Previous reports have underscored antagonism that may result from mixing glyphosate and glufosinate across a wide range of application rates and for various broadleaf and grass weed species, but no investigation has been conducted to characterize glyphosate absorption and translocation when combined with glufosinate. The objectives of this study were to evaluate herbicide efficacy and assess herbicide interaction and physiological response with combinations of glyphosate and glufosinate on common lambsquarters, velvetleaf, and giant foxtail. Greenhouse studies to determine interaction resulted in strong and persistent antagonism between glyphosate at 110 and 220 g ae ha−1 and glufosinate at 20 or 40 g ae ha−1 in giant foxtail, whereas only transient and reduced antagonism was noted for velvetleaf and common lambsquarters. Combining glyphosate and glufosinate increased the maximum absorption of glyphosate by 9% and 23% in velvetleaf and giant foxtail, respectively, compared with glyphosate alone. In velvetleaf, averaged over time, only 2.6% of the applied radioactivity translocated out of the treated leaf when glufosinate was mixed with glyphosate compared with 9.9% when glyphosate was applied alone. In giant foxtail, 21.6% of the [14C]glyphosate translocated out of the treated leaf when glufosinate was mixed with glyphosate compared with 52.4% when glyphosate was applied alone. Conversely, no change in the radioactive pattern of translocation was noted for common lambsquarters. These results suggest that reduced translocation of glyphosate is the physiological mechanism responsible for the antagonism observed between glyphosate and glufosinate in giant foxtail and, to a lesser extent, in velvetleaf.

The influence of secondary soil disturbance on the emergence pattern and seed bank depletion of an annual weed community in a long-term, no-tillage corn cropping system was determined in 1992 and 1993. As a component of this research, the seed bank was characterized prior to implementation of soil disturbance treatments. The seed bank was initially composed of common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, and giant foxtail, with approximately 55, 36, and 8% of the total viable seeds, respectively. The remaining 1% was comprised of five other species in 1992 and eight in 1993. The spatial distribution of viable seeds of each species, except common lambsquarters and redroot pigweed, was described by a negative binomial distribution. Three dispersion indices indicated that seeds of individual and total weed species were aggregated and that the level of aggregation of viable seeds of a species was associated with seed density; at lower seed densities, the level of aggregation was greater. Soil disturbance increased common lambsquarters emergence 6-fold in 1992 relative to nondisturbed soil, but did not influence emergence in 1993. Rainfall was about 50% less in 1993. In contrast, soil disturbance increased giant foxtail and redroot pigweed emergence approximately 6- and 3-fold in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Seedling emergence associated with soil disturbance, relative to nondisturbed soil, increased seed bank depletion of common lambsquarters 16-fold in 1992, and giant foxtail and redroot pigweed and average of 6- and 3-fold in 1992 and 1993, respectively. These results indicated that soil disturbance increased seedling emergence and seed bank depletion of the predominant species in the weed community of a long-term, no-tillage system, but that this response was dependent on rainfall for common lambsquarters.

Weed control practices affected the weed seed content of the soil, weed seedling populations, and corn and soybean yields in two 4-yr field experiments. When the initial weed seed density was high, giant foxtail seed numbers in soil declined rapidly under weed-free conditions. Changes in seed densities when initial densities were low varied over years. Mechanical and chemical control treatments had variable effects on weed seed numbers over the course of the experiment. Weed seed numbers and weed densities were sometimes greater if herbicides were banded, but crop yields were similar to full-rate herbicides in both experiments in all years. When the initial density was low, giant foxtail seed numbers in soil increased over the course of the experiment regardless of the weed control treatment. Seed densities of broadleaf species decreased under the same conditions. Also, when initial weed densities were low, weed control and crop yields were less sensitive to weed control practices than at high weed densities. Weather factors that influenced treatment efficacy had a major affect on weed populations and crop yield responses to the weed control treatments over years. The interactions of weed control practices, weed populations, and crop yields were complex. Initial weed density and species composition interacted with weed control treatments and weather patterns to generate the results observed.

