SAN will release a new book on mechanical weed control tools in July.
Flamers are among the 37 tools and 17 accessories described in detail in
"Steel in the Field: A Farmer's Guide to Weed Control Tools." The book
includes supplier contacts, tool price ranges, resource lists, clear
illustrations and farmer narratives about integrating the tools into
sustainable cropping systems.
You can order the book by sending a check or purchase order for $18 to
Sustainable Agriculture Publicaitons, Hills Building, University of
Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405.
For more information, I've included (below) our news release on the book.
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New Guidebook Answers Farmer Questions About Weed Control Tools
Farmer wisdom and experience are at the heart of "Steel in the
Field," a new book about weed control tools from the Sustainable
Agriculture Network.
"Steel in the Field" contains major sections for agronomic row,
horticultural and dryland cropping systems. Illustrated technical pages
explain the design, recommended uses and cautions for more than 50
implements. Farmer narratives enhance each section with descriptions of the
parallel "tools" of crop rotation, cover crops, residue management and
other crop management techniques.
"Now you don't have to embarrass yourself at the coffee shop asking
questions you feel you shouldn't have to ask about the basics of mechanical
weed control," New Hampshire dairyman John Merrill, says of the book.
"The field equipment sections are the most descriptive I have ever
seen," adds Joe Johnson, an agronomist at Mississippi State University.
"This book addresses the four main concerns that farmers have about
mechanical weed control: cost, effectiveness, dependability and soil
impact."
"Steel in the Field" provides drawings and detailed descriptions of
more than 50 tools and accessories ranging from high-residue cultivators to
flex-tine weeders, from in-row fingers to wide-blade sweep plows. Each
product has one or more suppliers from the list of 104 North American
agribusinesses.
The book highlights 22 farms from Vermont to Arizona to Georgia to
Oregon. Farmers tell how they've learned to manage weeds more efficiently
while caring for their soil.
One farmer grows 40 acres of vegetables in California, and one
manages 11,000 acres of what and safflower in Utah. One has an inventory of
steel components to address a range of field conditions, and other uses a
single combination tool in many configurations.
"The grower interviews are excellent, the graphics are great and
the technical information on tools is well done. This book will be a great
resource for both large- and small-scale farmers, for experienced growers
and those just beginning," says Jim Leap, of the University of California's
Center for Agroecology.
"Steel in the Field" was edited by Greg Bowman. Funding for the
project was provided by SAN, the national outreach arm of the
USDA-Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program.
To order, send a check or purchase order for $18 to:
Sustainable Agriculture Publications
Hills Building
University of Vermont
Burlington VT 05405-0082.
Phone: 802-656-0471.
Email msimpson@zoo.uvm.edu
At 12:46 PM 6/19/97, kellyd@ext.missouri.edu wrote:
> I've had a call from someone who is interested in flame weeding and
> where to purchase equipment. I have the video "Vegetable Farmers and
> Their Weed-Control Machines" that I will lend to him. Any other info
> or dealers you could provide will be helpful.
>
> Thanks,
> Debi Kelly, Project Manager
> Missouri Alternatives Center
> 628 Clark Hall
> Columbia, MO 65211
> 573-882-1905
> kellyd@ext.missouri.edu
>
>
*************************************
Beth Holtzman
Communications Specialist
Northeast Region Sustainable Agriculture
Research and Education (SARE) Program
Hills Building -- Carrigan Drive
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405-0082
Phone: 802-656-0554
Fax: 802-656-4656
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