample will be quantified through a greenhouse germination assay as described by Schwartz-Lazaro et al. (2017) and Shergill et al. (2020). Mill-process samples will be compared to unprocessed seed (seed that did not enter the combine) of the same lot.R2: Evaluate the impact of chaff moisture and volume on weed seed kill efficacy and operational efficiency using a stationary impact mill.Stationary test stands are being provided from Redekop Manufacturing and de Bruin Engineering for the SCU and iHSD respectively, which will be used to evaluate weed seed kill rates at controlled chaff moisture and volumes. We will collect soybean and wheat chaff from on-farm cooperators during harvest in 2022 at sufficient quantities for this objective. Team members Lazaro and Mirsky have previously conducted stationary test stand evaluations (Schwartz-Lazaro et al. 2017; Shergill et al. 2020).Three experiments will be conducted on each seed impact mill type (SCU or iHSD) to evaluate 1) weed species, 2) chaff flow rate, and 3) chaff moisture level on weed seed kill rate, similar to Schwartz-Lazaro et al. 2017). For experiment 1, we will test weeds species in the appropriate crop chaff type (Table 1) at a various chaff flow rates and moisture. For all experiments, surviving weeds contained in each sample will be quantified through a greenhouse germination assay as previously described. Mill-process samples will be compared to unprocessed seed (seed that did not enter the combine) of the same lot. Data from experiments 2 and 3 will be subjected to ANOVA followed by regression analysis to determine the effects of chaff flow rate and moisture level, respectively.During all three experiments, we will also measure horsepower draw using a PTO shaft torque and power monitoring systems as explained by Roeber et al. (2017). These data will allow us to determine horsepower draw in relation to chaff rate and moisture level, in conjunction with R3 (below).E1: Communicate seed impact mill kill rates for key weed species to producers.Field days will occur in each state once during each crop's harvest in year 2 to showcase year 1 results and allow farmers to see the seed impact mills in operation. Farmers will also be able to interact with the host farmer to facilitate direct farmer-to-farmer communication. We will also present findings in extension presentations in each state in years 2 and 3, with 2 to 5 presentations expected per state.Extension products will be disseminated through the on-farm research network, at conferences, through social media channels, and posted to participants' existing websites. Our team has extensive experience with developing outreach materials and has access to high-quality cameras, video, and audio equipment to produce extension materialsR3: Determine seed impact mill operating costs across harvest conditions and regions in soybean and wheat.We will record these combine parameters during crop harvest in 3 fields per location in 2022 and 2023 with the seed impact mill both on and off. Locations will be the same as in objective R1.E2: Develop a simple, easy to use cost calculator for seed impact mills in soybean and wheat.We will develop a cost calculator decision support tool similar to WeedSmart's HWSC cost calculator, but only for seed impact mills.

Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:We have multiple, sometimes overlapping, target audiences. The overarching target audience is the farmer or agricultural producer. By reaching the farmer, research efforts contained in this report have reached their ultimate goal: to place information in the hands of people who can effect real world change. Additionally, educators such as Extension Agents and Specialists are targeted as well as crop advisors, consultants, and agricultural industry personnel. In conducting research, it is also important to communicate with fellow researchers and academic peers. Additionally, our academic counterparts in other states often communicate to the same target audiences as described previously. By communicating with this group, the efforts of this project can be communicated much further than through our own efforts, potentially increasing its impact. Changes/Problems:Due to several unforeseen circumstances at various sites, the number of site years proposed will not be realized. Details are in previous annual reports. In many cases, some work was completed (such as weed seeds acquired and prepared for testing) and thus expenses occurred, but something occurred (for example, a combine breakdown) rendered incomplete work. However, data analysis indicates very little error associated with data for both R1 and R2 (R3 analysis is ongoing and this data set will be supplemented by outside data sources/projects). Thus, we are confident that we have a solid data set for robust conconclusions to our questions and so, the reduced number of site years is not an issue. ? What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This work has provided graduate and undergraduate student training for at least 5 individuals to date in the form field research, sample processing, and data entry. ? How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Extension presentations and outreach activities have been conducted (see other products section of this report). We have also generated substantial web-based materials (see other products section of this report). