Program Description

Weeds, without question, contribute significantly to the cost of production of nearly every crop grown in California. If not properly managed, they can delay or reduce crop establishment and yield, reduce valuable resources like water and nutrients, reduce irrigation distribution and efficiency, harbor rodents and other pests, increase frost and fire hazard, and reduce land values. An effective weed management program is based on all available knowledge and tools and is employed in a manner that is economically and environmentally sound.

The primary mission of the Weed Management program is to develop field research data to help support economical weed control with chemical and nonchemical methods in crop and non-crop settings. Numerous herbicide-screening trials are conducted on a wide variety of crops, including perennial tree fruit, nut, and vineyards, tomatoes, onions, garlic, alfalfa, peppers, cucurbits, sugar beets, cotton, and cole crops. Most trials include developing information on “low risk” and/or low rate herbicides that help improve weed control, reduce grower costs, and are safe for the environment. In addition to applied field research studies, Interregional Research Project #4 (IR-4) studies are conducted yearly to help support herbicide registrations in California.

Kurt J. Hembree
Weed Management Farm Advisor

Contact Intormation
Cooperative Extension Fresno County
1720 S. Maple Avenue
Fresno, CA 93702
Main Phone:  559-456-7285
Direct Line:  559-456-7556
FAX:  559-456-7575
Email:  kjhembree@ucdavis.edu
Website:  http://cefresno.ucdavis.edu