Weed Control Utilization (Oregon State University)

PES covers the period 8/78-8/79 and is based on formal presentations by project staff and informal discussions. Recruitment of two weed scientists to replace personnel who resigned has been difficult due to the limited number of qualified applicants, especially for Central America, where Spanish is required; a candidate for the Philippines is being considered. Information collection and dissemination is proceeding well. The INFOLETTER is being received by 4,436 people in 145 countries, an increase of 500 recipients in the last 4 years. Announcements of meetings and new publications are an important feature. Other publications which were or are being prepared include a review of the world literature on weed-crop competition, a publication on the use and operation of knapsack sprayers, and a weed control teaching outline. Individual requests for weed information are answered on a continuous basis. Plans have been made to revise programs in the Philippines and Central America. Plans have also been made to encourage greater involvement of African and Near East countries by eliciting positive responses to offers of technical assistance. Action decisions are to: (1) recruit weed scientists for the positions that are open in the Philippines and Central America; (2) prepare an annual report on the project; (3) send cables to all Missions informing them of technical assistance available on terrestrial and aquatic weed control problems; (4) review weed control problems in selected African and Near East countries; (5) publish literature reviews on weed losses and on the use of knapsack sprayers; and (6) prepare "success stories" which result from project activities.