The next generation of Prairie herbicide resistant weed surveys and surveillance
Term: 5 years, beginning in 2019
Status: Ongoing
Funding Amount: $40,000
Lead Researcher(s): Dr. Charles Geddes (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge)
Funding Partners: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture -Agriculture Development Fund (ADF), Western Grains Research Foundation, Alberta Wheat Commission
Project Description
Canada is home to the third-largest number of unique herbicide-resistant (HR) weed biotypes (~76) (weed species by herbicide site of action), surpassed only by Australia (~92) and the United States (~164) (Heap, 2019). New HR weed problems are emerging in the Prairie Region of Canada. HR weeds are difficult to manage and can result in poor herbicide efficacy, increased cost of weed control, and increased crop yield losses. Managing HR weeds effectively will require cooperation among researchers, specialists, the agricultural industry, agronomists, and growers.
One of the best ways to achieve a management strategy for HR weeds is through comprehensive surveys of areas in which these weeds occur. This project directly builds on three rounds of HR weed surveys conducted across the prairies (2013 to 2019) by Dr. Hugh Beckie, who retired recently. Thus, this project aims to aid the transition, maintain the methods used in previous surveys, increase surveillance efforts for new HR weeds, and build an HR weed biovigilance strategy for the Canadian Prairies. The survey includes (a) online maps for each unique HR weed biotype, (b) a discovery component for novel HR weed biotypes, and (c) an improved communication plan to increase awareness of HR weeds among growers, agricultural industry and researchers. The Information and knowledge gained from this project will be used to identify new threats to the agricultural value chain; implement early management strategies for new HR weed biotypes; determine the most appropriate focus areas for future research, guide innovations and investment in the agricultural industry; and improve awareness of HR weeds and appropriate management tools. Data collected from this project will be used to set research, education, and outreach priorities, develop recommendations, and understand the factors which could be used to mitigate selection pressure for HR weeds.