Organic vegetable production weed control strategies: Integrating precision cultivation,weed biology and OMRI herbicides

Organic vegetable production weed control strategies: Integrating precision cultivation,weed biology and OMRI herbicides

Summary

2012 was a continuation in the development of training materials. This was achieved through further enhancement of the website which will provide multiple resources for Train the Trainer participants as well as educators and farmers interested in pursuing educational outreach and implementation of integrated organic weed control strategies for vegetable crop production.

An overview of the website and 2012 accomplishments includes the following:

Welcome: this section provides an introduction to the overall sections of the website and the intended educational outreach.

Program: provides overview of the range of topics included in organic weed control strategies for small-scale vegetable farmers along with links to those topics. Hand-operated tools section is a most advanced section developed to date.

In this section hand-operated weed control tool descriptions as well as video demonstrations with cited advantages and disadvantages of the various hand-operated tools as they relate to weed stage of growth and cropping systems are included. Six different hand hoes are demonstrated under field conditions.

In addition to hand hoes two different types of wheel hoes including single wheel and double wheel models are demonstrated and discussed.

The 3rd component of the hand-operated tools section included demonstrations of a backpack weed flaming tool including video as well as descriptions of various techniques related to weed control and crop damage.

Backpack sprayers as economical, accurate and adaptable tools for small-scale organic vegetable farmers is included as part of the website program. A comprehensive overview including narrated video demonstrations, and companion handouts were developed during 2012.

The following is a link to this resource on backpack sprayers.

http://snyderfarm.rutgers.edu/snyder-backpack-sprayers.html

Other sections of the program yet to be developed but included in the outline address:

Weed Control Strategies – Planning Ahead: stale seedbed techniques, continuous tillage to reduce weed seed soil bank and cover cropping to reduce weed seed populations.

Mulching techniques: organic mulches including compost straw etc. and inorganic mulches including plastic film of various light transmitting characteristics.

Organic Materials Research Institute Approved Herbicides: various OMRI approved herbicides reviewed along with efficacy demonstrations.

Tractor mounted implements: in 2012 various tractor configurations and cultivation implements mounted on those tractors have been videotaped and and will be narrated for this component of the program on the website.

Weed biology: this section is under development and will include limited presentation material from Dr. Charles Mohler Cornell University who is conducting extensive weed biology training workshops for farmers.

Resources: the website includes a resource section which will include a multitude of links related to organic weed control strategies in vegetable crops.

Forum: exchanging information between forum participants is an important part of the website development to address information exchange between educators and farmers interested in organic weed control strategies. Forum members will be developed initially from the list of individuals participating in the training programs.

Continued training activities:

In addition to the website development in 2012 an additional training program was conducted in July 2012; 65 graduate and undergraduate student participants from 8 universities attended the Northeastern Weed Science Society – Student Weed Contest at the Rutgers University Snyder Research Farm.

A separate hands-on training program was offered to participants addressing organic weed control strategies for small-scale farmers. A majority of the students are Weed Science majors. 19 of the students answered a post training questionnaire survey identical to the survey previously utilized in hands-on training programs.

The questionnaire survey included impact evaluation of 9 different weed control strategies for organic farmers. Ratings were assigned on a 0 to 5 scale with 0 equaling no impact from the training and 5 equaling maximum expected impact.

For the 19 questionnaire surveys including the 9 questions the overall impact evaluation number was 3.98 indicating excellent overall impact of the hands-on training.

Objectives/Performance Targets

In addition to the previous performance targets including training 40 agricultural service providers and 140 farmers in 2012 and additional training program was initiated. 65 graduate and undergraduate students from 8 universities with an interest in pursuing a career in weed science were trained as part of the Northeastern Weed Science Society – Student Weed Contest held at the Rutgers University Snyder Research and Extension Farm.

Project impact measurements are being developed as part of the website for the use of recording registered participants and information exchange activities through the use of a blog.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Milestone 1- training of agricultural professionals. This area was enhance during 2012 with an additional training program which included 65 undergraduate and graduate students from 8 universities.

Milestone 2-development of training materials. During 2012 a web based training program was developed for the backpack sprayer component of the program including video demonstrations along with links to pertinent material for enhancing backpack sprayers for small-scale vegetable farmers.

Milestone 3
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Links to Images Below:

Hand Hoes –
http://www.mworks.com/SARE/Program/Hand_Hoes/hand_hoes.html

Circle Hoe –
http://www.mworks.com/SARE/Program/Circle_Hoe/circle_hoe.html

Double Wheel Hoe –
http://www.mworks.com/SARE/Program/Double_Wheel_Hoe/double_wheel_hoe.html

• Organic Weed Control Web Site – Hand Hoes
• Organic Weed Control Web Site – Double Wheel Hoe
• Organic Weed Control Web Site – Circle Hoe

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

http://snyderfarm.rutgers.edu/snyder-backpack-sprayers.html

• Organic Weed Control – Hands-On Training – Program Survey

Collaborators: