The influence of weeds on cranberry yield and quality is not well known and cannot be extrapolated from other cropping systems given the unique nature of both cranberry production and the weed species spectrum. The work presented here addresses this need with four common weed species across multiple production seasons and systems in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and New Jersey: Carolina redroot, earth loosestrife, bristly dewberry, and polytrichum moss. The objectives were to use these representative species to quantify the impact of weed density, groundcover, and biomass on several cranberry yield components and related interactions with other cranberry pests, and to determine whether these relationships were consistent enough across seasons to be reliably used in weed management decision-making. The relationships between Carolina redroot and bristly dewberry growth measures and marketable cranberry yield were highly significant (P ≤ 0.001 in 12 of 13 regressions) and consistent across growing seasons, but not significant for similar regressions with earth loosestrife. In particular, the strong relationship between Carolina redroot and bristly dewberry visual groundcover observations and cranberry yield suggests a simple way for growers and crop scouts to reliably estimate yield loss. The relationship between polytrichum moss biomass and cranberry yield was also significant in both years, but not consistent between years. Weed competition also affected cranberry quality, in that Carolina redroot density was strongly related to the percentage of insect-damaged fruit and bristly dewberry growth reduced cranberry color development. On a practical level, this information can be used to educate growers, consultants, agrichemical registrants, and regulators about the impacts of weeds on cranberry yield and quality, and to economically prioritize management efforts based on the weed species and extent of infestation.

We measure the economic impact of varietal improvement and technological change in flue-cured tobacco across quantity (e.g., yield) and quality dimensions under a voluntary quality constraint. Since 1961, flue-cured tobacco breeders in the United States have been subject to the Minimum Standards Program that sets limits on acceptable quality characteristics for commercial tobacco varieties. We implement a Bayesian hierarchical model to measure the contribution of breeding efforts to changes in tobacco yields and quality between 1954 and 2017. The Bayesian model addresses limited data for varieties in the trials and allows easy generation of the necessary parameters of economic interest.

A field experiment was conducted over five years to determine the effect of season-long kochia interference on oat yield and quality. Kochia interference did not affect oat height, test weight, 500-kernel weight, or groat percentage. Similarly, ash, starch, and total β-glucan percentages in oat groat were not affected by kochia interference. Oat grain yield was reduced in 1991 and 1994 by 30 kochia plants/m2, the highest density. Lipid and protein content were not affected by kochia except in 1992 where protein content was reduced and lipid content was increased by kochia.

Imazaquin {2-[4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid} was evaluated in the field for weed control in flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) during 1983 and 1984. The 75 DG formulation of imazaquin was used at 0.28 and 0.42 kg ai/ha. Methods of application were: preplant incorporated, over the top immediately after transplanting, postbed incorporated, and early postemergence. Imazaquin controlled 90%, or better, of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L. # CHEAL), common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. # AMBEL), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L. # AMARE), spiny amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus L. # AMASP), ivyleaf morningglory [Ipomoea hederacea (L.) Jacq. # IPOHE], sicklepod (Cassia obtusifolia L. # CASOB), and prickly sida (Sida spinosa L. # SIDSP) with all application methods except early postemergence. It controlled 80 to 89% of large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis L. # DIGSA) by the soil-applied methods. Postemergence applications of imazaquin controlled common ragweed, pigweed spp., ivyleaf morningglory, prickly sida, and sicklepod. Imazaquin was less effective postemergence on lambsquarters and large crabgrass. Tobacco tolerated use of imazaquin by all methods of application except preplant incorporation.

The rising demand for local, organic bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the northeastern USA may be an economic and agronomic opportunity for organic dairy producers. Bread wheat must produce adequate grain yields and crude protein (CP) levels to be profitable as a food crop and must complement the on-farm production of high-quality dairy feed. A field study evaluated bread wheat and perennial forage performance in five 3-year crop sequences all ending in a perennial legume/grass forage. The sequences differed by wheat type (winter or spring) and the crop prior to wheat: (1) corn silage (Zea mays L.), (2) soybean (Glycine max L.) or (3) one-year-old perennial forage. Wheat sequences were compared with a sequence of two years of corn silage followed by a new perennial forage seeding and with a continuous perennial forage control. Winter wheat spike density, wheat aboveground biomass and nitrogen uptake were always greater than spring wheat. Wheat grain yield and CP were strongly affected by wheat type, with winter wheat having greater yield but lower CP than spring wheat. At one site-year, winter wheat CP was 15 g kg−1 higher following perennial forage than following corn. Only spring wheat met the bread flour industry standard for CP. Newly established perennial forage following wheat had higher yields and legume composition in both years, along with higher projected milk yields in one year, than the continuous perennial forage. Three-year net revenue based on off-farm sales were on average US$ 741 ha−1 higher for sequences with winter wheat than those with spring wheat, and were equal to the perennial forage control. Rotations that included wheat would likely be more competitive if straw were sold or used on the farm, or, if topdressing practices or varietal choice were used to increase grain protein levels of winter wheat.