Peak germination and emergence of common lambsquarters usually occur in early to mid-spring, but both processes can occur during summer and fall. Seeds produced by different common lambsquarters cohorts (seedlings that emerge at nearly the same time) may vary in dormancy status, response to environmental conditions, and response to management factors. Therefore, experiments were conducted to determine the influence of different cohorts on common lambsquarters demography. Field experiments determined plant density, biomass, and seed production of different common lambsquarters cohorts within a crop-free community of annual weed species that included redroot pigweed, giant foxtail, and velvetleaf. Common lambsquarters plant density and aboveground biomass were greater for a mid-May cohort than for early June, late June, mid-July, or early August cohorts, but seed production of the mid-May and early June cohorts did not differ (about 192,000 seeds m−2) and was greater than that of other cohorts (111,500 seeds m−2 or less). In the laboratory, percent germination prior to stratification (exposure of seeds to low temperatures) was less for seeds harvested from early May and late May cohorts (≥ 9%) than those of mid-June or early July cohorts (≤ 75%). After stratification in the field, percent emergence (seedlings per number of planted seeds) and mean emergence time were similar among early May, late May, mid-June, and early July cohort seed sources, and were not influenced by shallow burial in soil. These results suggest that recruitment from seeds produced by different common lambsquarters cohorts is similar, but proportional to the number of seeds produced by each cohort.

Ridge truncation methods affected weed populations, weed control, and corn yields in a ridge-tillage production system. Ridges were left undisturbed, partially truncated, deeply truncated, or destroyed by full-width tillage. The effect of truncation on weed densities and control (visual estimates of biomass reduction) varied by weed species, herbicide treatment, and time of observation. Without herbicide, deep truncation resulted in the lowest densities of all species except giant foxtail. Band application of herbicide controlled all weed species as well as broadcast application following deep truncation. When herbicides were broadcast, weed control was usually not affected by ridge truncation. Ridge truncation often increased corn yields compared with no truncation due to better weed control. While deep truncation often resulted in lower weed populations following herbicide treatment than shallow truncation or disking, differences were not great enough to affect corn yields. When ridges were truncated, broadcast herbicide did not increase corn yields compared with banded herbicide.

Controlled environment experiments were completed to determine the effect of temperature on giant foxtail and fall panicum germination, emergence, and growth. Giant foxtail seed germination decreased when exposed to a constant 30 C compared to 20 C. Germination also decreased in the alternating 20/30 C temperature regime when the hours of exposure to 30 C as compared to 20 C increased. Fall panicum required alternating temperatures of 14 C (9 h)/28 C (15 h) to germinate. Giant foxtail seed germination exceeded 60% 4 d after exposure to an alternating temperature of 7 C (9.4 h)/20 C (14.6 h). Conversely, fall panicum seed did not germinate at the 7 C (9.4 h)/20 C (14.6 h) temperature regime and required a minimum of 7 d exposure to alternating temperatures of 13 C (8.7 h)/26 C (15.3 h) for 88% of the seed to germinate. The greatest emergence of giant foxtail and fall panicum was from 1 cm and 1 to 2.5 cm, respectively. Less than 5% of the giant foxtail and fall panicum seed emerged from 7.5 cm. The growth of giant foxtail seedlings was five times greater than that of fall panicum at each temperature regime tested. Incorporation of this information into bioeconomic models could result in accurate predictions of weed germination for effective weed management strategies.