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Extension: (1) Update GROW's HWSC webpage with project findings. (2) Update Virginia Extension Publication on HWSC. (3) Publish HWSC Cost Calculator on GROW's website Planned conference presentations (with abstracts) during January to March 2025: (1) Eli C. Russell, Kevin W. Bamber, Matthew P. Spoth, Cynthia Sias, Wykle C. Greene, and Michael L. Flessner. Evaluating the Redekop Seed Control Unit for use in Virginia soybean production. Northeastern Weed Science Society annual meeting. Oral presentation. (2) Eli C. Russell, Kevin W. Bamber, Matthew P. Spoth, Cynthia Sias, Wykle C. Greene, and Michael L. Flessner. Evaluating the Redekop Seed Control Unit for use in Virginia wheat production. Northeastern Weed Science Society annual meeting. Oral presentation. (3) Michael L. Flessner, Eli C. Russell, Muthukumar Bagavathiannan, Kreshnik Bejleri, Sarah Chu, Walker Crane, Eugene P. Law, Steven Mirsky, and Mark VanGessel. Combine performance metrics while using seed impact mills. Northeastern Weed Science Society annual meeting. Poster presentation. (4) Eli C. Russell and Michael L. Flessner. Effect of chaff moisture on Italian ryegrass seed kill with impact mills. Southern Weed Science Society Annual Meeting. Poster presentation. (5) Eli C. Russell, Kevin W. Bamber, Michael L. Flessner, Sarah Chu, Muthukumar Bagavathiannan, Steven Mirsky, Kreshnik Bejleri, Eugene Law, Walker Crane, Mark VanGessel. Fate of weed seeds in the combine with seed impact mills during wheat and soybean harvest. Weed Science Society of America Annual Meeting. Poster presentation. (6) Michael L. Flessner, Eli C. Russell, Muthukumar Bagavathiannan, Kreshnik Bejleri, Sarah Chu, Walker Crane, Eugene P. Law, Steven Mirsky, and Mark VanGessel. Combine performance metrics while using seed impact mills. Weed Science Society of America annual meeting. Poster presentation. Planned Peer Reviewed Manuscript Submission (1) Russell, E. C.* & Flessner, M. L. (n.d.) Evaluating seed kill efficacy and horsepower draw of two impact mills for use in soybean production. Submitted to Weed Science Nov. 18, 2024. (2) Russell, E. C.* & Flessner, M. L. (n.d.) Evaluating seed kill efficacy and horsepower draw of two impact mills for use in U.S. wheat production. Submitted to Weed Science Nov. 18, 2024. (3) Russell, E. C., Bagavathiannan, M., Bejleri, K., Chu, S., Crane, W., Law, E. P., Mirsky, S. B., VanGessel, M., & Flessner, M. L., (n.d.) Weed seed fate and kill during commercial harvest. Target journal to be determined.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? R1: MD soybean (Redekop SCU) and VA soybean sites (Redekop SCU and iHSD) were completed. Initial data analysis was completed and presented at winter conferences (see Products section below). R2: Data analysis was completed for iHSD testing and presented at winter conferences (see Products section below). R3: MD soybean (Redekop SCU) and VA soybean sites (Redekop SCU and iHSD) were completed. Initial data analysis was completed and presented at winter conferences (see Products section below). E1: Presentations, web publications, and social media through the GROW (growiwm.org) network has been used to communicate results to stakeholders. Additional extension presentations at meetings and field days were conducted. See Products section below for details. E2: Data analysis was initiated. Excel template for calculator has been generated.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Russell, E. C., Bamber, K. Spoth, M. P., Flessner, M. L. 2024 Evaluating the Integrated Harrington Seed Destructor for use in Virginia soybean production. Proceedings of the Weed Science Society of America Annual Meeting. Vol. 64 (pp. 295)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Russell, E. C., Haak, D. C. & Flessner, M. L. 2024. Potential shifts in Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) flowering timing as a response to harvest weed seed control. Proceedings of the Weed Science Society of America Annual Meeting. Vol. 64 (pp. 169)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Flessner, M. L. 2024. Eight years of harvest weed seed control research in Virginia. Proceedings of the Northeastern Weed Science Society. Vol. 78 (pp. 80)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Russell, E. C., Bamber, K. & Flessner, M. L. 2024. Seed kill mills weed seed kill rate and horsepower draw as influenced by chaff flow rate and moisture. Proceedings of the Northeastern Weed Science Society. Vol. 78 (pp. 46)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Russell, E. C., Bamber, K. & Flessner, M. L. 2024. Seed kill of problematic weed species in wheat and soybean by two seed impact mills. Proceedings of the Northeastern Weed Science Society. Vol. 78 (pp. 33)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Flessner, M. L. & Tidemann, B. 2023. Harvest Weed Seed Control in North America: (Our best shot at) The Whole Story. Proceeding of the Canadian Weed Science Society Vol. 77 (pp. 3)
