Weed control in organic blueberry is a labor-intensive and costly task. The most cost-effective and common method used in commercial fields at this time is the weed mat. This research evaluates a new technology – electronic weed control – that has become available.

Oregon State University, Cornell University and the University of California at Davis have partnered in a research effort to evaluate electric weed control (EWC) in organic blueberry and other perennial crops. The research group was awarded over $2 million by the USDA NIFA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI). The project team includes Marcelo Moretti, Linda Brewer, Alice Formiga, and Erica Chernoh from OSU, Bradley Hanson and Brittney Goodrich, UC Davis and Lynn Sosnoskies, Cornell.

EWC is still emerging as a weed control technology in the USA; not much information is publicly available. A few companies, principally in Europe and Latin America, offer commercial-scale EWC units. The project funded by USDA OREI will develop site- and weed-specific recommendations for EWC and describe the long-term impact of electric weeder use on weed population, crop growth and soil health indicators. We will collect data to contribute to a cost and profitability analysis of EWC in commercial organic blueberry production systems. Finally, the project team will engage stakeholders at local educational events and in national efforts through eOrganic.

Acknowledgments. The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institue of Food and Agriculture Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative has funded this work (award no. 2021-51300-34911). I also acknowledge the support of the Oregon Blueberry Commission, Dr. Bernardine Strik for serving as an advisor to the project and local growers who will participate.