Dr. John Zarb
Article from Organic Farming (Cover Story) Winter 2004 Issue 84
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On the other
hand, at very high levels of
weed infestation, pasture topping, mowing,
and cultivations may be more appropriate
weed control measures - at least initially.
Some jobs can be daunting: the removal of
small docks from overgrazed pasture is just
one example of extremely tedious - but not
impossible - work.
weed infestation, pasture topping, mowing,
and cultivations may be more appropriate
weed control measures - at least initially.
Some jobs can be daunting: the removal of
small docks from overgrazed pasture is just
one example of extremely tedious - but not
impossible - work.
Weed control strategy
Effective RIP
weeding also depends on
motivated workers who can operate well
together and who can recognise weeds at
their various stages of growth. Appropriate
weed control techniques need to be
integrated into a weed control strategy that
is suitable for the particular farm or the
particular field. This requires an intimate
understanding of the land, of its weeds,
and how other activities on the farm, such
as grazing and cultivating, influence plant
populations. Advice, education, planning,
and experimentation are important steps
towards achieving this understanding.
motivated workers who can operate well
together and who can recognise weeds at
their various stages of growth. Appropriate
weed control techniques need to be
integrated into a weed control strategy that
is suitable for the particular farm or the
particular field. This requires an intimate
understanding of the land, of its weeds,
and how other activities on the farm, such
as grazing and cultivating, influence plant
populations. Advice, education, planning,
and experimentation are important steps
towards achieving this understanding.
Predicting work rates and costs
Two of the most
frequently asked questions
from potential hand tool users are "how
long will it take?" and "how much will it
cost?" This is a bit like the proverbial "how
long is a piece of string?"
from potential hand tool users are "how
long will it take?" and "how much will it
cost?" This is a bit like the proverbial "how
long is a piece of string?"
The work rate
will depend on things like
weed density, field size, terrain, surrounding
vegetation, soil, operator experience, and
weather - to name but a few. However, with
the aid of a Lazy Dog work rate predictor,
knowing your weed density will enable you
to obtain a good estimate of the cost and
duration of a particular job.
weed density, field size, terrain, surrounding
vegetation, soil, operator experience, and
weather - to name but a few. However, with
the aid of a Lazy Dog work rate predictor,
knowing your weed density will enable you
to obtain a good estimate of the cost and
duration of a particular job.
Simply count
the number of weeds
in a few 5m x 5m squares to obtain an
average density, then refer to the work rate
predictor chart. These charts have been
compiled from experience. They list the
expected times and costs of weed removal
at given weed densities, and allow jobs to
be planned and costed. The rate predictors
for spear thistle and dock are shown in
Tables 1 and 2.
in a few 5m x 5m squares to obtain an
average density, then refer to the work rate
predictor chart. These charts have been
compiled from experience. They list the
expected times and costs of weed removal
at given weed densities, and allow jobs to
be planned and costed. The rate predictors
for spear thistle and dock are shown in
Tables 1 and 2.
Case studies
In a Defra-sponsored
trial between 27 April
and 14 May 2004, some 10,183 docks were
removed from 3ha of pasture (used for
spring grazing and hay) in 102 man-hours,
at a cost of £260/ha (or £100/ac). Much
value can be placed on this work:
and 14 May 2004, some 10,183 docks were
removed from 3ha of pasture (used for
spring grazing and hay) in 102 man-hours,
at a cost of £260/ha (or £100/ac). Much
value can be placed on this work:
• Hay could
be cut without risk of
spreading weed seed
spreading weed seed
• Any need for
subsequent pasture topping
was removed
was removed
• There is no
risk of spreading dock seed in
manure from grazing stock
manure from grazing stock
• There is no
risk of exacerbating weed
problems from arable cultivations
problems from arable cultivations
• Docks removed
from the field provided
around four tonnes of green material
for windrow composting with straw
around four tonnes of green material
for windrow composting with straw
bedding (the
plants were shredded before
windrowing)
windrowing)
• Follow-up
work cost £20/ha and removed
another 1,200 small plants - next year's
crop of weeds.
another 1,200 small plants - next year's
crop of weeds.
In another example,
early-season removal
of spear thistle while the plant was at
the rosette stage enabled us to lift 400
rosettes an hour per person. A total of
8,000 plants were removed that day,
along with occasional ragwort rosettes,
in a single pass. A detailed report will be
available based on this and related work in
2004/2005.
of spear thistle while the plant was at
the rosette stage enabled us to lift 400
rosettes an hour per person. A total of
8,000 plants were removed that day,
along with occasional ragwort rosettes,
in a single pass. A detailed report will be
available based on this and related work in
2004/2005.
Back to the land
Sadly we live
in a world in which we are
made to believe that jobs in new out-of-town
shopping centres operating a till or placing
objects on shelves are highly desirable and
sought-after, whereas jobs on farms doing
manual work are seen as retrogressive.
Have we forgotten that the human body
was originally designed for physical activity
and is capable of performing wondrously
efficient work?
made to believe that jobs in new out-of-town
shopping centres operating a till or placing
objects on shelves are highly desirable and
sought-after, whereas jobs on farms doing
manual work are seen as retrogressive.
Have we forgotten that the human body
was originally designed for physical activity
and is capable of performing wondrously
efficient work?
