Originally a tow-behind unit that attached to the back of the combine, the newer iteration of the Harrington Seed Destructor is a mill that can be integrated with the combine. (Photo: deBruin Engineering Pty Ltd.)

At Ag in Motion: Harvest weed control still in the mix

'You’re not going to spray your way out of this'

It’s a relatively new solution to the age-old problem of trying to get rid of weeds without broadcasting the seed or using increasingly less effective herbicides — mechanical separation and pulverization of weed seed. Harvest weed seed control might not be a golden bullet to tackle glyphosate-, fluroxypyr- and dicamba-resistant weeds, but according to Agriculture […] Read more

The Harrington Seed Destructor is one of several technologies that provide up to 95 per cent of weed seed control.

Seed mills strike back at weed resistance

Researchers have seen up to 95 per cent control of resistant weed biotypes

Weed biotypes have an incredible capacity for developing resistance to chemical products and growers are having a tough time keeping up with the changes. Some farmers are now battling weed resistance at harvest by attaching seed mills to the rear of a combine, which gather weed seeds and damage them, preventing germination. Why it matters: […] Read more

Redekop manufactures a harvest seed control unit that crushes weed seeds before they exit the combine. Sales are picking up in North America, but many growers want more data on the economic and agronomic benefits of the seed mills.

Weed seed destructors gain ground among producers

Attaching a hammer mill to a combine is catching on in Australia, but North American farmers have been more cautious

Glacier FarmMedia – Nine hundred to 1,000 new combines are sold every year in Australia, according to the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia. Of those new combines, 25 to 30 per cent are equipped with weed seed destructors. “It’s taken off to the level where … there’s a few hundred being sold (with seed […] Read more

Agrifac sprayers will be available with Exxact Robotics’ 3S green-on-green spot-spray technology for the 2022 model year.

Agrifac to offer green-on-green spray technology in 2022

Exxact Robotics’ 3S system will debut on Agrifac sprayer and has been in development for five years

Glacier FarmMedia – Advanced spot-spraying technology has become the hottest topic in application equipment recently, with numerous announcements from brands offering green-on-brown systems or talking about future green-on-green capability. Green-on-green refers to the ability of a sophisticated artificial intelligence-based software system to identify unwanted weeds in green, growing crops and spot spray them. Green-on-brown identifies […] Read more

The four-channel electromagnetic flowmeter system helps to push down product, reduce drift and allow for better application.

Can drones replace self-propelled spraying equipment?

Drones can help improve product application and provide better results

Drones are quickly becoming a preferred tool for growers across the globe. Some drones offer high-concentration, small-volume spraying technology with the same efficacy of coverage as typical agricultural equipment, allowing producers to use less product. As well, the flight ability and down-facing fan action allow growers to ensure timely applications independent of soil conditions, with […] Read more


The Weed Zapper has a front applicator bar that disperses electricity to the plants, and is powered by a generator on the back.

Shocking weeds into submission

The Weed Zapper uses electricity to mortally injure weeds

Controlling weeds can be a tough challenge for organic growers with few chemical options, and also for conventional growers battling herbicide-resistant weeds.  For this reason, mechanical weed control has been making a comeback and innovators are now offering more options.  One such option is the Weed Zapper, which uses electricity to kill weeds and does […] Read more

Being able to spray weeds like redroot pigweed early without spraying an entire field could help reduce costs for farmers.

Canadian weed sensing project could mean targeted spraying

Pesticides sprayed with more precision could reduce farmer costs and build consumer confidence in products

Glacier FarmMedia – A project that will examine the use of artificial intelligence to detect weeds and crop pests during passes over a field received a $12.8 million investment from Protein Industries Canada. Led by Precision.ai., Sure Growth Solutions Inc., Exceed Grain Marketing and the Global Institute for Food Security, the project is designed to […] Read more

Herbicide-resistant redroot pigweed continues to spread.

Weed of the week: Redroot pigweed

Economic thresholds run from five to 15 plants per 10 metres of row

Redroot pigweed can be a tough customer. But don’t wallow in despair – control is possible. Redroot pigweed (Latin name Amaranthus retroflexus) is an annual weed found throughout Ontario in cultivated fields, gardens, pastures, waste places, roadsides and, according to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, nearly any other disturbed area. While […] Read more


Sometimes soybeans have to be swathed if there is too much green material.

Waiting and weeding are keys to organic success

After six years, this organic farmer is seeing reduction in some weeds

It can sometimes be comforting for an organic farmer if the view of their field from the roadway shows an absence of green growth between the rows of corn or soybeans. But according to the presenter of a recent Guelph Organic Conference session entitled “Avoiding Field Crop Disasters,” this illusion can often hide the troubling […] Read more

Bayer’s short season corn will only grow to about seven feet tall.

Bayer announces new herbicide mode of action

The broadleaf herbicide will be the first new mode of action in 30 years

A new herbicide molecule, a different approach to short stature corn and XtendFlex soybeans are three projects in the Bayer CropScience development pipeline that could have an impact on farms. Why it matters: There is increasing resistance to current herbicides so a new mode of action will be welcome. Bayer announced the new herbicide and […] Read more