WEED MANAGEMENT IN NORTHEAST CHINA

Agricultural production in China occurs via three distinct organizatio nal units: the countryside farmer, state farms, and military farms. Th e countryside farmer in northeast China carries out most production op erations with hand tools, some animal and tractor power, and little ad ditional mechanization. Most weeds in row crops are controlled by hand , although a high percentage of the rice crop is treated with herbicid es as is about 20% of the wheat. Countryside farmers independently man age small plots of land. State and military farms, the majority of whi ch are located in China's northeastern-most province of Heilongjiang, are highly mechanized and accomplish most weed control with herbicides . Military farms range from similar to 500-2,500 ha, and state farms g enerally occupy 50,000-100,000 ha, with some much larger. Primary crop s on the military farms are soybeans, oilseed rape, and wheat. State f arms generally have more diversity in crops. The need for herbicide ad juvants to increase postemergence (POST) herbicide efficacy and for re duced tillage practices to combat soil erosion are recognized concerns , as is the threat of herbicide resistance.