Farmer accounts highlight tool use, management and adaptation by successful growers. Each opens with a summary of farm location and size, cash crops, tillage style, cover crops, soil types, rainfall, basic weed-management strategies, and the implements used. Timing is emphasized repeatedly. Practices that suppress or prevent weeds are especially important on these farms. Reducing overall weed pressure makes it more likely that mechanical or flame controls can stifle weeds with lower or no herbicide use.
Main factors are winter and summer cover crops, delayed planting and weed-fighting crop rotations.
The farmers frequently mention the benefits from improved soil health and soil organic matter. An appendix lists contact information for weed specialists and for 105 equipment sources, including specialized tractors for cultivation. Please include mailing address, daytime phone number, and this reference number W1197.