Firstly, the
teams need to be motivated
by the belief that handwork is worthwhile
and efficient - if you believe in what you
are doing, you will do it well. Work leaders
should therefore be able to motivate and
interact with colleagues.
by the belief that handwork is worthwhile
and efficient - if you believe in what you
are doing, you will do it well. Work leaders
should therefore be able to motivate and
interact with colleagues.
Operators also
need to understand the
ergonomic advantages of the tools, which
will require some training and practice in
their use. Finally, a systematic approach
is required for removing and collecting
plants
ergonomic advantages of the tools, which
will require some training and practice in
their use. Finally, a systematic approach
is required for removing and collecting
plants
Creative thinking
The question
of labour costs is important.
But surely there are opportunities here
to subsidise labour for environmentally
responsible weed control? Why pay a
subsidy for set-aside but not for handwork
for weed control? Equally, some of the
major landlords - both private and public
utility - could consider working with
tenants to subsidise the cost of weed
control. Bear in mind that it costs water
companies around £120 million a year
to remove pesticides from our drinking
water whilst, at the same time, water board
tenants in major catchment areas routinely
spray docks and thistles. I rest my case.
But surely there are opportunities here
to subsidise labour for environmentally
responsible weed control? Why pay a
subsidy for set-aside but not for handwork
for weed control? Equally, some of the
major landlords - both private and public
utility - could consider working with
tenants to subsidise the cost of weed
control. Bear in mind that it costs water
companies around £120 million a year
to remove pesticides from our drinking
water whilst, at the same time, water board
tenants in major catchment areas routinely
spray docks and thistles. I rest my case.
RIP handwork in practice
Many weed problems
could be drastically
reduced by tackling them early, during
winter and spring. In organic systems wee<
control must be regarded as an ongoing,
long-term process - not a last-minute job
just before combining.
reduced by tackling them early, during
winter and spring. In organic systems wee<
control must be regarded as an ongoing,
long-term process - not a last-minute job
just before combining.
Docks, spear
thistle and ragwort
The four main
weeds we deal with are
docks, spear thistle, ragwort, and creeping
thistle. As far as weeding is concerned, the
first three are treated in much the same
way: the whole plant can be removed - roc
and all - with the Lazy Dog fork. Removing
the plant before seeding reduces the re-
appearance of that weed the following year
Although these three weeds are all capable
of re-growing from root remaining in the
soil, dock is most liable to do this since it i
the most difficult root to remove intact. But
it is worth persevering to remove roots that
break during weeding, even if this means
occasionally getting down on your knees to (
pull up a piece of root by hand.
docks, spear thistle, ragwort, and creeping
thistle. As far as weeding is concerned, the
first three are treated in much the same
way: the whole plant can be removed - roc
and all - with the Lazy Dog fork. Removing
the plant before seeding reduces the re-
appearance of that weed the following year
Although these three weeds are all capable
of re-growing from root remaining in the
soil, dock is most liable to do this since it i
the most difficult root to remove intact. But
it is worth persevering to remove roots that
break during weeding, even if this means
occasionally getting down on your knees to (
pull up a piece of root by hand.
Spear thistle
can be left lying in the field
However, ragwort should obviously be
removed for burning or burial, while dock
can be hot-composted in windrows with
manure and bedding to prevent re-growth.
However, ragwort should obviously be
removed for burning or burial, while dock
can be hot-composted in windrows with
manure and bedding to prevent re-growth.
Creeping
thistle
On the other
hand, creeping thistle behave
differently. As it grows from rhizomes
(below-ground creeping stems) simply
cutting the plant above ground level will
encourage tillering and the sprouting of
further stems from the rhizome. These will
be shorter than the original stem but will
still flower and seed. Being shorter than the
differently. As it grows from rhizomes
(below-ground creeping stems) simply
cutting the plant above ground level will
encourage tillering and the sprouting of
further stems from the rhizome. These will
be shorter than the original stem but will
still flower and seed. Being shorter than the
It is still
possible for a person to scythe an
acre-and-a-half of corn a day or to load a
five tonne trailer of potatoes by hand.
acre-and-a-half of corn a day or to load a
five tonne trailer of potatoes by hand.
Far from being
in any way backward,
RIP weeding provides opportunities for
a return to traditional social agricultural
work. This is the sort of work that used to
be a cohesive force in rural communities. It
was work that brought people in touch with
each other and with the land on which they
worked. You notice things when you are
working in the field that you do not when
you are on the tractor - the soil, the scents,
the wildlife, the worms. And RAF jets on
low flying exercises.
RIP weeding provides opportunities for
a return to traditional social agricultural
work. This is the sort of work that used to
be a cohesive force in rural communities. It
was work that brought people in touch with
each other and with the land on which they
worked. You notice things when you are
working in the field that you do not when
you are on the tractor - the soil, the scents,
the wildlife, the worms. And RAF jets on
low flying exercises.
Teamwork
Unless you are
particularly fond of your
own company, the most effective way of
using the RIP technique is in a team. In
order to optimise the efficiency of weeding
teams, the following points should be noted.
own company, the most effective way of
using the RIP technique is in a team. In
order to optimise the efficiency of weeding
teams, the following points should be noted.
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