Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** this is an ardp single-function…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** this is an ardp single-function research project focused on plant protection tools and tactics. This project will consider the performance, safety, and economic sustainability of electric weed control (EWC) as an herbicide resistance-management strategy in hazelnut orchards. Herbicide resistance is the greatest weed management challenge identified in multiple commodities. In oregon hazelnut orchards, there are confirmed cases of resistance and multiple resistances to postemergence and more recently preemergence herbicides, jeopardizing herbicide mixtures and rotations as management tools. EWC can fundamentally change weed management in hazelnut and mitigate herbicide resistances. EWC is the only effective non-chemical weed control tool because tillage is limited in hazelnut, and mowing is ineffective. Our approach includes field research in collaboration with growers and on university farms. We have established four objectives to advance the integration of EWC in hazelnut orchards. (i) development of weed-specific recommendations for EWC in short-term studies in commercial fields. (II) quantification of the effect of foliar-applied electrical weed control (EWC) on weed densities, herbicide use, and gross returns under different weed management approaches in hazelnuts. (III) continued evaluation of the effects of EWC applied over multiple years on hazelnut growth and yield. (IV) develop soil-applied EWC recommendations to manage preemergent weeds in partnership with the private sector. Expected outcomes include reducing reliance on herbicides, mitigating herbicide resistance management costs, and reducing human exposure to chemicals. Our findings will apply to a wide range of perennial crops.