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ARS Home » Plains Area » Sidney, Montana » Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory » Agricultural Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #137428
Title: The Ecological Area-wide Managment (TEAM) of Leafy Spurge

Author
item Anderson, Gerald
item WENDEL, L.E.
item DELFOSSE, E.S.
item FAUST, R.M.

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2002
Publication Date: 1/8/2003
Citation: Anderson, G.L., Wendel, L., Delfosse, E., Faust, R. 2003. The Ecological Area-wide Managment (TEAM) of Leafy Spurge. Pest Management Science. 59:609-613.

Interpretive Summary: The Ecological Area-wide Management (TEAM) of Leafy Spurge area-wide program was developed to focus research and control efforts on a single weed, leafy spurge, and demonstrate the effectiveness of a coordinated, biologically-based, integrated pest management program (IPM). TEAM Leafy Spurge stressed partnerships, teamwork, a cooperative approach and biologically-based integrated pest management to solving the leafy spruge problem. The integration of multiple tools clearly demonstrated the advantage of the biologically-based IPM approach. However, the success of regional weed control programs across several states and provinces also requires a vertical integration of several sectors of society. Awareness and education are the keys to vertical integration. Therefore, a substantial effort was made to produce a wide variety of information products specifically designed to educate different segments of society. During its tenure, land managers and agency decision makers have seen the potential of using the TEAM approach to accelerate the regional control of leafy spurge. The example set by the TEAM organization and participants is viewed as a model for future weed control efforts. Stakeholders in the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming are currently asking Congress for funds to establish an Agricultural Research Service regional weed control laboratory based on the TEAM Leafy Spurge concept. The laboratory will focus research, control and technology transfer efforts by working with federal, state and private weed management partners across the western U.S.

Technical Abstract: The Ecological Area-wide Management (TEAM) of Leafy Spurge area-wide program was developed to focus research and control efforts on a single weed, leafy spurge, and demonstrate the effectiveness of a coordinated, biologically-based, integrated pest management program (IPM). TEAM Leafy Spurge stressed partnerships, teamwork, a cooperative approach and biologically-based integrated pest management to solving the leafy spruge problem. The integration of multiple tools clearly demonstrated the advantage of the biologically-based IPM approach. However, the success of regional weed control programs across several states and provinces also requires a vertical integration of several sectors of society. Awareness and education are the keys to vertical integration. Therefore, a substantial effort was made to produce a wide variety of information products specifically designed to educate different segments of society. During its tenure, land managers and agency decision makers have seen the potential of using the TEAM approach to accelerate the regional control of leafy spurge. The example set by the TEAM organization and participants is viewed as a model for future weed control efforts. Stakeholders in the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming are currently asking Congress for funds to establish an Agricultural Research Service regional weed control laboratory based on the TEAM Leafy Spurge concept. The laboratory will focus research, control and technology transfer efforts by working with federal, state and private weed management partners across the western U.S.