www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field introduction-to-tools-for-agronomic-row-crops Introduction to Tools for Agronomic Row Crops Agronomic Row CropsThe Tools A flexible combination of tools, timing and technique to suppress early season weeds is the foundation of an integrated row-crop weed management program. Broadcast weeding tools, used in conjunction with cover crops and primary tillage, offer an alternative to herbicides at planting to control weed competition. Rotary hoes, flex-tine weeders, spike-tooth […]
www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field how-to-use-this-book-2 How to Use This Book How to Use This Book A single tool can be used in many ways. So don't be limited by this book's presentation of tools in three general sections by cropping system: Agronomic row crop tools (for corn, soybeans, grain sorghum and cotton) include broadcast tillage implements for early weed control, and tools that work between […]
www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field cultivation-in-context cultivation-in-context-page-6 Cultivation In Context, Page 6 ABCs of Mechanical and Cultural Weed Management B. Keep weeds on the defensive. Weed seeds wait each spring for heat and light to induce germination. Don't wake them up unless you have a way to take them out. Several farmers in this book describe their version of a 'stale seedbed.' (See stories about Jim Cavin, […]
www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field cultivation-in-context cultivation-in-context-page-5 Cultivation In Context, Page 5 ABCs of Mechanical and Cultural Weed Management In a sustainable farm plan, each type of implement is only one part of a long-term weed management strategy. Any tool will disappoint when it's asked to do more than it was designed to do. A successful strategy distributes weed-limiting and weed-killing roles into complementary parts. The benefits […]
www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field cultivation-in-context cultivation-in-context-page-4 Cultivation In Context, Page 4 Cultivation in Context: Renewed tools for better farming Maximizing The Benefits MWC that works offers clear advantages for sustainable farming. These include four opportunities. Develop weed control customized to your farm. Remember, tools are only part of a site-specific, self-sufficient system. Their highest use comes mixed with years of on-farm observation of your soils, crops […]
www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field cultivation-in-context cultivation-in-context-page-3 Cultivation In Context, Page 3 Cultivation in Context: Renewed tools for better farming Is MWC effective at controlling weeds? How about in-row weeds and escapes in the “guess-row” area between planter passes? MWC must be part of a weed management system. Because it deals with biological observation, crop stages and implement adjustments, mechanical weed control is an acquired skill. Farmers […]
www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field cultivation-in-context cultivation-in-context-page-2 Cultivation In Context, Page 2 Cultivation in Context: Renewed tools for better farming Facing the Questions Sure, steel and flame tools can kill weeds. But can they become the foundation of a weed management strategy that works profitably across a range of conditions? Inevitably, those new to mechanical weed control will ask some of these questions: Is it economically efficient? […]
www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field cultivation-in-context Cultivation In Context Cultivation in Context: Renewed tools for better farming Spend less. Manage more. Take control. Here’s a deal for you. Invest in a few pieces of well-chosen steel, diversify your crop mix for higher-value marketing, and harvest a higher return to your bottom line through big savings on herbicide. Interested? I thought so. Keep in mind, […]
www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field publishers-foreword Publisher's Foreword Publisher's Foreword Controlling weeds with reduced reliance on herbicides is one of the main challenges facing farmers interested in moving toward a more sustainable agriculture. Some are concerned about the potential health implications of handling herbicides. Others worry about groundwater contamination. Still more farmers and ranchers have seen the escalating costs of bringing new, less […]
www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field acknowledgments-3 Acknowledgments Acknowledgements Dairy farmer John Merrill's frustration with trying to find a rotary hoe - and someone anywhere close to New England who knew how to operate one - was the origin of this book. He shared this information hole with his colleagues on a committee of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Like […]