A better understanding of the influence of various crop and weed management practices on spatiotemporal dynamics of weeds could improve the design of integrated weed management systems. We examined the influence of 18- and 76-cm soybean row spacings on emergence pattern and spatial aggregation of giant foxtail, common lambsquarters, and velvetleaf seedling cohorts. In addition, we characterized the soil seedbank and determined the quantitative and spatial relationship between the seedbank and seedling populations. Viable seeds of about 10 weed species and twice as many species of seedlings were identified in the weed community. Giant foxtail and common lambsquarters were the predominant species in the seedling and seedbank population, respectively, each accounting for 60 to 70% of the total weed species density. Emergence of giant foxtail, common lambsquarters, and velvetleaf depleted 12 to 33%, < 2% and 12 to 49% of the seedbank in the upper 10 cm of the soil profile. Peak time and periodicity of weed emergence was not influenced by soybean row spacing, and peak time of emergence of giant foxtail, common lambsquarters, and velvetleaf occurred 3 to 4, 3 to 6, and 3 to 9 weeks after soybean planting (WAP), respectively. Magnitude of giant foxtail emergence 5, 6, and 9 WAP was 98, 96, and 76% greater in 76- than in 18-cm row soybeans only when the population of 76-cm row soybeans was 57% lower than the 18-cm soybeans in 1997. Giant foxtail and common lambsquarters seeds in the seedbank were aggregated in 1996 and 1997 according to the Taylor power law (TPL) and the negative binomial distribution (NBD). The TPL and the NBD were similar in describing the spatial aggregation of giant foxtail and common lambsquarters but not some velvetleaf seedling cohorts. The spatial aggregation of seedlings varied among cohorts for different weed species and was likely due to species-specific biological characteristics that influence seed dispersal, germination, and seedling emergence. Within a 1.5-ha area, aggregation declined with decreasing density. Within a 24-m2 area, the level of aggregation of all weed species decreased as seedling densities increased. These results indicated that soybean row spacing influenced neither weed emergence pattern nor weed spatial aggregation; thus, several management decisions can be similar in 18- and 76-cm row soybeans.

Greenhouse, laboratory, and field studies were conducted to evaluate the potential of nonionic surfactant (NIS), crop oil concentrate (COC), methylated seed oil (MSO), and 28% urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) to enhance whole plant efficacy, absorption, and spray retention of foliar applications of isoxaflutole to giant foxtail. In greenhouse studies, isoxaflutole at 10 g ai ha−1 reduced giant foxtail growth 5%, whereas the addition of a spray adjuvant reduced giant foxtail growth at least 75%. The addition of UAN improved giant foxtail growth reduction when used in combination with isoxaflutole plus NIS. Isoxaflutole spray retention on the leaf surface was increased with an adjuvant and a further increase was observed with the addition of UAN. Isoxaflutole applied with NIS, COC, and MSO resulted in 42, 60, and 91% 14C absorption, respectively, compared to 21% absorption from isoxaflutole applied alone 24 h after treatment (HAT). Increased 14C absorption and entry into the cuticle when an adjuvant was utilized with isoxaflutole resulted in greater translocation of 14C from isoxaflutole out of the treated leaf. Significant basipetal movement from foliar applications of 14C-isoxaflutole suggests phloem mobility. In field studies, isoxaflutole applied with MSO provided greater giant foxtail growth reduction compared to isoxaflutole applied with NIS and in some cases COC. The addition of UAN to isoxaflutole did not increase whole plant efficacy in field studies. These studies indicate isoxaflutole has excellent potential to be used for control of existing giant foxtail present at the time of corn planting if an adequate adjuvant is utilized.

Giant foxtail, woolly cupgrass, and wild-proso millet infest millions of hectares of land devoted to corn production in the midwestern U.S. Control of these species and effects on corn grain yield were evaluated at various timings using POST applications of nicosulfuron vs. applications of various PRE herbicides at 17 locations across the midwestern U.S. in 1992 and 1993. Nicosulfuron applied to 5 to 10 cm giant foxtail and woolly cupgrass provided greater control than that observed with selected PRE herbicides. Giant foxtail control with nicosulfuron averaged 88%, and control of woolly cupgrass averaged 77% across all sites. Nicosulfuron, applied to 5 to 10 cm wild-proso millet, provided a level of control similar to that of selected PRE herbicides. Corn grain yield was greater when giant foxtail was controlled POST with nicosulfuron vs. PRE control with selected soil-applied herbicides. Corn grain yields were similar when nicosulfuron was applied POST to 5 to 10 cm woolly cupgrass or wild-proso millet vs. PRE control of these grass weeds. Across a broad range of geographical locations, nicosulfuron, applied POST to 5 to 10 cm tall grass, provided greater or similar levels of weed control vs. the selected PRE herbicides, with no deleterious effect on grain yield.

