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Monday, July 06, 2015

NEW TECHNOLOGY BLASTS WEEDS WITHOUT ROUND UP

Could it soon replace Round Up for good?

Corncob bits instead of chemicals for weed control? Sounds like an interesting, if not slightly odd possibility, doesn’t it?

U.S. Department of Agriculture research agronomist Frank Forcella has been using an air compressor to spray gritty material like corncob bits on both sides of a crop to kill young weeds without harming corn or soybeans. His method utilizing the new technology is gaining attention from organic farmers who don’t use chemicals to control weeds in their fields.

“It obliterates the weed, especially if it’s a small broad-leaved weed like Lamb’s quarters or pigweed that’s one to 3 inches high,” Forcella said. “The corn plants growing next to them are taller and thicker and can withstand the grit blast, but the weeds just disappear.”

Food companies who have been forced by consumer demand to provide snacks and staples that don’t have agrichemicals are interested, too.

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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Heinz makes a commercial grade white vinegar that also works quite well on erradicating weeds.

Anonymous said...

Would this work on the stupid elected officials without harming the intelligent ones?

Anonymous said...

12:55 That's a great idea, its worth a try, or we could just yank them out.