Share Your Views: Grower Survey on Precision and New Weed Control Technologies
Weed science colleagues at the University of Nebraska have initiated a research project designed to assess perspectives on precision weed management technologies. To facilitate this research, Dr. Amit Jhala and his graduate student (Ankit Yadave) designed a survey to better understand Midwest growers’ perspectives on precision agriculture technologies, non-chemical weed control methods, and the current state of conventional weed management. Earlier this fall, they published the following information about the survey in the University of Nebraska CROPWATCH and have asked for our assistance in obtaining survey responses from Illinois farmers and applicators. Please take a few minutes to review this article and then consider completing the survey. Links to the survey are within the following text.
Weeds remain one of the costliest challenges in crop production, and the tools growers use to manage them are changing fast. New precision and non-chemical technologies, camera-guided “see-and-spray” sprayers, laser weeders, electric weeders, and autonomous machines are entering the market alongside the herbicides growers rely on today.
Weed scientists want to hear directly from you. We invite growers, crop consultants, and other agricultural professionals to complete a short, anonymous survey about your weed management practices, your views on emerging weed control technologies, and the research priorities you would like to see addressed.
Why your response matters
Your input will help guide future weed science research and Extension programming, making sure our work reflects the real needs, concerns, and priorities of the people managing weeds in the field. Survey results will also be shared back with the agricultural community and published so the whole industry can benefit.
What the survey covers
• Your most difficult-to-control and suspected herbicide-resistant weeds
• Awareness of and interest in targeted spraying technologies (e.g., See & Spray®, Greeneye®)
• Perspectives on non-chemical tools such as lasers and electrical weeding
• Your views on herbicides, costs, and resistance management
• The research and Extension priorities you want UNL to focus on
Who should respond
The survey is open to anyone 19 years of age and is involved in farm operations, crop scouting, or agribusiness decision-making. It takes about 10 to 12 minutes, is completely voluntary, and is anonymous; no names or identifying information are collected. You may skip any question or stop at any time.
Take the survey
Complete the survey online through the secure link below, or scan the QR code with your phone camera:
https://unlcorexmuw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1M1DFAe64HsUmYC
Scan to open the survey on your phone.
Questions
For questions about the survey, contact Dr. Amit Jhala, Extension Weed Management Specialist, at amit.jhala@unl.edu. This study has been reviewed by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Institutional Review Board (IRB: 20260725919EX; 402-472-6965; irb@unl.edu).
Thank you for helping shape the future of weed management research and Extension.