June 25, 2009: Superweeds and sustainability

Hello: Reality-based policy incentives to bring greater carbon accountability to U.S. agriculture haven’t fared so well thus far in the U.S. House Agriculture committee, but there’s still hope for rewarding biological soil sequestration in the final writing and rulemaking.

Harder to ignore, however, is the reality that chemical weed control isn’t the slam-dunk technology it was marketed as for a time. There’s slippage in the effectiveness of the wonder herbicide glyphosate being recorded wherever it has been extensively used. Long the weed-control lynchpin of non-organic cropping systems, its overuse, misuse and repeated use has spawned resistant weed strains, including the big-time problem varieties Johnsongrass and marestail.

Loss of weed control with chemicals is so bad in specific crops and regions that some farmers are returning to the use of cultivators to salvage their crops. As a sign of significant change in practices, this has its rough parallel in chemical no-till farmers who are choosing to add cover crops to improve overall crop performance. In both cases, the formula of cash-crop no-tilling supported only by a broad-spectrum herbicide and synthetic fertilizer is not adding up the way it used to.

Soil dynamics do not care about political ideology, and reflect the care or damage inflicted regardless of what a farmer wishes to be true. Soil needs growing plants during the growing season to be biologically resilient. Where toxic chemicals are out of the picture, weeds require relatively complex management using many cultural practices and mechanical tools, not a single chemical biocide to counter a multitude of field-level variables. Read more >>

Rolled hairy vetch and rye  between rows of tomatoes.

To discover more ways to support crop vitality and decrease weed pressure, Rodale Institute continues its collaboration with USDA researcher David Douds to evaluate the single and combined impacts of three different cover crops and soil myccorrhizal fungi inoculation on organic tomato production in a no-till planting. Evaluated with results from parallel studies at Penn State and the USDA Beltsville station, the findings will show how these regenerative practices can best be used. Read more >>

In our continually updated news and research briefs, read about: still more high-level assessments that agricultural carbon sequestration may be the world’s best way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions… a new effort to measure escaped nitrogen from agricultural production with more accurate assessment tools… a truly green jobs initiative in Illinois, where new legislation supports state purchase of local and organic food products… endorsement by the American Medical Association of locally produced and organic food to improve health and reduce waste and pollution.

Final note: Mark your calendars for the 2009 Summer Rodale Institute Field Day on July 17. For a brochure and registration page for the event titled “Cashing in on Soil Health,” read more >>

Wherever you are, it’s time take your next step to expand organic farming’s future in healthy soil.

Greg Bowman at the Rodale Institute

PS: And it’s the perfect time to help the Rodale Institute Save the Plant Now.