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: War Against Weeds Podcast, Sept. 27, 2023: https://waragainstweeds.libsyn.com/harvest-weed-seed-control
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: https://growiwm.org/a-weed-seed-killing-machine-testing-the-redekop-seed-control-unit/
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: https://growiwm.org/eastern-shore-farmer-tries-chaff-lining-to-defeat-weeds/
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: https://growiwm.org/making-chaff-lining-work-on-shepherd-grain-farms/
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: https://growiwm.org/farmer-forum-recap-using-seed-impact-mills-for-weed-control/
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: https://growiwm.org/grow-reports-on-new-harvest-weed-seed-control-research-in-australia/
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: https://growiwm.org/can-weeds-adapt-to-beat-harvest-weed-seed-control/
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: https://growiwm.org/a-weed-seed-killing-machine-testing-the-integrated-harrington-seed-destructor/
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: https://growiwm.org/extension-and-farmers-greet-weed-control-option-with-gday/


Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:We have multiple, sometimes overlapping, target audiences. The overarching target audience is the farmer or agricultural producer. By reaching the farmer, research efforts contained in this report have reached their ultimate goal: to place information in the hands of people who can effect real world change. Additionally, educators such as Extension Agents and Specialists are targeted as well as crop advisors, consultants, and agricultural industry personnel. In conducting research, it is also important to communicate with fellow researchers and academic peers. Additionally, our academic counterparts in other states often communicate to the same target audiences as described previously. By communicating with this group, the efforts of this project can be communicated much further than through our own efforts, potentially increasing its impact. ? Changes/Problems:Wheat Harvest 2023: TX location with iHSD had a failed wheat crop (<10 bu/a expected yield and full of extraneous weeds rendering any data that would come from the site questionable). Thus, the TX iHSD location was not conducted. MD Redekop SCU site was not conducted due to a combine breakdown. Soybean Harvest 2022: VA location with the Redekop SCU was not conducted due to weather and the NC locations (both iHSD and Redekop SCU) were not conducted due to combine breakdowns. The LA Redekop SCU site was not harvested due to weather destroying the crop. The LA Redekop SCU site was not conducted because the Redekop SCU was not yet installed by the farmer. Other: The DE iHSD site had a catastrophic breakdown during corn harvest (outside the scope of this project). The farmer was declined to further participate. Thus, further data collection will not be possible. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This work has provided graduate and undergraduate student training for at least 5 individuals to date in the form field research, sample processing, and data entry. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Extension presentations and outreach activities have been conducted (see other products section of this report). We have also generated substantial web-based materials (see other products section of this report). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, for sites that have not been able to conduct the planned number of experimental runs for R1 and R3, we plan to continue with the protocols in place, as described in the project narrative in the proposal. R2 data that have not yet been analyzed are currently being analyzed and will be distributed to all PI's for use in extension presentations in 2024. R1 and R3 data collected to date will also be analyzed and distributed to all PI's for use in extension presentations in 2024.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? R1: For soybean, the experiments were successfully completed at the VA iHSD site, the DE iHSD site, the MD Redekop SCU site. Other sites were planned that did not occur due to various reasons beyond the researchers' control (weather, mechanical breakdowns, and similar). See Changes/Problems below. For wheat, the following sites were successfully completed: VA Redekop SCU, TX Redekop SCU, andNC iHSD. Other sites were planned that did not occur due to various reasons beyond the researchers' control (weather, mechanical breakdowns, and similar). See Changes/Problems below. R2: All experiments were successfully completed using the stationary test stands for the Redekop SCU and iHSD to evaluate chaff moisture and chaff volume on seed kill rates. Horsepower consumption data were also obtained. Data analysis has been completed for Redekop SCU testing. R3: Data were collected for successfully executed locations in R1. Analysis of data collected to date has occurred. Activities for E1 and E2 are not scheduled to begin until the fourth quarter of 2023.