The Weed Management Planner

 

The Weed Management Planner is designed to help farmers sort through many different weed control tactics, both chemical and non-chemical, quickly and comprehensively. 

The Planner consists of two charts – one devoted to pre-planting options, the other to post-planting. Both charts detail the effect common crop and weed management tactics have on each individual weed throughout the growing season.

Users can locate their problem weed along the top axis and quickly scan through the efficacy ratings of a long list of management options, including: 

 

  • Crop Rotation
  • Cover Crop Use
  • Tillage and Cultivation
  • Planting Date & Methods
  • Fertility Practices
  • Harvest Weed Seed Control
  • Chemical Use

Efficacy ratings range from detrimental (D), to no effect (N), poor (P), fair (F), good (G) and excellent (E).

The Weed Management Planner is currently focused on common weeds in the mid-Atlantic region, but should be a useful reference for growers in other regions with similar weed spectrums and crop production practices, such as the Midwest and Southeast. 

Each weed is categorized by its growing characteristics, such as perennial or annual, vining or upright, small seed or large seed. This allows the table to be used for weeds that are not specifically listed. (See more on the development of the WMP here.) 

How to Use the Weed Management Planner

This video demonstrates how to navigate GROW’s Weed Management Planner and use the charts to review how each crop and weed management tactic might impact different weed species throughout the growing season.

Authors

Michael Flessner, Virginia Tech

Kevin Bamber, Virginia Tech

Thierry Besancon, Rutgers University

Rakesh Chandran, West Virginia University

Tommy Hines, Virginia Tech

Quintin Johnson, University of Delaware

Dwight Lingenfelter, Penn state

Claudio Rubione, University of Delaware

Lovreet Shergill, (formerly) University of Delaware

Vijay Singh, Virginia Tech

Mark VanGessel, University of Delaware

Kurt Vollmer, University of Maryland

John Wallace, Penn State