Weed seeds can require an exposure to light for induction of germination. Conducting tillage operations at night and thus preventing the photoinduction of germination has been proposed as a means to reduce weed emergence in agricultural systems. This research was conducted to evaluate night tillage as a weed management option and to determine which tillage operations have the greatest effect on light-mediated recruitment. Weed emergence was evaluated after conducting factorial combinations of day and night moldboard plowing and disking in the springtime from 1992 through 1995. The light environment during disking generally had a slightly greater effect on emergence than the light environment during plowing. Emergence of pigweed species and giant foxtail was, at most, 30 to 55% higher following day vs. night disking. Emergence of other weeds was not affected by the light environment during tillage. We conclude that night tillage may not be a viable approach to weed management due to insufficient reductions in weed emergence associated with night tillage and the high degree of variability in the recruitment response to light conditions during tillage.

Many growers perceive that reduced herbicide inputs and greater reliance on mechanical methods will result in increased weed management problems over time. Previous research has shown short-term benefits of integrated weed management strategies, but information concerning the long-term implications of these strategies is lacking. Therefore, research was conducted from 1992 through 1995 to determine the influence of full-rate preemergence broadcast, half-rate preemergence broadcast plus cultivation, and full-rate preemergence band plus cultivation treatments on weed population and seedbank dynamics in no-tillage (NT), chisel plow (CP), and moldboard plow (MP) systems in both continuous corn (CC) and corn—soybean (CS) rotation. Seventeen weed species were identified in the plant population and seedbank across all treatments, but common lambsquarters, giant foxtail, and redroot pigweed dominanted. Vertical distribution of weed seeds in soil was influenced by tillage, with 74, 59, and 43% of the total viable seed of these species less than 10 cm deep in NT, CP, and MP, respectively. In contrast, seed dormancy in the spring was not influenced greatly by tillage and averaged 79, 10, and 42% for common lambsquarters, giant foxtail, and redroot pigweed, respectively, across tillage methods. Crop rotation was not a major factor influencing weed population and seedbank dynamics. From 1992 to 1995, reduction of shoot biomass and seed production of the predominant weed species were similar among weed management treatments in most tillage and crop rotation systems. The influence of weed management treatments on the seedbank was also similar, with up to 50, 95, and 92% less seed of common lambsquarters, giant foxtail, and redroot pigweed, respectively, in the seedbank in 1995 than in 1992. Corn and soybean grain yields were similar among weed management treatments and were greater than the nontreated check in each tillage and crop rotation treatment. These results indicate that reduced herbicide inputs plus interrow cultivation were as effective as full-rate herbicide inputs for the management of several annual weed species in both conventional- and conservation-tillage systems over 4 yr.

