ARS | Publication request: A RISK MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE ON INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT

Submitted to: Journal of Crop Production
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: May 20, 1998
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The variability inherent in agriculture influences many crop production decisions made by farmers, including weed management. In this research, we have attempted to address how farmers perceive the variability, or risk, associated with integrated weed management systems. Since weeds can have major impacts on crop production, we have examined the risk in terms of crop yields, economic returns, and time and labor management. We found that key factors such as patterns of weed emergence, rate of crop growth and development, and critical periods of weed control can influence the outcome of integrated weed management systems. A key component to developing successful integrated weed management systems lies in the ability of the crop producer to align individual time and labor management issues with existing biological time constraints. We concluded that approaching integrated weed management from a risk management perspective is a logical and productive strategy that can broaden our understanding of weed management and provide information that farmers can use as they evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of diversifying their weed management tactics. Weed scientists must address risk management as we attempt to diversify our weed management tactics to a point at which truly sustainable programs can be developed.

Technical Abstract: The variability inherent in agriculture influences many crop production decisions made by farmers, including weed management. This paper addresses how farmers perceive the variability, or risk, associated with integrated weed management systems in terms of yield, economic returns, and time and labor management. This paper also addresses how key biological time constraints such as periodicity of weed emergence, rate of crop growth and development, and critical periods of weed control can influence the outcome of integrated weed management systems. A key component to developing successful integrated weed management systems lies in the ability of the crop producer to align individual time and labor management issues with existing biological time constraints.