GrassWorks Weed Wiper™ Passes The Test

An exerpt from "Lack of calcium, pigweed threaten Carolina peanuts", Southeast Farm Press 01/21/2011 ...

"Pigweed is a big enough problem in South Carolina peanuts that Clemson University Peanut Specialist Jay Chapin says growers in high risk areas may want to stick with varieties that produce a lower growing bush, which will allow growers to come over the top with a wick bar to manage pigweed.

One such wicking device that has been used effectively in South Carolina is the GrassWorks Weed Wiper™. It has a rotating drum that allows a grower to run the carpeted material very saturated, and therefore have a lot of chemical available to apply to the targeted weeds. Because the drum is rotating, target herbicides will not drip.

This machine applies chemicals to the bottom or underside of the leaves and stems, where the plants are going to be easier to kill. The drum height is adjustable, allowing growers to target pigweed that grows above the canopy of most peanut varieties.

Clemson University Weed Scientist Mike Marshall has used the machine on a number of crops with good success. Marshall says test results, using a research scale model of the commercially available machine has been good. He adds that a few farmers in South Carolina, who have used the commercial version of the machine have indicated having excellent results in controlling weed escapes in soybeans and peanuts.

He says, 'The rates we’ve used are 50 percent gramoxone or paraquat and 50 percent water solution. A big advantage is that you are killing the top of the weed where seed production takes place, and with Palmer amaranth this is a big advantage because these weeds are such prolific seed producers,' Marshall notes."

Read the entire article from Southeast Farm Press.