NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Weed management in disturbed and undisturbed systems with the current focus on vegetables and wild rice cropping systems; purple loosestrife, garlic mustard, and buckthorn in natural systems; and water quality issues relative to herbicide use.

OBJECTIVES: 1) Evaluate management options for vegetable production that protect the environment, are efficient and economical and ensure an adequate, safe food supply. 2) Evaluate management options for purple loosestrife to protect wetland habitat, that do not harm non-target organisms, and that are efficacious against this primary noxious weed. 3) Evaluate management options for garlic mustard and buckthorn to protect woodland habitat, that do not harm non-target organisms. 4) Develop weed management techniques that do not harm the environment. Specifically, develop management systems to protect water quality.

APPROACH: 1) Research will be conducted to determine optimal non-chemical weed management strategies for vegetable production. For herbicide use, options will be developed that are environmentally benign, protect agricultural workers, and ensure a safe and abundant food supply. Mechanisms of light competition and the potential for the use of mustards as biofumigants will be a targeted research effort. 2) Research will be conducted on the use of biological control agents to manage purple loosestrife. An in-depth understanding of the biology and ecology of this weed species is necessary to ensure biological control success. 3) Research is underway on biological control potential for garlic mustard and buckthorn. In addition, my project will further the understanding of the biology and ecology of these invasive species in Minnesota habitats. 4) Best Management Practices that allow producers to efficiently manage weeds while protecting ground and surface water resources are being developed. This is a cooperative effort with state and federal agencies.

KEYWORDS: invasive species; vegetables; wild rice; water quality; weeds; weed control; lythrum salicaria; euphorbia esula; light; disturbed areas; biological control (weeds); integrated pest management; crop management; crop production; non target organisms; wetlands; cropping systems; best management practices; rhamnus cathartica; brassica

PROGRESS: 2006/01 TO 2006/12
Efforts continue on development of BMPs to improve Canada thistle management in Wildlife Management Area. I co-hosted a daylong workshop attended by land managers from NGOs, county governments, and state and federal agencies targeting Canada thistle management. I was nominated by the Commissioner of Agriculture to serve as the University of Minnesota representative on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Pesticide Management Plan Committee. Ceutorhynchus spp. have been identified as potential garlic mustard biocontrol agents. Initial host specificity tests of these biocontrol insects is near completion and will be submitted through the APHIS led Technical Advisory Group (TAG). We completed regional study on HPPD herbicide tolerance.

IMPACT: 2006/01 TO 2006/12
The Canada thistle effort is developing new best management practices to resolve long-term weed management challenges and to effectively utilize state resources. Our work on new approaches to building knowledge capacity through our past learning group efforts was published in 2006 and is gaining acceptance. I continue to shape current state policy on pesticides contamination of water resources, protecting the environment, the interests of Minnesota agriculture, and addressing the concerns of the public. Our regional herbicide tolerance assessment is filling a knowledge gap in the sweet corn seed industry.

PUBLICATIONS (not previously reported): 2006/01 TO 2006/12
1. Becker, R. L., Fritz, V. A., Hebel, J. B., Miller, D. W., Kinkaid, B. D. 2005. Foramsulfuron overlap tolerance on sweet corn at Waseca, MN - 2005. 2005 N. Cent. Weed Sci. Soc. Res. Report. 62:6-7. http://www.ncwss.org/proceed/2005/ResRep05/6.html
2. Becker, R. L., Fritz, V. A., Hebel, J. B., Miller, D. W., Kinkaid, B. D. 2005. Weed control efficacy and crop tolerance of mesotrione in sethoxydim resistant sweet corn at Waseca, MN - 2005. 2005 N. Cent. Weed Sci. Soc. Res. Report. 62:8-10. http://www.ncwss.org/proceed/2005/ResRep05/8.html
3. Bisikwa, J., R.L. Becker, N.R. Jordan, D.D. Biesboer, S.A. Katovich and F. Forcella. 2005. Effect of surface litter on seedling emergence and establishment of European buckthorn. African Crop Sci. Confr. Proc. 7:71-78.
4. Gunsolus, J.L., B.R. Durgan, and R.L. Becker. 2006. Cultural and chemical weed control in field crops, 2006. Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota. http://appliedweeds.coafes.umn.edu/weedbul.htm
5. Hutchison, B. (ed.), R. Becker, D. Ragsdale, R. Jones, C. Rosen, and V. Fritz (Minnesota Contributors) (also faculty from Iowa State University and the Universities of Illinois, Missouri, and Purdue). 2006. Midwest vegetable production guide for commercial growers. University of Minnesota Extension Service, St. Paul, Minnesota. BU-7094-S. http://www.entm.purdue.edu/Entomology/ext/targets/ID/
6. Jordan, N., H. Niemi, S. Simmons, R. Becker, J. Gunsolus, and S. White. 2006. Learning Groups for Implementation of Integrated Weed Management: Principles and Practical Guidelines. Chpt. 25 In: Handbook of sustainable weed management. H.P. Singh, D.R. Batish, and R.K. Kohli, eds. The Haworth Press, Inc. ISBN: 978-1-56022-957-5 Hard cover, ISBN: 978-1-56022-956-8 Soft cover. 892 p.
7. Jordan, N. H. Niemi-Blissett, S. Simmons, S. White, J. Gunsolus, R. Becker, and S. Damme. 2006. Building a Knowledge Network for Sustainable Weed Management: An Experiment in Public Scholarship. Chpt. 6 In: Engaging campus and community. The practice of public scholarship in the state and Land-Grant University system. S.J. Peters, N.R. Jordan, M. Adamek, and T.R. Alter, eds. Kettering Foundation Press. Dayton OH. ISBN: 0923993150. 499 p.

PROJECT CONTACT:
Name: Becker, R. L.
Phone: 612-625-5753
Fax: 612-624-3288
Email: becke003@umn.edu
URL: http://www.appliedweeds.coafes.umn.edu