BIOCONTROL OF FIELD BINDWEED AND OTHER WEEDS IN MONTANA
An Update from the Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, University of Idaho, CABI Switzerland, and the Montana Biocontrol Project
John Gaskin, PhD with the USDA Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory shares the latest updates on biological control of bindweed.
Harriet Hinz, PhD with the CABI Switzerland Centre will join the presentation and provide an update on CABI’s biological weed control work.
Melissa Maggio, Montana Biocontrol Project Coordinator
Moderated by Bryce Christiaens, Missoula County Weed District Manager
Weeds cost U.S. agriculture billions of dollars annually in lost production and control costs. The goal of our project is to decrease weed abundance by increasing the efficacy of biological control agent development and improving the establishment success of plant community restorations that resist invasion. Research at the Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory spans multiple aspects of weed control, from taxonomy required for effective development of weed management strategies, demographic and ecological research to optimize biological control management efficacy, and identification of inputs required to support productive invasion-resistant landscapes. The work focuses on rangeland weeds in the Northern Great Plains and extends this research nationally across a range of habitats.
About the USDA Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory:
The mission of the NPRARL is to develop and implement ecologically-based strategies, technologies, and products for the sustainable management of insects, pests, and weeds in crops and rangeland. Emphasis is on biological and cultural management strategies that enhance profitability and environmental quality. It is located in Sidney, MT.
About CABI:
CABI is an international, inter-governmental, not-for-profit organization that improves people’s lives worldwide by providing information and applying scientific expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment. CABI’s Centre in Switzerland has over 60 years of experience in the classical biological control of invasive, non-native weeds and insect pests. Many of the agents used to good effect against leafy spurge, knapweeds, toadflax, and purple loosestrife have been developed by scientists at the Swiss Centre in collaboration with North American partners and donors.
About Montana Biological Weed Control Coordination Project:
MTBCP is a grassroots effort created to provide the leadership, coordination, and education necessary to enable land managers across Montana to successfully incorporate biological weed control into their noxious weed management programs.