Weeds of the Prairies (This book is a comprehensive field guide to the common weeds across the Canadian prairie provinces). With 112 weeds detailed, this book gives you full-color photos of the weeds at different growth stages. Weeds are color-coded by flower color for easy reference, and the full index lets you find the species you want by common, scientific or family name. Charts on life cycle and habitat provide valuable information while the maps help you see how widespread these weeds are. An opening section on weed identification gives tips on what to look for.
Mulching for Weed Management in Organic Vegetable Production (Dr. Mark Schonbeck, Virginia Association for Biological Farming, Jan 2012) - Mulching can reduce weed competition against vegetable crops, and save fuel and labor costs for weed control. Covering the soil surface with a suitable mulch can: Reduce weed seed germination; Shade and physically hinder emerging weeds; Enhance crop growth and competitiveness by conserving soil moisture and sometimes by modifying soil temperature.
Twelve Steps Toward Ecological Weed Management in Organic Vegetables (Mark Schonbeck, Oct 2011) - Ecological weed management begins with careful planning of the cropping system to minimize weed problems, and seeks to utilize biological and ecological processes in the field and throughout the farm ecosystem to give crops the advantage over weeds.
Cover Crops for Weed Management in Organic Systems (MAFRI) - Including cover crops in an organic cropping system can be very effective in suppressing weed growth. Moisture is usually the only major limitation to growing cover crops, which are simply crops planted between periods of regular crop production.
Organic producers eager for Canadian thistle control (Western Producer - Dec 10) - Canada thistle has long been a thorn in the side of organic growers, and the problem is getting pricklier.
Pennycress shows potential for use as biodiesel, bioherbicide (Oct 10) - Field pennycress seed has shown promise as a source of oil for biodiesel, as well as meal to use as a biological herbicide, said Kwesi Ampong-Nyarko, research scientist with Alberta Agriculture.
Using multiple methods key to weed control success (Aug 08) - In weed control, combining different strategies can bring excellent results. Organic producers rely on a variety of control techniques, such as varied rotations, heavy seeding rates and competitive crops. Research suggests that combining these techniques can pack an extra wallop.
Weeding for value in the garden (July 05) - Weed scientists often define a weed as a plant growing where it isn’t wanted. Gardeners are more likely to consider a weed as anything they didn’t intentionally plant. But if our goal is to grow food of the highest nutritional quality, perhaps it is time to reconsider which plants we weed out. Several of our common weeds are much more nutritious than their pampered garden counterparts.
The joy of dandelions (Apr 05) - Nature celebrates the start of the growing season with a sprinkling of cheery yellow flowers, reflecting the richer warmth of the spring sun. The dandelion is a flower of firsts. For urban folks, dandelions are usually the first flower of spring.
Weeds can be valuable as livestock feed (Mar 05) - At the recent Going Organic conference in Calgary, Brewster Kneen suggested that we live in a society that is "profoundly ungrateful." I feel this attitude characterizes our relationships with the plants we refer to as weeds. In this season of herbicide ads it is perhaps time to consider a few of the reasons to be grateful for weeds, especially livestock producers.
Weed control can be harrowing experience (June 03) - Despite ideal crop rotations, quality seed, best agronomic practices and tolerant attitudes, organic producers may find more weeds in their fields than they are comfortable with. Post-emergence harrowing is one option for in-crop weed management. Like all weed management tools, the key to in-crop harrowing is to give the advantage to the crop and not to the weed.
Planning for next year’s crop of weeds (Mar 03) - Now is the time to consider which weeds will be problems in the coming year. This will help you devise a strategy to deal with them this spring.
