USask weed control research receives funding

SASKATOON — University of Saskatchewan (USask) researcher Dr. Steve Shirtliffe (PhD) has received $2.47 million to develop a weed management program for pulses.

On Dec. 11, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) announced funding for five new weed science research projects focused on pulse crops, a total investment of more than $3.67 million.

“Growers have consistently identified weed control as one of the top issues facing pulse production. SPG’s funding keeps weed control at the forefront of research investments and aims to provide growers with more options,” said Winston van Staveren, SPG Chair. 

Shirtliffe’s project titled “Framework for a collaborative kochia management program in pulses” received $2,470,285 of the announced funding.

“As growers and agronomists know very well, kochia is a major problem for producers in Saskatchewan, particularly in their impact on growing pulse crops,” said Shirtliffe, a professor in the Department of Plant Science in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at USask. “Because of rapid evolution of herbicide resistance, there are few weed control options. We will be looking at using herbicides in novel ways and combining them with non-chemical control methods to control this weed.”

Kochia is a tumbleweed that is both salt and drought-resistant prolific throughout most of the cropped area of Saskatchewan. Working collaboratively with other researchers, Shirtliffe will build off previous research to test and develop weed control systems that utilize both cultural methods such as weed seed management through mowing and chemical methods like herbicide layering to better deal with the weed.

“This project aims to achieve meaningful outcomes for Saskatchewan producers by producing knowledge, information, and recommendations on practical and durable methods for controlling kochia in pulse crops,” Shirtliffe said. 

The overall program will run for six years, including field seasons from 2025 to 2029, building on the work of previous SPG-funded weed programs, including Weed Science and Herbicide Technology for Pulse Crops (2011–2016) and Enhancing Weed Science in Pulse Crops: Towards a robust strategy for long-term weed management (2016–2022).

See the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers media release for more information and a full list of funded projects.

— Submitted by USask Media Relations