Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researchers are conducting weed management research across the prairies.
According to AAFC, weeds are among the biggest threats to cropland in the Canadian prairies, and management solutions are a “must” to ensure the protection, health, and productivity of farmland.
The AAFC says researchers have taken a “multi-faceted” approach called “integrated weed management” in hopes of helping farmers add the right tools to better manage the weeds affecting their operations.
Officials suggest that weed management is a critical need across the prairies as they compete for resources such as water and nutrients, leading to lower crop yields and less food for the consumer.
Four individuals have been identified to conduct AAFC research currently- Julia Leeson, who will conduct field surveys throughout the prairies to identify problem areas, Charles Geddes, who is exploring ways to control weeds by making them vulnerable to crop treatments on farmers’ fields, Shaun Sharpe, who is investigating the effect of smoke on weeds to deter them from growing altogether, and Breanne Tidemann who identified a number of solutions including weed seed control.
In Grande Prairie, weeds have proven to be a problem across the region, including the city, and management action has been taken by numerous departments in the city and county alike.