Podcasts pack a punch to help land managers keep problem weeds at bay

Multiple Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) members are using the airways to promote effective techniques to control problem and invasive weeds across North America. The podcasts are typically regional, focused on controlling weeds for a certain geographic area or specific land use.

One recent example is a Michigan State University Extension Field Crops podcast on late season weed control, featuring Christy Sprague, Ph.D., Professor, Extension Specialist, and WSSA member. "We're proud of our talented member scientists like Dr. Sprague, and their dedication to utilize available technologies to promote integrated weed management," says Hilary Sandler, Ph.D., WSSA president. "Late-season weed control is particularly important to protect next season's crops, turf, pastures and waterways from weed proliferation next spring, and we're happy to point out where our weed scientists are using podcasts and other communications to provide economical and environmentally friendly weed-management solutions."

Another noteworthy weed-control podcast from the Midwest is a partnership between three WSSA member-scientists to produce the War Against Weeds. These members are:

Sarah Lancaster, Ph.D., Extension Weed Management Specialist, Kansas State University
Joe Ikley, Ph.D., Extension Weed Scientist, North Dakota State University, and
Alyssa Essman, Ph.D., Weed Science Extension Specialist, Ohio State University
Over ten seasons, and nearly 150 total episodes, this podcast has explored what it takes for farmers to fight the war against weeds. Their timely, regionally focused weed-control podcasts have been made possible with funding from the North Central Integrated Pest Management Center and the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

"State and federal funding are essential to keep important programs like this on the air and accessible to the public," says Sandler. "Weed control is complex and local, so it's important to have the right people and resources available to help the public combat weeds that so often cause serious harm to both managed and natural ecosystems."

Other podcast examples include three more WSSA members who work together to produce the Weeds AR Wild podcast, via Arkansas Row Crops Radio. They are:

Tom Barber, Ph.D., Extension Weed Scientist, University of Arkansas
Jason Norsworthy, Ph.D., Weed Science Professor, University of Arkansas, and Weed Technology journal editor, and
Bob Scott, Ph.D., Extension Weed Scientist, University of Arkansas
Now in its fifth season, this podcast has averaged 17 podcasts per year, detailing timely solutions to weed control in Arkansas row crops.

Further South, at the University of Florida, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, a WSSA member-scientist, Jason Ferrell, Ph.D., has helped produce the Working in the Weeds podcast, comprising 9 seasons and 59 episodes.

In addition to podcasts, WSSA members also help spread knowledge and solutions to weed control via videos and webinars, such as those produced by GROW (Getting Rid of Weeds). GROW and Take Action that tie together scientist-led networks to help U.S. farmers fight herbicide resistance.

Whether the communication is focused on row-crops in the Midwest, vineyards in California, turfgrass in New York, or aquatic and invasive weeds in Florida, or multiple other land uses and geographies across America, it's commonly the case that a WSSA member scientist has contributed somewhere to make it happen. To learn more about WSSA weed control initiatives on invasive plants, herbicides and endangered species, visit: https://wssa.net/initiatives/.

About the Weed Science Society of America
The Weed Science Society of America is a nonprofit scientific society, founded in 1956 to encourage and facilitate the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their impact on the environment. The Society promotes research, education and extension outreach activities related to weeds, provides science-based information to the public and policy makers, fosters awareness of weeds and their impact on managed and natural ecosystems, and strengthens cooperation among weed science organizations across the nation and around the world. For more information, visit www.wssa.net.