Video Clips on Organic Weed Management presented by eOrganic and Extension Services

There are literally dozens of great video clips here on weed management that will be useful for organic, sustainable and small growers of all kinds, everywhere. Do check them out.

This is an eOrganic article and was reviewed for compliance with National Organic Program regulations by members of the eOrganic community. Always check with your organic certification agency before adopting new practices or using new materials. For more information

• Video Clip: Backpack Flame Weeder from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Batwing Shovels from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Bezzerides Cultivator from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Bezzerides Cultivator on Applefield Farm from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Buddingh Basket Weeder from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Buddingh Basket Weeder on Edgewater Farm from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Buddingh Basket Weeder on Harvest Farm from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Buddingh In-Row Weeder from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Custom Cultivator for Plastic Edges from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Custom Field Cultivator from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Custom-made Flame Weeder from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Custom-made Zone Tiller from Vegetable Farmers and their Sustainable Tillage Practices
• Video Clip: Effects of Tillage on Soil Health from Vegetable Farmers and their Sustainable Tillage Practices
• Video Clip: Flame Weeders from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Lely Spring-tine Weeder from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Lely Spring-tine Weeder on Edgewater Farm from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Lilliston Rolling Cultivator from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Perfecta Field Cultivator from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Ridge Till and Cover Crops from Vegetable Farmers and their Sustainable Tillage Practices
• Video Clip: Ridge Till Research from Vegetable Farmers and their Sustainable Tillage Practices
• Video Clip: Roller for Stale Seedbed from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Rotary Hoe from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Small-Scale No-Till Using Compost as Mulch from Vegetable Farmers and their Sustainable Tillage Practices
• Video Clip: Soil Spader to Incorporate Cover Crops and Compost from Vegetable Farmers and their Sustainable Tillage Practices
• Video Clip: Sweeps on Edgewater Farm from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Sweeps on Harvest Farm from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Tractor-drawn Flame Weeders from Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
• Video Clip: Weed Em and Reap Part 1. Insulated Shield Flamer
• There are many, many more below, so please read on… Read more »

Conducted by Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) at the W. K. Kellogg Biological Station (KBS)

by Dale R. Mutch, Ph.D.
Senior District Extension Educator and Extension Specialist,Adjunct Professor CSS; Coordinator, KBS and Extension Land & Water Unit; NCR-SARE PDP State Sustainable Agriculture Coordinator

The MSUE Cover Crop Program at KBS began conducting organic research in 1996.  In 1997 we had 12 acres certified organic through OCIA.  We now have 15 acres certified organic.  On these organic acres we conduct small plot research that is driven by farmer advisory groups. In 1996 MSU had only a few researchers working with organic farmers.  Over the past 15 years, that has changed tremendously.  I believe MSU is one of the top Land Grant universities doing research for organic farming systems.

Some of the research projects being conducted at MSUE/KBS are:

1.     Evaluation of an organic no-till system for organic corn and soybean production. A six-state (Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Pennsylvania) long-term no-till organic cropping system project.  We are measuring crop productivity, yields, soil quality and economic performance.  The crimper/roller is being evaluated as a tool to enhance organic no-till practices.  The crimper/roller (C/R) crushes the cover crop leaving a mulch that shades out weeds and prevents them from germinating.  Following C/R we no-till drill or plant soybeans or corn into the mulch.  Hairy vetch and cereal rye are being used in this study for both corn and soybean production.  The no-till treatments are being compared to more traditional conventional tilled treatments for corn and soybeans.  Each state also has the same experiment being conducted on an organic farmer’s field.  This is the third year of a four-year project.

Flaming for Weed Control

2.     Controlling weeds using flame heat for organic farmers. A study was initiated at KBS to evaluate the time of day for the best results of flame burning weeds in corn systems.  A six-row flamer was used at 8 a.m., 12 noon, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. in organic corn.  The study was conducted over two years and the results will be presented by Dr. Christy Sprague at this year’s MOSES conference.

3.     Evaluation of organic potassium sources for alfalfa. In 2009 the field had been a crop of organic no-till soybeans with rye, and had cereal rye and clover growing, making it necessary to moldboard plow.  In 2010, the first year of this project was spent establishing the alfalfa.  A field that had been farmed organically for the past three years was moldboard plowed on March 19.    The untreated alfalfa seed was donated to the project by Cisco Seeds. Read more »

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that A law enforcement raid on a New Mexico school greenhouse last month involving a helicopter and law enforcement officials wearing bulletproof vests resulted in the tour of their tomato cultivation project, not the marijuana bust they had apparently anticipated. Good to know we are keeping kids safe.

EXCERPT: “Police last month raided an Española-area school looking for marijuana growing in a greenhouse, but all they found there were tomatoes. Patricia Pantano, education director of the Camino de Paz Montessori School and Farm in Cuarteles, between Española and Chimayó on N.M. 76, said the raid occurred Sept. 21 during the lunch hour.”

Original article by Tom Sharpe | The New Mexican
Posted: Monday, October 04, 2010

Please join the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project in the fields this Thursday for a training on organic weed management. The training will take place from 4p-6p at 1480 Bridge St, Dracut, Ma. Please park behind the Dairy.