Weeds News Archive
Weeds News
13th January 2010 - Steam-treated soil gives healthier carrots
Scientists in Denmark are developing a less labour-intensive method to control weeds, disease and nematodes in organic vegetables.
17th March 2008 - Weed Management for Organic Farmers, Growers and Smallholders - A Complete Guide
New book from Garden Organic's (HDRA's) research team
16th July 2007 - Weeds of the globally warmed future, Part II
US researcher sets his sites on perennial weeds after discovering annual weeds could give crops a serious run for their money if CO2 levels increase.
12th March 2007 - Weed Management in Organic Farming in the New EU Member States and the Acceding Countries - Status Quo and Main Limitations
Paper added to Organic Eprints
13th November 2006 - Weed 'Em and Reap
New DVD set from Oregon State University illustrates effective weed management strategies for organic vegetable producers.
2nd August 2005 - The Archers discuss dock management!
In Sundays episode Tony Archer and Pat are pulling docks at Bridge Farm and are finding it hard work. Helen suggests using a topper instead but Tony argues against this as they will grow back.
10th February 2005 - Green waste compost potential
Green waste compost can be highly effective in suppressing diseases, improving soil structure and reducing weeding costs, delegates at a HDRA event were told.
Business news
13th December 2006 - Temporary funding from Defra keeps ELS and HLS schemes open
Defra has announced that it will underwrite England
Crop News
13th September 2006 - Growers Lead the Way in Innovations in Organic Pest Control
Researchers and growers held a meeting to discuss innovations in organic pest, weed and disease control
13th March 2006 - Free weed-control service: Mice
When you can't use "big hammers" to knock out your weeds, taking advantage of nature
General
16th December 2005 - BIODIVERSITY GRANT SCHEME LAUNCHED "WORKING TO HALT THE LOSS OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY"
Today (Thursday 15 December 2005) Dr Andy Brown, English Nature
General news
30th August 2008 - Mustard seed meal suppresses weeds in container-grown ornamentals
MSM shows promise as herbicide for ornamentals
30th April 2008 - Washington (US) OKs herbicide for organic use
The Washington State Department of Agriculture has registered GreenMatch EX burndown herbicide from Marrone Organic Innovations Inc. of Davis, Calif., for use in organic food production.
7th February 2008 - Organic herbicide introduced in the US
Marrone Organic Innovations of Davis, Calif., has introduced GreenMatch EX, a non-selective, post-emergence, burndown herbicide that can be used for organic production. It controls a variety of grasses and broadleaf weeds.
4th January 2008 - Strong support received for the GB strategy to tackle invasive non-native species
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government today welcomed the strong support received for the draft strategy to tackle invasive non-native species in Great Britain.
1st October 2007 - Guided hoe could cut manual weed control
Camera guided hoe now available that will work space within the row.
8th March 2007 - Organic Growers Alliance (OGA) membership launched
Following the launch of the OGA at Cirencester in December 2006, commercial growers and others who wish to support organic horticulture are invited to join.
3rd January 2007 - CLOSURE OF THE ORGANIC CONVERSION INFORMATION SERVICE (OCIS)
Defra have announced that the Organic Conversion Information Service
1st December 2006 - ADAS offers you the chance to pit your questions on environmental stewardship
Got a query on environmental stewardship?
In a new monthly initiative from FWi, ADAS's David Middleditch brings you some of the frequently asked questions and provides answers and solutions.
17th November 2006 - Biofuel potential found in bracken could increase farm incomes
Farmers could generate useful additional income by turning some of the estimated 975,000ha (2.4m acres) of bracken growing in the UK into fuel pellets.
20th September 2006 - 2007 Organic Farm Management Handbook
The only source of financial management information for organic farmers.
14th August 2006 - Canadian farmer shares his two-prong
attack on Canada (creeping) thistle
Tools, technique, cropping sequence optimize
24th July 2006 - Advance notice of new Organic Farm Management Handbook
New Edition due out September 2006
20th July 2006 - Innovations in Organic Pest, Disease and Weed Management
Organic farmers will have an opportunity to contribute and to learn about pest, disease and weed management in organic vegetables in a workshop and farm walk to be held at the Leen in Herefordshire on Tuesday 5th September.
10th July 2006 - Good news for farmers - new management options added to Environmental Stewardship
Farmers have been given (3rd July) more opportunities to be rewarded for the environmental management of their land with the launch of four new Environmental Stewardship (ES) options.
25th May 2006 - Weed burner sizzle on back of organic farming success
A farming machinery specialist is seeing sales of his six-metre wide weed burner rocket thanks to the success of organic farming in the UK.
17th May 2006 - Organic Crops Demonstration Project 2006
The summer demonstration days include Kvik-Up couch/creeping thistle harrow demonstration and presentation on rare arable plants
11th April 2006 - Practical Weed Control Manual
New manual on practical weed control in arable farming and outdoor vegetable crops.
7th February 2006 - Grow desirable weeds for ELS?
Growing crops also supporting populations of desirable weeds for biodiversity could ultimately form part of the options for either Entry Level or Higher Level stewardship, ADAS weed scientist James Clarke believes.
16th January 2006 - Take care when choosing margin seed mixes
GROWERS CHOOSING seed mixtures for field margins must ensure they use the best mix possible and should not be fooled into thinking that the cheapest will do.
7th December 2005 - Wildflower courses
Flora locale, a wildflower charity, is
looking for people to host workshops on habitat restoration or creation in Wales in 2006.
7th December 2005 - Option to upgrade to organic
Many farmers considering organic conversion but committed to existing Environmentally Sensitive Agreements and Countryside Stewardship Scheme agreements should be pleased with Defra's decision that they may be able to upgrade to the Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS) scheme.
21st November 2005 - US cover-cropping guru Steve Groff champions fall-planted forage radish mixes to renovate field lanes
Interplanting with oats boosts erosion control with radish
20th October 2005 - Research Investigates Cover Crops for No-till Organic Soybeans (US)
The Rodale Institute has been conducting research on how organic soybeans perform in organic no-till trials, and The New Farm provides a research
update.
20th September 2005 - DEFRA publishes new guidance on ragwort disposal
New guidelines have been published which set out how farmers should dispose of the poisonous weed ragwort after it has been pulled up.
19th September 2005 - Robot weeds fields
Research in Sweden on robot technology in beet crops
16th September 2005 - PEOPLE ASKED TO HAVE THEIR SAY ON HEATHER AND GRASSLAND BURNING
People who have an interest in, and are involved in managing heather and grasslands, are being asked for their opinions on proposed changes to the laws and Code of Practice governing heather and grass burning in England.
13th September 2005 - Ideal year for stale seedbeds
LOW BLACKGRASS dormancy means conditions are ideal for stale seedbeds this autumn, according to Frontier Agriculture.
11th August 2005 - US Organic Farmer Praises the Benefits of Solar Solarization
Soil solarization is an inexpensive, chemical-free approach to killing
weeds.
11th August 2005 - Scientists Find Roundup Kills Frogs and Tadpoles
As amphibians continue to mysteriously disappear worldwide, a University of Pittsburgh researcher may have found more pieces of the puzzle.
9th August 2005 - Can Organic Crops Tolerate More Weeds?
Ongoing research at The Rodale Institute examines the apparent ability of organic crops to maintain yields in the presence of substantial weed pressure.
3rd August 2005 - A new weed management support tool has just been released
A CD to help farmers plan weed management has just come to the market. The disc contains valuable data for organic farmers
3rd August 2005 - Organic farmers make a difference
for English wildlife
In the largest and most comprehensive study of organic farming to date, published today in the Royal Society Journal, Biology Letters, scientists from leading UK institutions show conclusively that organic farms provide greater benefits for a range of wildlife including wild flowers, beetles, spiders, birds and bats than their conventional counterparts.
26th July 2005 - GM genes caused herbicide resistance in wild plants
GENETICALLY MODIFIED plant genes transferred into wild plants during the government
28th June 2005 - A farmer's guide to multi-tasking (or how to sell your weeds!)
Fed up of Fat Hen? Why not sell it?! This US article focusses on multi-tasking by selling weeds such as Fat Hen (lambs quarters) as you pull them.
31st May 2005 - Thistle threat is creeping up
CREEPING THISTLES are an increasing problem in conventional sugar beet fields and the problem could get worse, experts have predicted.
26th May 2005 - A NEW LEAFLET
A new leaflet has been produced for the Annual Weed Management Day at Holme Lacy 25/5/05
9th May 2005 - The vanishing flowers of Britain: one in five species faces extinction
One in five of Britain's wild flower species is threatened with extinction, according to the most detailed analysis to date of the British flora.
3rd March 2005 - NEW ACTION AGAINST DANGEROUS INVASIVE NON-NATIVE SPECIES
Measures to prevent non-native species invading and overwhelming our native species have been announced today by Nature Conservation Minister Ben Bradshaw.
1st March 2005 - Climate Change, Crops, and Weeds
Climate change could benefit weeds more than crops?
16th February 2005 - ACOS Research Workshops- What Do You Want Out of Organic Farming & Food Research?
Tell Defra what you want public research to achieve in a series of public workshops.
4th February 2005 - Long tines beat couch grass
News from Agromek 2005 reported in Farmers Weekly
28th January 2005 - Early Season Weed Control - The basics of effective tillage techniques
Part 1 in a series of 3 articles from the Rodale Institute in the US - Knowing just when to use just the right tool for just the right weed is critical to early season weed control.
26th January 2005 - Crop and weed management systems in organic carrot
Italian research develops effective intra-row weed control in carrots.
26th January 2005 - Weed management in organic spinach
Italian research shows promising new strategies
17th January 2005 - Weed Management Project Activities for 2005
Summary of project activities being offered by the weed project for the up and coming (2005) season.
15th December 2004 - Report of Weeds Management Workshop
'a day of information and workshops on the theme of organic weed management'
9th November 2004 - Reports on project focus group meetings.
Minutes from our focus group meetings are now available on the website.
9th November 2004 - New leaflets available from the weeds project
Review our weed management leaflets
2nd November 2004 - Ballot initiatives: From weeds to weddings
From controlling weeds to allowing people to smoke them, American voters will be deciding on much more than a president and a congress when they head to the polls on Tuesday.
2nd November 2004 - New websites for land managers
The vision has materialised for the start of a group of websites that bring together various services to help conservation land managers obtain access to essential practical land management information.
29th October 2004 - Vitacress win award for innovation.
Use of green waste compost as mulch for baby leaf salads.
24th September 2004 - CALIFORNIA bans hand-pulling of weeds
California became the first state Thursday to ban weeding by hand on most farms, saying the work is too backbreaking for laborers
23rd September 2004 - South West Organic Growers Share Ideas And Experiences In Weed Control
Effective weed control in organic arable and vegetable row crops requires a systems approach with constant adaptation to changing pressures, a recent event by HDRA, the organic organisation, revealed.
22nd September 2004 - USDA Grant Helps Rodale Institute Promote Nontoxic No-Till Technology
A $541,050 federal grant will enable researchers at The Rodale Institute
(TRI) to demonstrate how a new spin on old technology could reduce the
need for toxic herbicides in American agriculture.
22nd September 2004 - Where Some Farmers See Weeds, Chefs See High-End Food
17th September 2004 - Date set for gangmaster law
THE GOVERNMENT has announced that legislation needed for the new Gangmaster Licensing Authority should come into force by the end of March 2005.
14th September 2004 - Rise in herbicide use
SIGNIFICANT INCREASES in grass weed infestations led to a marked rise in the use of in-crop herbicides over the past year, according to a new study.
9th September 2004 - Blackgrass dormancy highlighted
BLACKGRASS SEED dormancy is high this autumn following warm, wet conditions throughout seed maturation, according to latest research findings.
24th August 2004 - Thistle Control Alternatives
ATTRA (USA) updated publication on thistle control and management
12th August 2004 - QUESTION: How can I control couch grass in my organic vegetable rotation strips?
The question of the week from ATTRA - the US National Sustainable Agriculture
Information Service Web site. Quackgrass is American for couch!
