Jul 30, 2021Volunteers needed for research study on glyphosate and herbicide selection
Researchers at University of California (UC), Davis, are looking to growers, pest control advisors and other personnel who make weed and pest management decisions for orchards in California to participate in a survey.
The research team is interested in learning more about the factors that go into these decisions, particularly as they relate to glyphosate and other herbicides, said a recruitment flyer. Participants will receive a $30 Amazon gift card as compensation.
Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide that is used to control grasses and broadleaf weeds. It has also been registered as a pesticide in the U.S. since 1974.
The survey is interview based and is used to discuss some of the factors that go into the pest management decisions that are hard to quantify, but still very important.
“My goal is to use this information internally within UC Cooperative Extension/UC Davis to help develop better Extension programming, as well potentially write an academic paper that could help Extension professionals across the U.S.,” said Steven Haring, a Ph.D candidate in the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis. “We usually think of (pest management) decisions in terms of efficacy or economics. I’m trying to find out if those factors are correct, or if there are also other factors as play.”
Factors of particular interest are those related to integrated pest management, marketing decisions and worker safety.
Participation is open to both conventional and organic growers, and those who grow both. The survey is focused on almond growers, but growers of other orchard crops are also welcome.
For more information, please contact Steven at sharing@ucdavis.edu.
The survey will run through August with plans to release some results before the end of the year.