Field experiments were conducted to quantify functional relationships between giant ragweed density and sweet corn yield and ear traits. A rectangular hyperbolic model was fit to yield loss measured in terms of marketable ear mass, appropriate for the processing industry, and boxes of 50 marketable ears, relevant to the fresh market industry. The initial slope of the hyperbolic yield loss function (I), which describes the linear portion of yield loss as weed density (weeds per square meter) approaches zero, was 119 for loss of ear mass and 97 for loss of boxes of ears. Furthermore, 10 of 12 ear traits including green ear mass, husked ear mass, ear length, filled ear length, ear width, number of kernels per row, number of rows, kernel depth, kernel mass, and kernel moisture content were significantly affected by giant ragweed interference.

Advances in biotechnology within the last decade have caused dramatic changes in agricultural production systems. In Mississippi, over 60% of the soybean hectarage was planted to glyphosate-resistant soybean in the 2001 production season. One advantage of glyphosate-resistant systems may be that fields with fewer weeds at harvest result in less foreign material and lower seed moisture due to less foreign material. Research was conducted to assess the foreign matter and moisture content of representative glyphosate-resistant and conventional soybean by evaluating elevator receipts collected from soybean producers in the southern and midwestern United States. A survey of growers using glyphosate-resistant and conventional soybean was conducted during the fall and winter of 2000. Copies of elevator receipts were collected to compare the foreign matter percentage and moisture content of soybean in both categories. A total of 16,535 ha were represented, of which 13,903 were from glyphosate-resistant soybean and 2,632 were from conventional soybean. Average foreign matter content from the glyphosate-resistant soybean was 1.9%, compared with 2.5% from the conventional soybean. Thus, the glyphosate-resistant program reduced foreign matter, an indication of reduced weed seed and trash contained in the sample or improved harvest efficiency. No difference was noted in seed moisture content between the two systems.

Herbicides used as harvest aids are applied at crop maturity to desiccate weed and crop foliage. Weeds present in the harvested crop can increase moisture content and foreign material, reducing grade and market price. Weeds can also delay the harvest operation and reduce harvest efficiency. Glyphosate can be used to desiccate weeds in glyphosate-resistant crops without concern for crop injury. Carfentrazone and pyraflufen-ethyl used as harvest aids can be effective in desiccating broadleaf weeds in corn and soybean. Paraquat, although effective on grass and broadleaf weeds when applied late season, can cause significant crop injury if applied too early. With expanded production of early maturing soybean cultivars in the mid-South (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri bootheel, and west Tennessee), presence of green stems, green pods, or green leaf retention, or combinations of these at harvest has increased. Interest in harvest aids has shifted to use as a crop desiccant. Paraquat also is an effective soybean desiccant, but application timing differs for indeterminate and determinate cultivars. Paraquat applied after soybean seed reached physiological maturity reduced number of green stems, pods, and retained green leaves present, allowing harvest to proceed 1 to 2 wk earlier than nontreated soybean. Seed moisture, foreign material, and seed damage also were reduced when paraquat was applied.

Field experiments were conducted from 2000 to 2002 at the Southern Maryland Research and Education Facility located in Upper Marlboro, MD to evaluate PPI and preemergence/prior-to-transplanting (PRE-T) applications of sulfentrazone in combination with clomazone or pendimethalin on crop injury and yield of Maryland-type tobacco. Pendimethalin was also evaluated alone. The highest levels of tobacco injury in 2000 occurred 3 wk after treatment (WAT) with PPI applications of sulfentrazone plus pendimethalin at 0.35 + 0.84 and 0.42 + 0.84 kg ai/ha, averaging 37 and 28%, respectively. In 2001, PPI applications of sulfentrazone plus clomazone at 0.42 + 0.84 kg/ha or sulfentrazone plus pendimethalin at 0.42 + 0.84 kg/ha caused 18 and 12% injury, respectively, 3 WAT. Injury in 2002 with all treatments averaged 7% or less 3 WAT. Greater rainfall through 3 WAT occurred in 2000 than in 2001 or 2002, likely contributing to the higher injury in 2000. Tobacco yields were generally similar among herbicide treatments in 2000 and 2001, and tobacco yields for all herbicide treatments were similar in 2002. The quality index was similar in 2000 and 2001, and varied slightly in 2002 among all herbicide treatments. Although a lower price was calculated for the nontreated controls, price did not vary among most herbicide treatments each year. This research shows that injury to Maryland-type tobacco can occur with sulfentrazone in combination with clomazone or pendimethalin, particularly when incorporated, and when high rainfall occurs soon after transplanting. However, injury is transient and generally has no negative influence on tobacco yield, quality, or price.