Weed Management Message Testing

February 2013

2

 

MethodologyParticipants were interviewed via telephone with the following criteria:

Audience: 250+ acre soybean growers – 200 completes Quota: Split equally among the following regions:

Region 1: Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas (N=67)Region 2: Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (N=70)Region 3: Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina (N=63)

 Sample: Supplied 

3

 

Average Number of Soybean Acres

250-499

500-999

1,000-1,999

2,000+

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

44.0%

35.0%

16.0%

5.0%

4

 

Total Planted Acreage

250-499

500-999

1,000-1,999

2,000+

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

2.0%

32.5%

38.5%

26.5%

5

 

Perceived Most Problematic Area for Herbicide-Resistant Weeds

All Regions

South

Midwest

Plains

Don't Know

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

32.5%

51.5%

15.0%

50.0%

3.0%

Based on what you know, or have heard or read, in which part of the country are herbicide-resistant weeds the most problematic?

6

 

Most Problematic Herbicide-Resistant Weeds

WaterhempPigweed

MarestailAmaranth

KochiaLambsquarters

RagweedGiant Ragweed

VelvetleafJohnsongrass

RyegrassCocklebur

NightshadeBarnyardgrass

Fleabane/HorseweedFoxtail

Wild OatMisc.

Don't Know

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%42.5%

40.0%24.0%

17.5%14.0%

7.5%6.5%

5.5%3.5%

3.0%3.0%

1.5%1.5%

1.0%1.0%1.0%

0.5%1.0%

3.0%

Based on what you know, or have heard or read, what weed species are the most problematic in terms of herbicide-resistant weeds with soybean growers?

7

 

Description of Herbicide-Resistant Weed Problem in Region of Country

Significant Problem

Problem that will need future attention

Not a real problem

No sign in area

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

31.3%

50.7%

14.9%

3.0%

21.4%

55.7%

21.4%

1.4%

65.1%

27.0%

7.9%

0.0%

38.5%

45.0%

15.0%

1.5%

TotalRegion 3Region 2Region 1

How would you describe herbicide-resistant weeds in your region of the country?

8

 

Description of Herbicide-Resistant Weed Problem on Neighboring Farms

Severe

Moderate

Minimal

No Sign

Don't Know

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

4.6%

49.2%

41.5%

3.1%

1.5%

1.4%

37.7%

55.1%

4.3%

1.4%

19.0%

50.8%

25.4%

4.8%

0.0%

8.1%

45.7%

41.1%

4.1%

1.0%

TotalRegion 3Region 2Region 1

How would you describe the herbicide-resistant weed problem on neighboring farms?

9

 

Description of Herbicide-Resistant Weed Problem on Participant’s Farm

Severe

Moderate

Minimal

No Sign

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

3.1%

30.8%

47.7%

18.5%

5.8%

17.4%

58.0%

18.8%

14.3%

36.5%

36.5%

12.7%

7.6%

27.9%

47.7%

16.8%

TotalRegion 3Region 2Region 1

How would you describe the herbicide-resistant weed problem on your farm?

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Most Problematic Herbicide-Resistant Weeds On Own Farm

Waterhemp

Pigweed

Marestail

Kochia

Lambsquarters

Amaranth

Ragweed

Giant Ragweed

Cocklebur

Velvetleaf

Johnsongrass

Ryegrass

Barnyardgrass

Foxtail

Wild Oat

Misc.

Don't Know

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

TotalRegion 3Region 2Region 1

What weed species are the most problematic in terms of herbicide resistance with your soybean acres?

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Effect of Herbicide-Resistant Weeds On Yield and Profitability

Major Effect

Minimal Effect

No Effect

Don't Know

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

9%

66%

23%

2%

8.90%

69.60%

21.40%

0.00%

25.50%

63.60%

10.90%

0.00%

15%

67%

18%

1%

TotalRegion 3Region 2Region 1

How would you describe the effect of herbicide-resistant weeds on your yield and profitability – particularly soybeans?

12

 

Current Weed Management Practices

Post-Emergence Herbicide

Pre-Emergence/Burn-Down

Crop Rotation

Herbicide Rotation

Tillage

Weed-free Commercial Seed

Manually Pull Weeds

Cleaning Equipment

Misc.

Don't Know

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%54%

61%

33%

42%

8%

2%

2%

2%

2%

0%

60.00%

42.90%

27.10%

21.40%

12.90%

11.40%

11.40%

0.00%

1.40%

0.00%

47.60%

54.00%

33.30%

28.60%

7.90%

11.10%

11.10%

0.00%

0.00%

1.60%

54%

53%

31%

31%

10%

8%

8%

1%

1%

1%

TotalRegion 3Region 2Region 1

What weed management practices do you now use on your farm?

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Current Weed Management Practices Focused Specifically On Herbicide-Resistant Weeds

Yes

No

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

54%

46%

38.60%

61.40%

76.20%

23.80%

56%

45%

TotalRegion 3Region 2Region 1

Are any of your current weed management practices focused specifically on herbicide-resistant weeds?

