Weed control is considered one of the biggest challenges facing Atlantic Canadian growers at this stage in the development of the industry (Lewis, 1998). It is estimated that even with the best existing management options available a crop production loss of 10% to 25%, depending on the composition of the weed population, occurs in most fields annually. There is a need to further exploit research and development in regions where the cranberry industry is more established and there has been more work done in pest management, particularly in the area of Integrated Weed Management (IPM) (Sampson, 1999). IPM is already practiced to some extent by many producers, if only through monitoring on a regular basis or by using thresholds. The need to widen and enhance IPM programs is seen as being of paramount importance to the industry. The adoption of this technology would ease the reliance on scarce registered chemical controls, expand grower knowledge and management choices and respond to issues of environmental impact. Herbicides are part of current IPM strategies but few are available and the development of herbicide resistance in weed populations is a concern. Research must address these issues, while at the same time provide the tools necessary for the production of a high quality crop.

The development of new, safer products for use in cranberry production, through a program of screening, evaluation and submission of results to Health Canada and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) in support of minor use registrations, has never been done in Atlantic Canada. Registration of pest control products is strictly monitored and success in doing so is determined by recognition by these agencies of the need for these products by the industry as a whole. Similar research is being conducted in a few North American institutions and has just begun to yield limited results. Support by the Atlantic Canadian region will assist in demonstrating need and industry priorities to these agencies, greatly increasing the probability of achieving broad industry objectives.

The objectives of the proposed research are to :

• Identify herbicide use patterns which are compatible with integrated pest management (IPM) programs and evaluate and demonstrate new products both chemical and biological, for weed control in cranberries.

• Promote weed management as one part of an IPM program and ensure that additional weed control products made available through pesticide registration are developed into an environmentally conscious and sustainable pest management program.