to Steve Diver, thanks for your comments on the steam/flame web sites. I would appreciate if you could advise the contact details for Atarus in Australia as I will contact them concerning their applicators. cheers Ross ----- Original Message ----- From: Steve Diver <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 11:59 AM Subject: Re: BD and steam
> 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 > >