Field experiments, conducted from 1991 to 1994, generated information on weed seedbank emergence for 22 site-years from Ohio to Colorado and Minnesota to Missouri. Early spring seedbank densities were estimated through direct extraction of viable seeds from soil cores. Emerged seedlings were recorded periodically, as were daily values for air and soil temperature, and precipitation. Percentages of weed seedbanks that emerged as seedlings were calculated from seedbank and seedling data for each species, and relationships between seedbank emergence and microclimatic variables were sought. Fifteen species were found in 3 or more site-years. Average emergence percentages (and coefficients of variation) of these species were as follows: giant foxtail, 31.2 (84%); velvetleaf, 28.2 (66); kochia, 25.7 (79); Pennsylvania smartweed, 25.1 (65); common purslane, 15.4 (135); common ragweed, 15.0 (110); green foxtail, 8.5 (72); wild proso millet, 6.6 (104); hairy nightshade, 5.2 (62); common sunflower, 5.0 (26); yellow foxtail, 3.4 (67); pigweed species, 3.3 (103); common lambsquarters, 2.7 (111); wild buckwheat, 2.5 (63), and prostrate knotweed, 0.6 (79). Variation among site-years, for some species, could be attributed to microclimate variables thought to induce secondary dormancy in spring. For example, total seasonal emergence percentage of giant foxtail was related positively to the 1st date at which average daily soil temperature at 5 to 10 cm soil depth reached 16 C. Thus, if soil warmed before mid April, secondary dormancy was induced and few seedlings emerged, whereas many seedlings emerged if soil remained cool until June.

Changes in weed seedbank composition are often monitored by removing seeds from soil samples. One extraction method accomplishes this by creating a slurry of soil and a concentrated inorganic salt solution. Centrifugation is then used to separate constituents of differing densities. We have found that centrifugation of giant foxtail seeds in 3.2 M potassium carbonate solution as conducted in a centrifugation/flotation extraction method can reduce viability as measured by germination and tetrazolium tests. In one experiment, centrifugation/flotation separation reduced germination of giant foxtail seeds from 94 to 52%. The likely cause of seed damage was the high pH of the potassium carbonate solution in conjunction with the increased hydrostatic pressure due to centrifugation. While centrifugation affected quantitative measures of seed viability, it did not alter qualitative viability estimates using a pressure test.

The germination behavior of giant foxtail and shattercane seed was investigated to determine whether environment in which maternal plants grow and progeny seed develop affects seed dormancy. Giant foxtail and shattercane seed was collected in 1985, 1991, and 1992. Plants from this seed were grown to maturity in the field and the greenhouse in 1993 and 1994. Experiments were conducted using mature progeny seed collected from these plants to determine the influence of environment of maternal growth on seed germination. Greenhouse-raised giant foxtail seed was more dormant than field-raised seed. Progeny of the 1991 giant foxtail collection had the most dormant seed, whereas progeny of the 1992 collection had the least dormant seed. Field-raised shattercane seed was more dormant than greenhouse-raised seed, but this dormancy was easily overcome by placing them in fluctuating temperatures. Moist stratification of giant foxtail seed increased its overall germination and reduced the differences in germination between individual collections and between field- and greenhouse-raised seed lots. Moist stratification of shattercane seed resulted in increased variability in germination within and among seed lots. Subjecting shattercane seed to freezing and thawing was most detrimental and caused an 89% reduction in germination due to seed death. These data indicate that before overwintering, giant foxtail seed differed in germination percentage, but overwintering reduced these differences. Shattercane seed produced in different environments had similar germination percentage. This suggests that successful overwintering depends on its ability to survive freezing and thawing conditions.

Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted in 1995 and 1996 to determine soybean injury and weed control differences from imazamox and imazethapyr applied postemergence with a nonionic surfactant or methylated seed oil and with selected tank mixtures. Soybean injury from imazamox at 35 g ai ha−1 plus either a methylated seed oil or nonionic surfactant was equal to injury from imazethapyr at 70 g ai ha−1 in the greenhouse and field. Imazamox provided greater common lambsquarters control than imazethapyr in the field in 1995 and in the greenhouse. Thifensulfuron tank mixed with imazethapyr increased common lambsquarters control, while soybean response increased when thifensulfuron was tank mixed with imazamox. Common ragweed dry weight was reduced 61 to 64% from 35 g ha−1 imazamox and 70 g ha−1 imazethapyr in the field; however, imazamox provided greater common ragweed control than imazethapyr in the greenhouse. Tank mixtures of lactofen with imazamox or imazethapyr increased common ragweed control and resulted in greater soybean seed yield in 1996 than when imazamox and imazethapyr were applied alone; however, lactofen antagonized giant foxtail control with imazamox and imazethapyr, and antagonized common lambsquarters control with imazamox. Giant foxtail control in the greenhouse was antagonized more when acifluorfen, fomesafen, and lactofen were tank mixed with 35 g ha−1 imazethapyr than with 35 g ha−1 imazamox. Giant foxtail control with imazamox or imazethapyr applied alone or with diphenyl ether herbicides increased when 28% urea ammonium nitrate was added with nonionic surfactant compared with nonionic surfactant only. Imazethapyr antagonized giant foxtail control by clethodim in the field and was more antagonistic than imazamox in the greenhouse. A methylated seed oil improved common ragweed control by imazethapyr at 70 g ha−1 and imazamox at 18 and 35 g ha−1, while common lambsquarters and velvetleaf control increased when a methylated seed oil was included with 18 g ha−1 imazethapyr compared to nonionic surfactant in the greenhouse.

Greenhouse and laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate foliar absorption, translocation, and efficacy of glufosinate on four weed species. The rate of glufosinate required to reduce shoot dry weight by 50% (GR50) varied between weed species. GR50 values for giant foxtail, barnyardgrass, velvetleaf, and common lambsquarters were 69, 186, 199, and 235 g ai ha−1, respectively. Absorption of 14C-glufosinate increased with time and reached a plateau 24 hours after treatment (HAT). Absorption of 14C-glufosinate was 67, 53, 42, and 16% for giant foxtail, barnyardgrass, velvetleaf, and common lambsquarters, respectively. Translocation of absorbed 14C-glufosinate from the treated leaf was greatest for giant foxtail and barnyardgrass (15 and 14% 24 HAT of absorbed 14C-glufosinate, respectively). This compared to 5 and < 1% for translocation of absorbed 14C-glufosinate from the treated leaves of velvetleaf and common lambsquarters. The majority of 14C-glufosinate translocated by giant foxtail and barnyardgrass was found below the treated leaf and in the roots, indicating phloem mobility of the herbicide. Differential absorption and translocation of 14C-glufosinate may be contributing factors to the differential sensitivity observed between weed species.

Greenhouse and laboratory studies were conducted to determine the physiological basis for selectivity of nicosulfuron and primisulfuron in 5 plant species. Differential sensitivity of the species was quantified by determining GR50 values (herbicide rate required to reduce plant growth 50%) for each species/herbicide combination. GR50 data indicated the following levels of sensitivity: corn—tolerant to both herbicides; seedling johnsongrass—sensitive to both herbicides; barnyardgrass—sensitive to nicosulfuron and tolerant to primisulfuron; giant foxtail—sensitive to nicosulfuron and tolerant to primisulfuron; and eastern black nightshade—tolerant to nicosulfuron and sensitive to primisulfuron. Studies using 14C-radiolabeled herbicides were conducted to determine whether differential herbicide absorption, translocation, or metabolism contributed to whole plant responses. Nicosulfuron and primisulfuron selectivity in corn, johnsongrass, barnyardgrass, and giant foxtail was primarily due to differential herbicide metabolism rate. Tolerant species metabolized the herbicide more rapidly and extensively than sensitive species. Differential herbicide absorption, translocation, or metabolism did not explain differential sensitivity of eastern black nightshade to the herbicides. Further studies indicated that the tolerance of eastern black nightshade to nicosulfuron and its sensitivity to primisulfuron was directly related to lower sensitivity of the acetolactate synthase (ALS) to nicosulfuron than to primisulfuron. Eastern black nightshade translocated very little (3%) of the nicosulfuron applied. The ALS sensitivity of johnsongrass and eastern black nightshade was similar in the presence of nicosulfuron. A combination of a higher ALS level and less herbicide translocation contributes to tolerance of eastern black nightshade and to sensitivity of johnsongrass to nicosulfuron.

