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Harvest Weed Seed Control (HWSC)

A project to explore harvest weed seed control (HWSC) under UK conditions as a method to control grassweeds and reduce the dependence on chemical control, particularly glyphosate.

Website
http://bofin.org.uk/harvest-weed-seed-control/

This is a project to explore harvest weed seed control (HWSC) under UK conditions as a method to control grassweeds and reduce the dependence on chemical control, particularly glyphosate. Previous research and experience in Canada and Australia has shown that combine-mounted seed control units (SCU) render 98% of seed that passes through the harvester unviable.

This project aims to help farmers establish reasonable expectation of what proportion grassweed is left standing at harvest and available to SCU (or other similar control measure). The project involves four farmers who have SCUs fitted to their combines, working with Will Smith (NIAB) who has drawn up a protocol for assessing weeds and efficacy of the SCU. This protocol was tested and validated in Year 1.

The Seed Circle is the BOFIN Knowledge Cluster around this project of those with special interest, including scientists and representatives of machinery manufacturers who have opted in, share experiences and knowledge and help shape the project. It currently has 143 members, if this sounds like something that interests you, make sure to join the Seed Circle today by clicking here.

 

Year 1

In Year 1, on the 18 May 2023 a webinar took place discussing the Harvest Weed-Seed Control project. The panel addressed questions and discussed suggestions live from webinar attendees. The focus of this webinar was to bring in prospective Seed Scouts to refine how the sampling will work. This webinar included discussions with Will Smith, Adam Driver and Trevor Thiessen.

If this webinar seems like something you feel you missed out on, please contact tom@bofin.org.uk OR skye@bofin.org.uk to request a recording of the webinar!

To find out more about Year 1 of this project, please click here.

Related Organisations

Connected Content

Weeds

A weed can have many definitions, one being, any plant growing in a place it is not wanted. This topic focuses mainly on weeds affecting agriculture. Generally weeds are classified into two groups: grass-weeds (e.g Black-grass, Italian ryegrass, Bromes) and broad-leaved weeds (e.g Mayweed, Chickweed, Poppy, Cleavers). 

NIAB

The challenges of food security, climate change and sustainable development present exciting opportunities for agricultural research and innovation. The NIAB Group is the UK’s fastest growing crop science organisation, having trebled in size over the past decade through a strategic programme of investment, merger and acquisition.

BOFIN

The British On-Farm Innovation Network   A network of farmers who carry out their own on-farm trials and share the results, seeking a scientifically robust way to progress farm practice.

NCSPulse PEP
Farmer led innovation

Many of the most telling innovations that make a difference on-farm come from farmers themselves, or from close collaboration between farmers, advisors, industry and researchers

Grass Weeds

Grass weeds are a major challenge in UK agriculture and are often highly competitive in arable crops. Some of the most common grass weeds in the UK include: Black-grass (Alopecurus myosuroides), Italian rye-grass (Lolium multiflorum), Brome (Bromus sp.), wild-oats (Avena sp.), Couch grass (Elytrigia repens), annual meadow grass (Poa annua) and Rat's-tail Fescue (Vulpia myuros). You can find specific topic pages for black-grass and brome. See also related topics of: broad-leaved weeds, herbicides, herbicide resistance and integrated weed management