Flame, Infra-Red, Steam.... now you're talking about some hot topics in weed control.
See: Flame Weeding for Vegetable Crops http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/flameweedveg.html http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/flameweedveg.pdf This is the NCAT-ATTRA pub with all the suppliers and resources. EcoFarm in California just held a workshop on this topic in January, where I presented a summary of this topic. We featured the Waipuna hot foam equipment from New Zealand and the Infra-Red EcoWeeders from Switzerland, distributed by Forevergreen in British Columbia. Infra-red weeders are Swiss made. In North America, they are available from two suppliers: Forevergreen and Rittenhouse. A market farm scale flame weeder with a flaming hood, on wheels, can be obtained for $300-400. Flame Weeders in West Virginia http://www.flameweeders.cjb.net/ The Lady Punto, also known as EcoWeeder Lady, is an entry level hand-held Infra-Red weeder for $170. This is what you need, Merla, to try it out. A landscaper said they work great around trees and to edge sidwalks, pavements, and borders. Forevergreen EcoWeeders http://www.chemfree-weedcontrol.com/ The Junior 3 is getting into a farm-scale Infra-Red model for about $870. The Agri Infra-Red models on wheels for market farmers are going into the $1,200 and $1,600 range.... but don't quote me. Ask them. The Infra-Red weeders are therefore more expensive, but still reasonable to a commercial organic farmer or landscaper. When you're looking at 200', 400', and 600' rows of carrots, parsely, beans, onions, corn... well, you get the picture. Pro-rate your cost out over several years. The Waipuna hot foam is another story. The expense to lease these units are more inline with municipal park departments, institutional landscape maintenance, and large-scale orchards, vineyards, and berry operations.... rather than small farms and market gardens. Yet, steam or hot foam is *very* appealing to an organic farming situation. If you can imagine a 40-80 acre organic blackberry plantation in Oregon, you can understand how it would match this kind of organic farming. If you are talking about 5 acres of market vegetables, it is not in your budget. Waipuna http://www.waipuna.com/ The Atarus steam weeding equipment, from Australia, is now available in the U.S. through Delta Liquid Energy in Paso Robles, California. http://www.deltaliquidenergy.com/thermweedprodpage.html Have not seen what the Atarus costs, but again I am guessing it is more akin to larger-scale vineyards, rather than small farms. It is the nature of equipment costs. Merla, it occurs to me that you can pass along information about the Waipuna and Atarus steam-based weed control equipment to your weed control board. This is technology that works. Keep in mind, however, it is really expensive and not something they are likely to "jump" on. Over time, they might "warm up" to the idea. Regards, Steve Diver