14

 

Identified Common Weed Management Practices Focused Specifically On Herbicide-Resistant Weeds

Pre-emergence herbicide/burn-down

Post-emergence

Crop Rotation

Herbicide Rotation

Tillage

Commercial weed-free seed

Manually Pulling Weeds

Misc.

Don't Know

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%58%

33%

28%

28%

3%

3%

0%

6%

3%

59.30%

48.10%

25.90%

22.20%

11.10%

7.40%

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

54.20%

31.30%

33.30%

27.10%

8.30%

8.30%

4.20%

0.00%

0.00%

57%

36%

30%

26%

7%

6%

2%

2%

1%

TotalRegion 3Region 2Region 1

Which weed management practices do you use to focus on herbicide-resistant weeds, specifically?

15

 

Awareness of Common Practices Used to Combat Herbicide-Resistant Weeds in Soybeans

Tillage

Crop Rotation

Herbicie Rotation

Pre-emergence Herbicide/Burn-down

Post-emergence herbicide

Commercial Weed-free Seed

Manually Pulling Weeds

Equipment Cleaning

Misc.

No others

Don't know

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%42%

15%

12%

13%

6%

3%

0%

0%

0%

10%

21%

22.90%

18.60%

21.40%

15.70%

8.60%

2.90%

5.70%

1.40%

2.90%

10.00%

24.30%

27.00%

17.50%

12.70%

3.20%

6.30%

4.80%

1.60%

1.60%

3.20%

19.00%

22.20%

31%

17%

16%

11%

7%

4%

3%

1%

2%

13%

23%

TotalRegion 3Region 2Region 1

Thinking about common practices, are there any other weed management practices that can be used to combat herbicide-resistant weeds in soybean fields?

16

 

Information Program Name Preferences

Take Action Weed Management

Weed Wise Weed Management

Weed Out Resistance Weed Management

4Sight Weed Management

No Preference

Don't Know

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

32%

25%

21%

16%

5%

3%

Based on the description (given), which of the following program names would you, personally, choose for this information resource?

17

 

Program Description Preference

Herbicide-Resistance Management

Weed Out Resistance Weed Management

Weed Management

Weed Control

No Preference

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

47%

21%

20%

13%

1%

Which of the following brief descriptions do you think is the term that best describes the information and education resource and will gain the attention of most farmers?

18

 

Weed Biology Description Preference

Weed Out Resis-tance

Weed Wise

Weed Biology

Don't Know

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

49%

26%

25%

1%

Now thinking specifically about the portion of the resource that deals with Weed Biology, including weed growth and weed seed characteristics, which of the following terms do you think best describes that portion of the information

and education resource and will gain the attention of most farmers?

19

 

Cropping Systems Description Preference

Field Man-agement

In The Field

No Preference

Don't Know

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

73%

26%

50%

2%

Now thinking specifically about the portion of the resource that deals with Cropping Systems, including crop rotation and tillage practices, which of the following terms do you think best describes that portion of the information and

education resource and will gain the attention of most farmers?

20

 

Herbicide Applications Description Preference

Herbicide Ap-plication

Spray Attention

No Preference

Don't Know

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

58%

40%

50%

2%

Now thinking specifically about the portion of the resource that deals with Herbicide Applications, including drift management and understanding herbicide mode of action properties, which of the following terms do you think best

describes that portion of the information and education resource and will gain the attention of most farmers?

21

 

Weed Control Economics Description Preference

The Bottom Line

Economics of Weed Control

Don't Know

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

55%

44%

2%

Now thinking specifically about the portion of the resource that deals with Weed Control Economics, including cost-benefit of herbicide management versus the cost of poor weed management, which of the following terms do you

think best describes that portion of the information and education resource and will gain the attention of most farmers?

22

 

Information Importance

Economics of Weed Control

Weed Biology

Herbicide Application

Cropping Systems

None -- Know all I need to know

Don't Know

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

48%

21%

19%

10%

2%

1%

Which of those areas – Weed Biology, Cropping Systems, Herbicide Application or Economics of Weed Control – do you feel you need to know more about when dealing with herbicide-resistant weed management?

23

 

Interest Ratings for Topical Subjects

Using a scale of 1 to 10, how interested would you be in reading a story with the following headline?

Subject Rating (1-10 scale)Plan for herbicide-resistant weeds today, and keep the problem manageable

7.62

Tough weeds call for a new weed management plan. 7.57

Start managing for herbicide-resistant weeds today. 7.46

Weeds cost. Proper management pays. 7.34

With herbicide resistance, all U.S. farmers need to refocus on weed management.

7.22

U.S. soybean farmers need to manage for herbicide-resistant weeds.

7.20

Weed management is more than just applying herbicide. 7.20

Know your weeds, field practices, and the ins-and-outs of spraying.

7.18

Weeds evolve, and your management plan must too. 7.12

Yield the benefits of proper weed management. 7.07

Know all the steps. Save costs with proper management of herbicide-resistant weeds.

6.88

Have foresight. Think through four critical factors for weed management.

6.21