About Ross Recker

My passion for agriculture started in high school, while growing up on a family farm and becoming active in the National FFA Organization. Since then, I have taken advantage of as many educational opportunities as possible, in order to become knowledgeable in the field of agriculture. Currently, my education continues at the University of Wisconsin–Madison where I plan to earn a Master’s Degree in Weed Science from the Department of Agronomy.

Contact Information:
Email Address: rrecker@wisc.edu
LinkedIn Profile

Project Title: Influence of Atrazine on Weed Ecology, Weed Management, and the Risk and Development of Glyphosate-Resistant Weeds

Background

Atrazine is an herbicide that can be applied preemergence or postemergence in corn to control broadleaf weeds and some grass species. After decades of use, farmers continue to utilize atrazine because of its agronomic and economic benefits. Like all pesticides, atrazine use has benefits and risks. The risks include surface and groundwater contamination, which have caused local and National concern.

Weed management strategies have changed dramatically since the beginning of atrazine use. Reliance on glyphosate as a main source of weed control, as well as a decrease in the integration of residual herbicides, tillage, and crop rotation for weed management, has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of glyphosate-resistant weeds. Atrazine differs from glyphosate in its mode-of-action, and can therefore provide another tool for generating a glyphosate resistance weed management strategy.

Objectives

1. To determine if there is a difference in weed community composition influenced by elimination from atrazine use
2. To determine if the weed species found in production systems not using atrazine have become more difficult to control with glyphosate or have a greater risk of developing glyphosate resistance
3. To compare how reduced rates of atrazine affect weed control and corn yield when used preemergence (PRE) versus postemergence (POST) in combination with other herbicides

Approach

Objective 1 and 2:

• Conduct an online survey of crop history, herbicide use, and tillage practices.
• Follow up the on-line survey with an in-field survey of late-season weed escapes in corn and soybean fields throughout Wisconsin.
• Calculate weed species frequency, density, uniformity, and richness and make comparisons between categories of crop, tillage, region, and atrazine use history.
• Furthermore, collect seed from weed populations that cause suspicion of glyphosate resistance and then screen the populations for glyphosate resistance in the greenhouse.

Objective 3:

• Conduct small plot field experiments in corn at multiple sites and years.
• Apply reduced rates of atrazine both PRE and POST in combination with a POST program of glyphosate, glufosinate, or tembotrione.
• Estimate weed control regularly throughout the growing season, measure weed heights and population densities prior to POST applications and prior to corn harvest, and harvest corn.
• Subject data to ANOVA and separate means using Fisher’s Protected LSD. Compare treatments using preplanned contrasts.

Presentations

• 2013 North Central Weed Science Society conference paper, “Impact of Management and Atrazine Use on Late-Season Weed Escapes in Wisconsin Corn and Soybean Fields” [PDF]
• 2013 North Central Weed Science Society conference poster, “Pro-Active Late-Season Weed Escape Survey Identified Glyphosate-Resistant Horseweed at Low Frequency in Wisconsin” [PDF]
• 2013 Wisconsin Crop Management conference proceedings, “Update on Herbicide Resistance in Wisconsin and Proactive Late-Season Weed Escape Survey Efforts” [PDF]
• 2012 North Central Weed Science Society meeting poster, “Should atrazine at reduced rates be applied PRE or POST in tank-mix combinations to improve giant ragweed control in corn?” [PDF]