Using Wild Oat Growth and Development to Develop a Predictive Model for Spring Wheat Growers and Consultants

Introduction: Wild oat has become an invasive and economically important weedy species in most cereal growing areas of the world, including the Red River Valley of Minnesota and North Dakota. Approximately 79% of the wheat and 72% of barley acres seeded in northwestern Minnesota are infested with wild oat. In the past, wild oat has been effectively controlled with herbicides, and as a result little research has been conducted on developing data to use in a predictive model for wild oat control. However, as herbicide resistant populations of wild oat are increasing, and farmers are faced with fewer control options, the biology of wild oat is becoming increasing important. Further, the need to reduce production costs and increasing environmental concerns, has also led to an interest in reducing herbicide rates and the cost of controlling wild oats in spring wheat.