Examining Impact of Re-Tire® Mat on Weeds, Soil Health and Crop Production at a Vineyard in Chautauqua County, NY

This study examines how a novel rubber weed barrier mat performs in a vineyard setting where chemical herbicides are currently used. The project tests the product’s ability to control weeds and its impact on soil health and crop production for a 20-month period through a variety of seasonal weather events. This proposal fosters the development and adoption of a weed management product that generates economic, environmental, and human health benefits. Because the Re-Tire® Mat has a unique manufacturing process, it is affordable and durable, helping it to become widely adopted as a regional, national, or even a global solution. However, it has yet to be tested in the field. The project aligns with Northeast SARE’s goals through its research of an underutilized weed management tool that improves quality of life as an alternative to chemical herbicides and contributes to agricultural sustainability through its affordability and low maintenance installation. If proven effective, it will offer farmers a new technology that reduces reliance on herbicides and gas-powered equipment and lowers labor costs.

Experts agree that weed management is one of the most critical aspects of farming. Although there are a variety of alternatives on the market, many growers still rely on chemical herbicides resulting in harm to the environment and humans. Farm workers are impacted during application, and the public is affected by consuming chemicals in food and drinks. Herbicides pose a serious threat to pollinators and are also absorbed into the soil, making their way to fish populations via runoff and erosion. Animals all along the food chain have been exposed to these harmful chemicals, which over time are becoming less effective on the weeds that they were created to eradicate.

Unfortunately, herbicides are still widely considered the cheapest and easiest solution for farmers. Glyphosate and paraquat are among the most used weed control methods by grape farmers, however, these products are currently banned by several countries and their agricultural use in the US may soon be restricted or banned due to their detrimental health and environmental impacts. These trends, along with organic farming and public sentiment, are fostering the move away from herbicides in agriculture.

Glyphosate, the most widely used chemical herbicide, has become increasingly regulated due to health and environmental concerns. In 2020, Bayer, the manufacturer of glyphosate-based Roundup, settled a $10.9 billion lawsuit with tens of thousands of plaintiffs claiming the weedkiller caused their cancer. A variety of advocacy efforts and publications released over the last 15 years also highlight the need for sustainable practices that reduce health hazards for agricultural workers. One example is the 2012 Northeast Grape and Wine Stakeholder group that emphasized the need for research on farming practices that are environmentally friendly and socially equitable. The need for chemical alternatives like the Re-Tire® Mat is highlighted in a 2018 Veg and Fruit Northeast Regional Working Group that identified priorities for research in the areas of organic weed control and bee-safe practices. The group also listed regulations for worker protection and education on weed management as priorities.

Utilizing a unique manufacturing process, the Re-Tire® Mat differs from existing rubber barrier products with its low carbon footprint and absence of resin and adhesives. The technology involves cutting strips of tread from scrap tires and joining them with stainless steel fasteners. Once produced on a large scale, this simplified process will allow the manufacturer to sell the product for less than existing rubber weed barriers. Equally as important for adoption, the Re-Tire® Mat does not rely on adhesives for installation, making it easy to install and water permeable while not allowing sunlight or vegetation to penetrate. Heavy enough to drive a tractor over, the mat offers durability and longevity that mulches, plastics, and tarps cannot provide. These differences may lead to increased adoption by farmers while also contributing to the circular economy through the creation of a new market for scrap tires.

Review of existing rubber barrier products has influenced the development of this prototype and has informed the proposed field study. Perhaps the most significant way that Lucas’s mat differs from existing products is that the tire treads are used in their original form, not processed into crumb rubber. Crumb rubber is made by grinding tire treads into small pieces, then heating and mixing pieces with chemical bonding agents. This manufacturing process has a large carbon footprint and associated costs. Existing products comparable in size and weight to Lucas’s mat average $120 per mat, with additional costs for sealant and other installation accessories. After testing and further development, Lucas aims to sell his product for $95, without the need for additional costs for sealant. Widescale adoption of crumb rubber weed mats has not yet occurred possibly due to their cost or because they are not water permeable, and do not easily mold to uneven ground. Lucas’s product addresses all three of these issues, and, once installed, Lucas’s mats are projected to provide weed protection for 20+ years. During that time, herbicide application, mowing, cover cropping, tarping, and other methods should not be needed, reducing labor time and equipment depreciation significantly.

With the partner farmer Johnson’s engagement in the project, widespread adoption in the region is possible. Johnson wields tremendous influence as the operator of the oldest and most prolific vineyard in Lake Erie wine country, in addition to being a County Legislator and a board member for Cornell Cooperative Extension in Chautauqua County. Johnson Estate is embedded in what is considered the Concord Belt, at the heart of grape production in the Eastern US. The region boasts a network of 58 grape growing farms and over 31,000 acres of vineyards spanning sections of NY and PA. This Lake Erie American Viticulture Area is the largest grape production region east of the Rocky Mountains.