ENHS Nature Trails November 2003 Article 4

Get an Attitude Adjustment, About Weeds
by Evelyn McConnaughy

“If only looks could kill”--- weeds. The average American uses ten times the chemical fertilizer and pesticides on a lawn than the average farmer does on crops. When you realize that in North America more land is occupied by lawns than any other crop, including wheat, you know we city dwellers have a significant impact on soils and water. Personally, I’ve made an attitude adjustment—I ignore weeds; in fact, I have come to appreciate the heal-alls, marguerites, veronicas, and moss that make up most of the lawn. Using no fertilizers or herbicides, and with very spare watering, I don’t even need to mow. But I recently learned from an article in NCAP’s Fall, 2003, Journal of Pesticide Reform, that for those addicted to green grass, there’s hope for relief from back-breaking weed pulling or use of herbicides. Infrared technology for weed eradication is widely used in Europe and this technology is being developed here too. A local company in Eugene, Sunburst Inc., is a weed management specialist which has a patent on a piece of equipment that can help remove vegetation from roadsides as well as backyard gardens. Whether tractor mounted or handheld, these radiant heat “infrared” weeders have several advantages, including low cost after the initial investment. There are no hoses nor cords; they run on propane, a clean fuel; and with careful use, the weeder will not harm nearby plants. Its ceramic tip can reach temperatures of 1800 degrees. For more information on this herbicide substitute, check out:

http://www.pesticide.org/RadiantHeatWeeders.pdf

Here's a little bit more about NCAP's programs. The organization was founded 25 years ago in response to issues around herbicide spraying in the forests. One of their big efforts now concerns endangered salmon species. It has been shown that pesticides, even at very low levels washed into streams, harm salmon. NCAP, with Washington Toxics coalition has developed a campaign that will dramatically change pesticide use in the Northwest. The Clean Water for Salmon Network includes over 100 organizations and communities working on salmon and clean water issues.

An NCAP staff member in Idaho works to promote sustainable potato production. Potatoes are the most pesticide-intensive crop in the Northwest. NCAP collaborates with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes on a demonstration site on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, 140,000 acres of the best potato-growing land in the country. The project promotes practices to build healthy soils and to control crop pests while reducing pesticide use. (Healthy French-fries?)

NCAP is also working to force EPA to disclose all product ingredients on pesticide labels. Product labels currently identify only the “active” ingredients (the ones that are intended to kill or otherwise damage a pest), but merely gives percentage, not the names of the “inert” ingredients, many of which are toxic to humans and the environment over a period of time.

NCAP: 541-344-5044
www.pesticide.org
Members receive a quarterly: Journal of Pesticide Reform.

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