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Russell, E. C., Flessner, M. L., Spoth, M. P., Bamber, K., Sias, C., & Stutzman, W. J. 2023. Impact of chaff flow rate on Redekop Seed Control Unit's seed kill and horsepower draw in wheat and soybean. Proceedings of the Southern Weed Science Society Vol. 76 (pp. 123)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Russell, E. C.,, Flessner, M. L., Spoth, M. P., & Bamber, K. 2023 Influence of seed impact mills on combine horsepower needs, fuel use, and speed during soybean harvest. Proceedings of the Southern Weed Science Society Vol. 76 (pp. 85)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Flessner, M. L., Prashant, J., Shergill, L. S., Sosnoskie, L. M., Bagavathiannan, M. V., Everman, W., Law, E. P., Lazaro, L. M., Mirsky, S. B., & VanGessel, M. 2023. Current Status of harvest weed seed control research in the Eastern United States. Proceedings of the Weed Science Society of America Annual Meeting. Vol. 63 (pp. 432)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Russell, E. C., Flessner, M. L., Spoth, M. P., Greene, W. C., & Bamber, K. 2023. Changes in weed population density after harvest with a seed impact mill Proceedings of the Weed Science Society of America Annual Meeting. Vol. 63 (pp. 319)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Russell, E. C., Flessner, M. L., Spoth, M. P. & Bamber, K. 2023. Weed seed fate in the combine during wheat and soybean harvest. Proceedings of the Weed Science Society of America Annual Meeting. Vol. 63 (pp. 260)


Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22

Outputs
Target Audience:We have multiple, sometimes overlapping, target audiences. The overarching target audience is the farmer or agricultural producer. By reaching the farmer, research efforts contained in this report have reached their ultimate goal: to place information in the hands of people who can effect real world change. Additionally, educators such as Extension Agents and Specialists are targeted as well as crop advisors, consultants, and agricultural industry personnel. In conducting research, it is also important to communicate with fellow researchers and academic peers. Additionally, our academic counterparts in other states often communicate to the same target audiences as described previously. By communicating with this group, the efforts of this project can be communicated much further than through our own efforts, potentially increasing its impact. Changes/Problems:Wheat: The farmer-collaborators in Delaware, North Carolina, and Texas were not able to install their seed impact mills prior to harvesting wheat, so testing was not done at these locations. The Maryland location had a combine breakdown unrelated to the seed impact mill, but this resulted in being unable to perform testing in wheat at that location. The Virginia location did perform testing in wheat as planned. We may need a no cost extension to the project to make up for the locations that were not able to perform the testing. Soybean: The farmer-collaborator in Louisiana was unable to harvest soybeans due to excessive rain, so testing was not performed at that location. All other locations will harvest soybean in the next reporting period. Protocol: After analyzing preliminary data combined with wheat data in Virginia, we are reducing the number of replications from 10 to 5 for both seed testing and seed fate (Objectives R1 and R2) due to the very low variability in the data. ? What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided??This work has provided graduate and undergraduate student training for at least 5 individuals to date in the form field research, sample processing, and data entry. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Nothing to report at this time, but we plan to share results to academics audiences in the first quarter of 2023. ? What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, we plan to continue with the protocols in place, as described in the project narrative in the proposal.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We have had several team meetings, finalized a detailed protocol, created data entry sheets, and organized a Shared Google Drive for the team. Initial data collection is underway for R1, R2, and R3, this accomplishing initial progress on the goal, "Participating on-farm sites serve as examples to their neighbors the benefits of HWSC and seed impact mills." Activities for E1 and E2 are not scheduled to begin until the fourth quarter of 2023. ?

Publications