check out a organic growers web page
http://www.rain.org/~sals/my.html
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he
first cultivation.
2) How many: 2-3 per acre for row crops, up to 6-8 per acre where
weed infestation is more severe.
3) What breeds: "White Chinese geese are the favorites for weeding
purposes, or Africans where a larger bird is desired for marketing at
the end of the weeding season. These geese are more active and
energetic than Toulouse and Emden, although those breeds are also
used."
4) What ages: "Brood day-old goslings to 6 to 8 weeks of age before
placing them in fields permanently without shelter. Younger birds
can be used if they are brought into shelter at night or in event of
rain. Goslings can be turned out on grass within a few days and
supplemental feeding of grain started the second week."
As to whether geese would eat Johnson grass, this comment by the
authors seems pertinent: "Why do geese eat certain plants with
relish while showing no interest whatsoever for others? Perhaps only
a goose knows the answer." So, folks, I guess we'd better get honkin'
at some geese and be ready to listen. :^)
But seriously, the authors also say the following regarding using
weeder geese in cotton: "Only two or three geese per acre are
usually required to keep fields cleaned of Johnsongrass, nutgrass,
Bermudagrass and other troublesome weeds."
Can't imagine why they wouldn't eat Johnson grass in other crops as
well.
Laura deLind at Michigan State received SARE/ACE funding for a study
of weeder fowl; here's a URL summarizing that work:
http://pprc.pnl.gov/pprc/rpd/fedfund/usda/sare_nc/domebird.html
Laura is a SANETter, so she may be listening in and have
recommendations or comments on the above.
/ATTRA News Digest/ 6/95 mentions that ATTRA staffers had put
together info on weeder geese for a caller.
http://www.attra.org/attra-digest/news0695.html
Perhaps Steve Diver or another ATTRAn SANETter can give us a
reference to that or tell us how it's available, if it still is?
Here is a reference to an article in /The New Farm/; source is the
AFSIC Quick Bibliography on /Cultural and Mechanical Weed Control/
(i.e., print sources):
NAL Call. No.: S1.N32
Weeder geese boost berry profits $222/A: unlike herbicides,
they don't leach, drift or worry consumers.
Cramer, C.
Emmaus, Pa. : Rodale Institute; 1992 May.
The New Farm v. 14 (4): p. 38-40; 1992 May.
Your university's ag library may have issues of /The New Farm/ on
file. As you can see, the author there is Craig Cramer, another
SANETter. Though I find it hard to believe that geese won't drift,
given half a chance. :^>
I wonder whether there isn't further info on weeder geese in
/Controlling Weeds with Fewer Chemicals/, which Craig edited in his
Rodale days...? Criminy, what was the date on that--'90? '92?? Why
do I remember something this esoteric? Demmed if I know.
OK, the rain has let up, and we've got a few beginnings of answers
for Greg...and leads in the Johnson grass question. So I'm off
now...hope you all are having a balanced Equinoctial time. Everybody
around here is sick, cranky, or anxious. Time to migrate, friends:
saw my first Canada geese on the move Monday night, up in Spring
Valley (near the Twin Cities). They weren't weeding; they were
heading...uh, west. Go figure. :^)
peace
misha
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Michele Gale-Sinex, communications manager
Center for Integrated Ag Systems
UW-Madison College of Ag and Life Sciences
Voice: (608) 262-8018 FAX: (608) 265-3020
http://www.wisc.edu/cias/
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
In the towers of steel, belief goes on and on
in this heartland, in this heartland soil. --U2
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