Understanding patterns of shattercane and giant foxtail field emergence during the spring and summer in the Midwest is important to determine the best weed management programs for crop production systems. The primary objective of this study was to determine percentage emergence of shattercane and giant foxtail under field conditions as influenced by soil temperature fluctuations, in 1992 and 1993. A secondary objective was to determine the difference in emergence percentage based on shattercane and giant foxtail seed lots harvested in different years (1985, 1991, and 1992). Soil temperature fluctuations were manipulated by artificially shading the soil surface with plastic netting that provided 30, 60, and 90% of incident sunlight in addition to the full sunlight control (0% shade). Giant foxtail and shattercane seed was planted at depths of 1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 cm under each shade, and emergence was monitored for 45 d. Soil temperature fluctuations were reduced by increasing depth and amount of shade. Increasing depth of seed significantly reduced percentage emergence by 63 and 54% for shattercane, and 71 and 73% for giant foxtail in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Decreasing light intensity significantly reduced percentage emergence of shattercane by 72 and 73% in 1992 and 1993, respectively, but did not decrease giant foxtail emergence. Seed lots of both species were different from one another both years. These results were consistent over years, even though 1993 precipitation was three times that for 1992. Therefore, shattercane seed uses diurnal fluctuations in temperature to sense proximity to the soil surface and covering vegetation to avoid germination when conditions are unfavorable for growth. In contrast, giant foxtail seed can germinate readily and grow when environmental conditions are within an acceptable range and when seed is not buried too deeply. Differences in percentage emergence between seed lots could play a major role in emergence patterns of shattercane and giant foxtail observed in the field and may be influenced by environmental conditions during seed development on parent plants.

Studies were conducted at East Lansing, MI, in 1994 and 1995 to examine corn yield response to giant foxtail interference and to examine the effect of giant foxtail density on giant foxtail biomass, seed production, and seed germination. Treatments consisted of 0, 10, 30, 60, 84, and 98 giant foxtail plants m−1 of row in 1994 and 0, 10, 27, 30, 60, and 69 plants m−1 of row in 1995. The influence of giant foxtail density on corn yield fit a hyperbolic equation. Corn yields were reduced 13% in 1994 and 14% in 1995 from 10 giant foxtail plants m−1 of row. Corn dry matter at maturity was decreased 24 and 23% from 10 giant foxtail plants m−1 of row in 1994 and 1995, respectively. Giant foxtail seed production increased linearly as inflorescence length increased. The length of a single giant foxtail inflorescence increased as plant density increased and the number of inflorescence produced per plant decreased. Giant foxtail seed production ranged from 518 to 2,544 seeds per plant. Ten giant foxtail plants m−1 of row produced 15,700 seeds m−2. Giant foxtail seed germination was not affected by plant density.

Herbicide-resistant weeds have impacted crop production throughout the United States, but the effect they have on extension programming has not been evaluated. In June 2007, 38 extension weed specialists throughout the United States, responded to a survey on herbicide-resistant (HR) weeds and the impact they are having on extension education programming. Survey results revealed that HR weeds have had a significant impact on extension programming particularly for agronomic crops. In the last 10 yr, agronomic weed specialists' extension programming was almost twice as likely to be impacted by the presence of HR weeds as compared to horticultural programming. In the next 5 yr, agronomic extension programming is twice as likely to be altered. Of 37 weed species reported, seven genera or species of weeds represented 80% of the major HR biotypes reported. These include Amaranthus species, horseweed, Setaria species, common lambsquarters, kochia, giant ragweed, and Lolium species. Five weed species (common ragweed, common lambsquarters, horseweed, kochia, and three foxtail species) exhibited weed by mode of action (MOA) interactions when evaluated as major or minor problems. Herbicide resistance problem severity differed for weed species, herbicide MOA, and crops. The results of this survey of university extension personnel confirm that HR weeds have impacted extension programming and will continue to impact programming in the future.