Weed Management

About my Program

Crop and non-crop areas alike are impacted by weed growth to one degree or another.  Weeds affect crop production in several ways; weeds delay or reduce stand establishment, affect crop growth and development, reduce food quality and yield, compete for resources like water and soil nutrients, reduce

irrigation uniformity and efficiency, harbor rodents and other destructive pests, increase the risk of frost hazard in temperature sensitive crops, and increase the cost of production.  In non-crop settings, weeds may be poisonous to people and livestock, interfere with water recreation and water transport, cause potential traffic hazards, pose a fire hazard, are unsightly, and reduce land values. 

To effectively manage weeds, one must be able to correctly identify the weeds present, develop a broad understanding of weed growth and survival, become familiar with the tools (both chemical and non-chemical) available, and implement a strategy that is both economically and environmentally sound.  This is sometimes referred to as "Integrated Weed Management".

Herbicides play a vital role in weed management efforts in California, so each year I conduct field herbicide screening trials on a variety of annual and perennial crops and in non-crop settings to help support herbicide registrations that benefit agriculture and the citizens of California.  To help improve weed management efforts with herbicides, I look at ways to improve herbicide performance, including application timing, herbicide resistance management, spray drift management, nozzle selection, and spray volume and coverage.  I also evaluate cultivation equipment and other non-chemical methods for managing weeds.