Weed management is one of the most critical aspects of farming and land management. Recent weed management challenges have reached crisis levels due to labor shortages, herbicide resistant weeds, and increasingly unpredictable weather. My research seeks to find new alternatives to address these challenges. Topics include ecologically-based weed management, “stacked” cultivation, and electrical weed control. I recently completed a review of how management can be improved based on the biology of the weed species present. For example, the adjustments in the timing of tillage can result in dramatically different weed species communities based on dormancy-mediated emergence patterns. I am also involved in research examining the “integrated” effects of weed management efforts – like mulching, cultivation, cover cropping, or herbicide usage – on pests, soil health, and economic viability.
Extension
Most of my extension focuses on working with farmers and land managers to find safe, effective, and culturally appropriate weed management solutions. I supplement my one-on-one extension efforts with educational videos, podcasts, presentations, and written resources to provide weed management information to additional audiences. For example, I recently filmed slow-motion videos of farmers’ cultivators to help optimize their adjustment. I also find on-farm demonstrations particularly effective for disseminating information via farmer-to-farmer networks. One such recently completed project demonstrated weed control programs that address herbicide resistant tall waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) in corn and soybean. Programs showcased effective herbicides, cultivation, and cover cropping techniques that can be used to manage this weed species.
Journal Publications
- Brown, B., Gallandt, E.R., DiTommaso, A., Salon, P., Smith, R.G., Ryan, M.R., Cordeau, S. (2022) Improving weed management based on the timing of emergence peaks: A case study of problematic weeds in Northeast USA. Frontiers in Agronomy. doi:10.3389/fagro.2022.888664
- Alyokhin, A., Nault, B., Brown, B. (2020) Soil conservation practices for insect pest management in highly disturbed agroecosystems. Entomologia experimentalis et applicate. 168(1):7-27. doi:10.1111/eea.12863
- Pethybridge, S., Brown, B., Kikkert, J., Ryan, M.R. (2020) Rolled-crimped cereal rye mulch suppresses white mold in no-till soybean and dry bean. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 35(6):599-607. doi:10.1017/S174217051900022X
- Brown, B., Gallandt, E.R., Hoshide, A. (2019) An economic comparison of weed management systems used in small-scale organic vegetable production. Organic Agriculture. 9:53-63. doi:10.1007/s13165-018-0206-1
- Brown, B., Gallandt, E.R. (2019) To each their own: Case studies of four successful, small-scale organic vegetable farmers with distinct weed management strategies. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 34(5):373-379. doi:10.1017/S1742170517000576
- Brown, B., Gallandt, E.R. (2018). Evidence of synergy with ‘stacked’ intrarow cultivation tools. Weed Research. 58(4):284-291. doi:10.1111/wre.12309
- Brown, B., Gallandt, E.R. (2018) A systems comparison of contrasting organic weed management strategies. Weed Science. 66(1):109-120.
- Smith, R.G., Birthisel, S.K., Bosworth, S.C., Brown, B., Davis, T., Gallandt, E.R., Hazelrigg, A., Venturini, E., Warren, N.D. (2018) Environmental correlates with germinable weed seed banks on organic farms across northern New England. Weed Science. 66(1):78-93.
- Cordeau, S., Smith, R.G., Gallandt, E.R., Brown, B., Salon, P., DiTommaso, A., Ryan, M.R. (2017) How do weed species differ in their response to the timing of tillage? A study of 61 species across the Northeastern United States. Annals of Applied Biology. 171(3):340-352.
- Cordeau, S., Smith R.G., Gallandt, E.R., Brown, B., Salon, P., DiTommaso, A., Ryan, M.R. (2017) Disentangling the effects of tillage timing and weather on weed community assembly. Agriculture. 7(8):66, doi:10.3390/agriculture7080066
- Cordeau, S., Smith, R.G., Gallandt, E.R., Brown, B., Salon, P., DiTommaso, A., Ryan, M.R. (2017) Timing of tillage as a driver of weed community structure. Weed Science. 65(4):504-514.
Book Chapters
- Gallandt, E.R., Birthisel, S., Brown, B., McCollough, M., and Pickoff, M. (2018) Organic farming and sustainable weed control. In Korres, N.E., Burgos, N.R., and Duke, S.O. (eds) Weed Control: Sustainability, hazards and risks in cropping systems worldwide. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Sawston, UK.
- Gallandt, E.R., Brainard, D.C., Brown, B. (2018) Developments in physical weed control. In: Integrated weed management for sustainable agriculture, (ed R.L. Zimdahl) 261-283. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing. Sawston, UK.