4th August 2004 - Gangmaster body plans unveiled
PLANS FOR a body which will issue licences to gangmasters providing agricultural workers have been published by DEFRA.
8th July 2004 - Gangmasters Act becomes law
A BILL WHICH will introduce a compulsory licensing scheme for suppliers of labour in the agricultural, horticultural and shellfish industries has received Royal Assent.
6th July 2004 - Details of farm walk around ADAS High Mowthorpe 30th June 2004
5th July 2004 - New code for battle on ragwort
14th June 2004 - Conservation grazing on lowland heaths.
This is a newly produced handbook that may be of interest to any of you involved in grazing heathlands or developing heathland grazing policies.
10th June 2004 - Common weeds may be better than herbal cousins for preventing and curing a host of diseases
Unwanted, pulled or poisoned, the lowly weed is sometimes better than its highly touted
3rd June 2004 - Alien weeds attack native plants
NATURE MINISTER Ben Bradshaw has made an impassioned plea to gardeners to stop introducing monster alien plants to the UK.
21st May 2004 - Press release from successful dock management day at Abbey Home and Down Farm, Gloucestershire
6th May 2004 - Sad news about Tony Deptford
29th April 2004 - The seedmat comes of age in Terraseed
Article in Grower magazine
19th April 2004 - Helping you to find seasonal workers
Service offered by the Soil Association to producer members
8th April 2004 - NZ Greens welcome organic herbicide trial
30th March 2004 - Do you want to take part in the UK Arable Plants Survey?
The UK arable plants survey aims to identify the most important sites for arable plants in the UK.
3rd March 2004 - Gangmasters Bill makes progress
27th February 2004 - NFU seeks support for gangmasters bill
4th January 2004 - Weed sniffers
Researchers are testing the idea of using dogs to help eradicate noxious weeds
Gossip
5th March 2004 - Commercial use of wild and traditionally managed plants in the UK
Find a use for those weeds!
4th February 2004 - Weed Science: A Call to Evolve
Weed science must outgrow herbicides or be relegated to dustbin of history
Research news
19th October 2009 - Understanding Why Rye Works as a Cover Crop
US research into the allelopathic properties of cereal rye
27th February 2009 - Development of tools for automated physical weed control
Tools are being developed for automated physical
weed control in the close to crop area. The most promising weed control concepts are the so-called high precision tillage solutions and thermal weed control by pulsed lasers.
13th January 2009 - A friend in weed
Weeds are good for pollinators
30th November 2008 - Investigating the selectivity of weed harrowing with new methods
New paper added to Organic Eprints.
13th October 2008 - Effects of Conservation Tillage on Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) in Organic Farming
Paper added to Organic Eprints
15th September 2008 - Weed management in organic echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) production
Paper added to Organic Eprints
15th September 2008 - Effects of Conservation Tillage on Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) in Organic Farming
Paper added to Organic Eprints
4th August 2008 - The control of perennial weeds in organic and low-input farming systems
A Defra-funded project (OF0367) started in April 2007 for 4 years.
15th July 2008 - FLAMING VS. HOEING
A multi-year trials program conducted under the aegis of Michigan State Univ. (MSU) compared the use of flaming against other non-chemical
methods of weed management in organic crops.
26th November 2007 - Predators Consume Weed Species from Surface, Buried Seeds
Results of a new study suggest that predators of weed seeds by both vertebrates and invertebrates may reduce weed emergence and influence the weed community. The study is published in the latest issue of Weed Science.
8th November 2007 - Organic carbon footprint higher than conventional wheat and potato crops?
The Farmers Guardian reports that the carbon footprint of organically-produced wheat and potatoes is higher per unit area than that of conventionally-grown crops in terms of weed control.
25th October 2007 - Results from New Farm (US) weed management survey
NewFarm.org readers respond to a web-based survey about weed management and tell how they deal with their weeds.
10th October 2007 - A number of weed research papers have been added to Organic Eprints
Papers from 7th EWRS workshop on Physical and Cultural Weed Control, 14th EWRS Symposium and more.
