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Electrocution plays a limited role as a herbicide substitute.

Electrocution plays a limited role as a herbicide substitute.

How do you handle weeds that won't go away? Zap 'em.

One strategy for dealing with intrusive invaders, especially those that have evolved herbicide resistance, is high voltage. However there are still many obstacles to overcome.

According to Kevin Bradley of the University of Missouri, electrocution is a topic that is discussed.

Bradley is the project manager for a study that involves researchers from many universities. In field trials over the last five years, they have experimented with various electric weed control methods. Efficacy has just recently been modest.

According to him, the organic and speciality crop segments have dominated that industry. We began investigating the possibility of using the Weed Zapper on conventional soybeans in the future.

The tools comprise hydraulic booms and PTO-connected generators that electrocute weeds when they come into contact with them while passing through a field. Booms can be adjusted.

Old School Manufacturing's Weed Zapper brand provides versions with various boom sizes. The price of one with a 15-foot boom starts at $69,000 and goes up to $270,000 for a self-propelled one with a 60-foot boom.

Although organic farmers are the main users, other forms of farming may soon start using it as well.

"I would estimate that organic and conventional customers make up 70% of our existing clientele. With that stated, the tide is shifting," Old School Manufacturing's Nicole Kroeger remarked. "Compared to earlier, we are now selling to more conventional farmers. This is because certain weeds are resistant to herbicides and because chemicals are expensive.

The company has rigorous standards.

According to Kroeger, "We are currently working on a model that will allow The Weed Zapper to be utilized as the sole weed control required for an operation. This will make it possible to burn down the entire area completely before planting and remove the requirement for mechanical cultivation.

The Lightning Weeder is a product that the firm Lasco also sells.

The strategy can work in some conventional row-crop farming, despite its low performance. It has potential as a weapon in the ongoing conflict with weeds that are resistant to herbicides like glyphosate.

According to Bryan Young, a weed expert at Purdue University, "it's gaining favor for usage on herbicide-resistant plant escapes in row crops, but it's not suited to tall-stature crops like corn." Some claim that it is more effective on broadleaf species than on grass species, which is beneficial in my opinion given that broadleaf concerns are currently more prevalent.

Scientists like Bradley, Young, and others are looking for effective ways to use electromagnetic weed control outside of its current usage.

People in the Dakotas and on the East Coast use them on vegetables and sugar beets, respectively, Bradley said. "Soybeans and other crops like those we've been looking at don't have a lot of study."

Although the robots can only destroy plants that are tall enough to be engaged by the boom, their killing ability has encouraged researchers.

Given that the current goes down the plant and into the earth, Young speculated that it might have some effect on perennial weeds. It might also make weed seeds less viable on the plants that are being controlled.

Safety is obviously important. Despite the fact that safety measures are in place, manufacturers urge users to be mindful of the equipment' possible risks. When the operator is not on the tractor, the boom is too close to the ground, or other situations could lead to incorrect electrical output, Lasco's EDS Lightning Weeder incorporates a safety interlock system that will shut off the circuit of the generator power output.

"It must never be expected that shields will adequately protect any person or animal from deadly shock," the manufacturer cautions.

Bradley is aware of the slight risk.

It's dangerous by definition, he said. It's not like you could just go outside and spray. It would be a dreadful day if something undesirable occurred—I have no idea how, as there are several safety precautions—if someone touched it or something.

Young mentioned more drawbacks. For anything with a toolbar longer than 15 feet, the machinery must operate slowly and with a lot of horsepower. The height restriction is undoubtedly a drawback.

He said that unless the weeds were taller than the crop, it was ineffective in row crops. Also, if you have narrow-row soybeans, how can you use these late in the season? Even with a 40-foot toolbar, you would still be going over a lot of soybeans on each pass.

Bradley is aware of the system's shortcomings, yet he still thinks it can be useful in some circumstances.

He declared, "We've never considered this from the perspective of weed management; it's not good weed management. Yet, if something goes wrong by July, whether we've just discovered resistance for the first time or the fields weren't treated properly, it may still be able to manage weed escapes.

Although he doesn't have big hopes for electronic weed management, he doesn't completely rule it out either.

We do it because it's research, Bradley added. It's not the only solution, but we have discovered that we can destroy escaping plants and their seed viability, so it might have worked in the past.

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