b'Solving Weed ProblemsOld technology could offer potato growers a new weed control solution.BY: JIM TIMLICKAN OLD PIECE of technology created more than a decade ago and subsequently shelved could soon offer potato producers a new solution when it comes to fighting weeds in their fields.In 2011, a group of researchers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canadas (AAFC) Charlottetown Research and Development Centre were researching ways to control European corn borer populations. Corn borers are a common pest who lay their eggs in potato vines which then mature the following year with potentially devastating implications. The AAFC group, led by researcher Christine Noronha, developed a piece of equipment they dubbed the potato vine crusher. It was essentially two metal rollers that were attached to a motor powered by a 10-horsepower generator. It attached to the back of a potato harvester and was designed to crush vines as potatoes were being harvested, killing the corn borer larvae in the process.Preliminary test results for the deviceAAFC researcher Andrew McKenzie-Gopsill stands next to the vine crusher.PHOTOS: AAFCwere extremely encouraging, indicating a success rate of 95 or greater inMcKenzie-Gopsill, who works out of theaudience and later told McKenzie-Gopsill controlling corn borer larvae. However,Charlottetown research centre, was givingthat he should speak with Noronha to the researchers quickly discovered therea presentation at the University of Princesee if there was a way the vine crusher was a catch: because mature corn borersEdward Island at the time. He spoke aboutshe had helped to develop could be have wings they can fly from one field tothe merits of harvest weed seed control repurposed.another. That meant the majority of potatotargeting weed seeds at harvest to preventI went and met with Christine. She producers in a region, it not all, wouldthem from returning to the seedbankgave me an explanation of it and a bit of have to use the device in order for it to be and said how great it would be if therethe history of it and said go have fun and truly effective. was a device that would allow potatosee what you can do, he explains.As a result, the vine crusher wasgrowers to essentially eliminate weedA short time later, McKenzie-Gopsill mothballed and sat on a shelfuntilseeds during harvest. began conducting tests with the vine AAFC researcher Andrew McKenzie- It just so happened that a techniciancrusher to see how effective it could be in Gopsill learned of it about a year ago.who worked in Noronhas lab was in thecontrolling weeds in potato crops. Most 20SPUDSMART.COM Fall 2022'