Description

Good weed control is possible on organic farms. In this lesson, we explore the realities of organic weed control, the concept of "clean fields", and discuss the tools and strategies used on organic farms.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the goals of organic weed control
• Understand the strategies and tools available for organic weed control

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Content Notes

Organic Weed Control and the Meaning of 'Clean Fields'

In organic farming, a clean field isn’t necessarily weed-free. The goal is to prevent weeds from causing economic harm.

While conventional farmers aim for weed elimination, organic farmers aim for control—allowing for some weed presence without letting them impact crop profitability.

Key Organic Weed Control Strategies

Organic weed control depends on three main strategies:

1. Small Hammers: Organic weed control uses many small tools and techniques rather than relying on a single solution like herbicides. These include cultivation, seed bed preparation, crop rotation, delayed planting, and clean equipment. Combined, these actions can suppress weeds effectively.
2. Prevention: Prevention is key in organic systems. Using cover crops, cultivating early, and preventing weeds from going to seed are essential. Taking action before weeds establish is crucial for long-term control.
3. Process over Products: Organic farming emphasizes integrated, process-based systems rather than relying on products like herbicides. Effective weed control comes from a holistic agroecosystem approach rather than chemical intervention.

Regulatory Support for Organic Weed Control

Weed control is built into organic farming regulations, which encourage practices like crop rotation, nutrient management, cultivation, and mulching. These preventative and control measures align with sound organic farming practices.

Simple Directives for Weed Control

• Keep weeds from emerging
• Kill the weeds that do emerge
• Control the weed seed bank
  

These three strategies form the foundation of effective organic weed management that we will be exploring in this module. With the right approach, clean fields in organic farming are not only possible but sustainable.

Sources and References

§ 205.206 Crop pest, weed, and disease management practice standard. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-I/subchapter-M/part-205/subpart-C/section-205.206