Weed evolution and community structure - Ecological Management of Agricultural Weeds - page 483

with cooperation from crop consultants and farmers. Well-advertised tele-
phone numbers and electronic mail addresses for reporting suspected infesta-
tions could be used to help gather information. Taxonomically trained local
volunteers could then check putative sightings. Standardized database tem-
plates and clearly designated lines for reporting locally collected information
to regional and national institutions will facilitate assembly of information
into a useful form.
Education forms a second critical component of programs for preventing
emergence and spread of new weeds.Farmers,extension agents,and crop con-
sultants need to be better trained in weed identification. This can be accom-
plished through workshops, interactive web sites, preparation of inexpensive
guides available through extension agencies, and attractive, easy-to-use weed
identification handbooks (e.g.,Stucky,Monaco & Worsham,1981; Uva,Neal &
DiTomaso, 1997).When research or extension institutions become aware that
a particular problem species or biotype is spreading in a region, information
on identification of the weed needs to be disseminated to farmers via fliers,
newsletters, and grower meetings.
Education is also critical for informing farmers about the most effective
methods for preventing dispersal of weeds onto and within their farms, the
value of early eradication of new infestations, and the importance of control-
ling severe infestations on fallow land and other areas where weeds may not
have an immediate economic impact. Finally, education efforts will be
required to convince growers of the value of their support for the institutional
responses to weed spread discussed below. Education of farmers by farmers is
particularly important in developing support for prevention programs.
The third component of a comprehensive program for the prevention of
new weed problems is institutional and farmer action. Some institutional
actions can be taken to limit weed dispersal.These include certification of seed
and feed, inspection of produce crossing national borders, for example, by the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in the USA, and manure
handling standards that encourage composting (e.g., Northeast Organic
Farming Association of New York, 1995). Institutional responses to new or
severe infestations could include government cost-sharing of control efforts,
and advice and logistic support for farmer-extension teams trained to encour-
age effective management of weed problems in the community. Most often,
however, all that will be required to eradicate a new infestation is recognition
by the farmer that new weed infestations represent a threat, an effective
control strategy, and farmer persistence.
The critical first step in developing a proactive approach to the manage-
ment of new weed problems is commitment by researchers to address
the problem. The scientific community is better situated than farmers and