17th September 2007 - Papers on sow thistle, pre-emergence flaming, lay-flat weeders and finger weeders added to Organic Eprints
Weed research news
21st August 2007 - Effect of crop species and management practices on perennial weeds in organic farming
Conference paper from Finland added to Organic Eprints
21st August 2007 - Does mechanical weed control take effect on Sonchus arvensis?
Paper from Finland added to Organic Eprints
21st August 2007 - Combination of different methods for direct control of vicia hirsuta in winter wheat
Paper added to Organic Eprints
11th July 2007 - Sheep Trained to Clean Vineyard Weeds
Researchers in the US are using aversion therapy to stop sheep eating the vines....
20th June 2007 - Weeds of the globally warmed future
US researcher looks at the potential impact of rising CO2 levels on weed populations, yesterday, today and tomorrow
21st May 2007 - Low temperature-short duration steaming of soil kills soil-borne pathogens, nematode pests and weeds
Paper added to organic Eprints
18th April 2007 - Is mustard bad news for weeds?
BBC report on research from Northern Ireland showing the allelopathic effects of mustards
19th March 2007 - Weed management with different mulches under organic strawberry production.
Paper added to Organic Eprints
12th March 2007 - Indicators of weed competition on Organic Winter Wheat
Paper added to Organic Eprints
1st March 2007 - Mechanical weed control for integrated and organic salad and brassica production
Report available from the HDC
12th February 2007 - Digital image analysis offers new possibilities in weed harrowing research
Paper added to organic Eprints
2nd January 2007 - Weed papers added to Organic Eprints
Papers on; mixed cropping systems for control of weeds and pests in organic oilseed crops, growing organic cereals in Northern Ireland - disease and weed problems, coloured mulch as a weed control technology and yield booster for summer savory, potential uses for bracken in organic agrculture and short-term effect of soil disturbance by mechanical weeding on plant available nutrients in an organic vs conventional rotations experiment.
18th December 2006 - Weed papers added to Organic Eprints
Three papers added to Organic Eprints
23rd November 2006 - Book on Danish research in organic food and farming systems 2000-2005
DARCOF has issued a book to present an overview of the 41 research projects conducted during the research programme DARCOF II (2000-2005).
20th November 2006 - Intra-Row Weed Control by use
of Band Steaming
Two papers added to Organic Eprints
20th November 2006 - Physical Weed Control in Europe
Two paper added to Organic Eprints
20th November 2006 - Current European weed control methods and strategies against annual and perennial weeds in organic farming
Paper added to Organic Eprints
2nd October 2006 - The implication of stubble tillage for weed population dynamics in organic farming.
Journal paper added to Organic Eprints
2nd October 2006 - Mixed cropping systems for biological control of weeds and pests in organic oilseed crops
Conference paper added to Organic Eprints
28th September 2006 - Glucosinolate hydrolysis products for weed control
Conference paper added to Organic Eprints
1st September 2006 - Fight weeds with plant pathogens
Although plant pathogens are typically viewed as detrimental, plant pathologists with the American Phytopathological Society (APS) say plant pathogens may be a successful, eco-friendly tool for managing weeds.
27th July 2006 - Flowers Disappear Alongside Wild Bees, Study Finds
Wild bees and the flowers they pollinate are disappearing together in Britain and the Netherlands, researchers reported on Thursday.
19th June 2006 - Controlling broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) in grass clover mixtures
Paper added to Organic Eprints
16th May 2006 - A number of papers concerning organic weed management have been added to Organic Eprints
These papers will be presented at the Organic Congress in Denmark later in the month
11th May 2006 - Seed-Rotting Microbes Sought to Battle Weeds
US research on the use of soil microbes to cause decay in dormant weed seeds.
5th May 2006 - Weed control strategies in
organically grown carrots.
Conference paper from HDRA added to organic eprints
5th May 2006 - WECOF: A new project developing enhanced weed control through improved crop and plant architecture
Conference paper added to Organic Eprints
5th May 2006 - The effect of grasses grown for
seed in mixture with legumes on the incidence of weeds and soil nitrogen
content.
Conference paper added to Organic Eprints
19th April 2006 - Weed control in organic cereals and pulses
Conference paper added to Organic Eprints
11th April 2006 - What do you want out of organic food and farming research?
Final report for Defra funded project OF0350, on behalf of ACOS, is now available.
10th April 2006 - A suppressive index for spring barley varieties.
Preprint added to organic eprints
10th April 2006 - Tolerance to weed harrowing in four spring barley varieties.
Preprint added to organic eprints
10th April 2006 - Effects on weeds of management in newly converted organic crop rotations
in Denmark.
Journal paper published on Organic Eprints
10th April 2006 - Integrating Physical and Cultural Methods of Weed Control
Journal paper added to organic eprints
10th April 2006 - Perennial weeds in a crop rotation perspective.
Danish presentation on Organic Eprints
6th March 2006 - Consultation on weed management for organic farmers
Tell us what you think!
12th December 2005 - New reasons to perfect organic no-till
USDA study finds conventional no-till is no panacea when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions.
6th July 2005 - Article on Minimum Cultivation
Mark Measures from The Organic Systems Development Programme EFRC reports on field trials from Lower Pertwood Farm, Warminster on different methods of stubble cultivation
2nd February 2005 - Tolerance of competitive spring barley cultivars to weed harrowing
A study relating competitiveness of cereal cultivars to tolerance to harrowing.
1st February 2005 - Common Couch-grass control with less tillage
Research from Denmark on new strategies for couch control.
1st February 2005 - Crop rotation limits Canada thistle, but not Couch grass or annual weeds
Results from Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences into long-term crop rotation.
1st February 2005 - Nitrogen and weeds determine crop yields in arable organic crop rotations
Results from Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences of long-term rotational monitoring.
18th October 2004 - Rodale organic weeds project
New US initiative to investigate non-chemical weed management strategies while emphasizing farmers' innovations and insights
10th August 2004 - Introduction and spread of invasive species
Call for papers for symposium in Germany in June 2005
24th June 2004 - Integrated management of weeds and diseases in a cabbage cropping system.
Rotations with legumes are as effective as herbicides in managing weed seedbank for cabbage production.
22nd June 2004 - Effects of distance to crop rows and to conspecific neighbours on the size of Brassica napus and Veronica persica weeds.
A study of weed competition effects in winter wheat from an ecological perspective.
5th May 2004 - Organic Farming: Science and Practice for Profitable Livestock and Cropping
Proceedings of the BGS/AAB/COR Conference held at the
Harper Adams University College, Newport, Shropshire, UK
20 - 22 April 2004.
5th May 2004 - Organic carrot management: a weed management perspective
Results from trials on weed control in organic carrot crops.
30th March 2004 - The 6th EWRS worshop on physical and cultural weed control was held in Lillehammer, Norway 8th-10th March
This workshop was a meeting of 67 participants from 19 different countries who came together to present and discuss the most up-to-date research being udertaken in physical weed control.
15th March 2004 - Weed competitive ability of green peas (Pisum sativum L.) affected by seeding rate and genotype characteristics.
Pea varieties that grow fast and accumulate biomass (high seed weight varieties) are better at competing with weeds.
8th March 2004 - Natural weed-control initiative announced
Canadian research project launched, looking at use of fungi for biological weed control
2nd March 2004 - Factors affecting phytotoxic activity of allelochemicals in soil
An overview of the science behind allelopathy
28th January 2004 - Using a companion crop to control weeds organically
Since traditional cultivation methods can erode soil, new research from Michigan, USA, taps companion crops for weed control
1st December 2003 - Punch planting, flame weeding and stale seedbed for weed control in row crops
Work testing punch planting as a new method to reduce weeds within rows in organically grown crops
1st December 2003 - Weeds after ten years of organic management from work
Studies show no difference in weed composition in a comparison between conventional and organic fields after 10 years
1st October 2003 - Combining physical, cultural and biological methods: prospects for integrated non-chemical weed management strategies
Review of integration of weed control methods of relevance to organic farmers
1st August 2003 - Towards multifunctional agriculture
What use are weeds anyway?
1st June 2003 - Weed control and root maggots: making canola pest management strategies compatible
The possible benefits of having some weeds in a field
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- Anon. 3---0-2008
- Anon. 3---0-2008