Harvest Weed Seed Control – What do early adopters say?

Harvest Weed Seed Control – What do early adopters say? 

Between 2017 and 2020, Alberta Grains co-funded a research project named “Harrington Seed Destructor Evaluation at Field Scale in Alberta”. This project investigated the efficacy of the Harrington Seed Destructor on weed management across different cropping systems and with different weeds. Following the study, a research group conducted a survey that looks into the early adopter’s insights on physical impact mills. The findings were recently published on Early adopter insights on physical impact mill technology for harvest weed seed control in Canada   

Read the article summarizing the survey: Early adopters of impact mills – by Canadian Agronomist

Harvest weed seed control (HWSC) is a tool to help reduce the return of seeds to the soil seedbank at harvest. On the Canadian Prairies, physical impact mills are the most adopted control measure. Physical impact mills are attached behind the combine and destroy weed seeds, preventing them from returning to seedbank.

Impact mills are in the early adoption phase on the prairies, with an estimated 30 impact mills operating. Wild oats and kochia are the main targets of the impact mills. The average increased fuel cost for a mill was estimated at $1.40/ac, with average annual maintenance costs of about $1,500 per impact mill. Sixty percent of adopters felt the average payback time would be in 3 to 5 years.

The earliest adopters reported an average reduction of weed densities by 62%. Other adopters indicated reduced herbicide application by 25 to 30% in the first 3 to 5 years. Although instant results may not be observed, impact mills are a great tool to manage herbicide resistant weeds and protect herbicide modes of action.