Developing an Educational Program on Preventing Noxious Weed Invasion on Farms and Ranches in Nevada and Utah

Developing an Educational Program on Preventing Noxious Weed Invasion on Farms and Ranches in Nevada and Utah

Summary

U.S. agricultural producers spend billions of dollars each year on weed control tactics such as herbicides, grazing, burning, and tillage. Despite management efforts to date, noxious weeds continue to spread rapidly and are an increasing threat to the sustainability of agricultural operations. It is widely accepted among weed management professionals that preventing weed invasion is the most effective method of weed management. However, there is no reliable, accessible, and practical source of information regarding weed prevention. The objective of this project is to develop an educational program on preventing weed invasion on farms and ranches.

Objectives/Performance Targets

The objectives for this project are to: 1) collect, review, and summarize current knowledge about weed prevention on agricultural lands, 2) develop an educational program to present and distribute this information to CE, NRCS, and others, and 3) evaluate program impact.
The project objectives will be accomplished by using the following methods: 1) the current knowledge base regarding noxious weed prevention will be generated through an in-depth literature review and surveys of weed management professionals and agricultural producers, 2) the information will be presented in a single, user-friendly reference manual (paper and CD formats) with text and color photos and illustrations, 3) workshops (each in collaboration with an agricultural producer) will be developed and conducted at 3 locations in both Utah and Nevada for CE, NRCS, and other interested parties, 4) 1,500 manuals will be produced and distributed to attendees at workshops, to every CE and NRCS office in the Utah and Nevada, and to other entities, 5) an interactive website will be created featuring the manual, a Webcast of the workshop, and other relevant information, 6) the project will be presented at national and regional meetings and a paper will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Evaluation of the project’s impact will consist of two surveys involving attendees at workshops, number of visits to the project website, and information requests.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Due to a variety of factors the P.I.’s on this project had failed to make substantial progress on completing the grant requirements and requested a one year no cost extension which was granted in November of 2011. As stated in previous reports, a survey of agricultural producers and weed management professionals in Nevada was completed, analyzed and published. The results of the survey were extensively reviewed by Extension Educators in various Nevada counties and numerous Extension fact sheets based on individual County results were published in 2011. This process is continuing and additional fact sheets regarding the survey results are in the process of being published in 2012. An in-depth literature was completed and a majority of the text and supporting photographs have been assembled. The individual primarily responsible for compiling the information left the employ of Nevada Cooperative Extension during the summer of 2011 and progress on the project was minimal following her departure. However, all of the information has now been assembled by the P.I. and is in the process of being prepared for layout/design in Early 2012. Following printing, a series of workshops in Nevada and Utah will be held to introduce the manual and the concepts in support of it. These workshops are planned for early summer 2012. A webcast of the workshop will be created and posted on the internet to allow greater access to the information. A journal article is also in progress as is the planning for presentations at appropriate venues. Program evaluation will occur during the fall of 2012 with a final report due on December 31, 2012.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

The impacts of the program will be measured after the workshops have been completed. Expected outcomes of this project include: 1) CE, NRCS, and their constituents will be more aware and knowledgeable about weed invasion, 2) methods that prevent weed invasion will be more frequently practiced on farms and ranches, and 3) the environmental and economic impact of invasive weeds on agricultural operations will be reduced because of more widespread use of weed prevention.

Collaborators: