Although EcoFilm is not organic, it is all natural, and a good alternative to chemical weed control.  Like cedar mulch, EcoFilm works more effectively to protect against incoming weed seeds when a thicker layer is applied to soil.  Within fifteen to twenty minutes of application, EcoFilm begins to harden, and will totally harden within 24 hours provided that there is no rain during this period.  Thus far, target markets of EcoFilm include municipal consumers, who can apply EcoFilm despite the recent Cosmetic Pesticides Ban, as well as the landscaping and nursery markets and some specialty agriculture including vineyards.  Most recently, a large municipal trial has been conducted in the city of Brampton.  EcoFilm is a viable option as a top dressing for container pots during transportation and can be useful in moisture retention for outdoor ornamental growers.  It is available in natural, red and black spray colours, making it useful in aesthetic gardening.

Group 4 Herbicides – are synthetic auxins (phenoxyacetic acids, benzoic acids and pyridines and quinoline carboxylic acids), such as 2,4-D, Dicamba and Lontrel

Group 5 Herbicides – photosystem II inhibitors (triazines, triazinones and uracils), such as Simazine, Sencor and Sinbar

Group 6 Herbicides – photosystem II inhibitors (benzothiadiazoles and nitriles) with the same site as groups 5 and 7 but different binding behaviour, such as Basagran and Buctril

Group 7 Herbicides – photosystem II inhibitors (ureas) with the same site as groups 5 and 7 but different binding behaviour, such as Lorox

Group 22 Herbicides – photosystem I electron diverters (bipyridilium), such as Gramoxone and Reglone

Glyphosate resistant giant ragweed is suspected and being investigated as well. Growers should be aware that these weeds are in horticulture production regions across the province and in the event of control failures herbicide programs will have to be altered.

You likely have a resistant weed population if you have a weed species that should have been controlled but is healthy while other susceptible species have been controlled or a weed control failure even when the correct herbicide rate was used and it was applied at the appropriate weed stage and under favourable environmental conditions.

You can report suspected resistant weeds by contacting the Agriculture Information Contact Centre 1-877-424-1300.  By taking advantage of this toll-free number, suspicious weed species will be tested for resistance by the University of Guelph. Any information obtained from this service will allow weed researchers to develop control options for resistant weed populations.

You can also send samples directly to the University of Guelph.  The University of Guelph will test, free of charge, suspected resistant weeds. Visit the link below for complete submission instructions.

http://www.plant.uoguelph.ca/resistant-weeds/services/

1. Rotate herbicides with different modes of action. For example, do not use simazine (Princep Nine-T) continuously. Consider other pre-emergence broadleaf herbicide options. Avoid making more than two applications of the same herbicide in the same year.  
2. Scout orchards and fields to identify weeds. Respond quickly to changes in weed population by controlling weeds before they spread throughout the entire orchard or field.  
3. Use non-selective post-emergence herbicides (Round-up, Ignite, Gramoxone) in your weed management program.

Use herbicides only as-needed.

This season has certainly been interesting.  Springtails and sap beetle larvae feeding on garlic, black aphids on onions, herbs and weeds, and….wait a second, black aphids?  When I think of the aphids in root, bulb and leafy crops, I think of the green peach aphid, the cabbage aphid, the turnip aphid, the potato aphid, the sunflower aphid and occasionally the foxglove and buckthorn aphids.  So when I was given a sample of some black aphids found on onions I was stumped.  I wasn’t sure what species it was.  Then I visited a grower who was suffering from something feeding on his herbs.  

As we walked the rows of basil and oregano I noticed that the stems of the weeds interspersed within the crops looked black.   A closer look revealed the fact that the stems were covered in black aphids.  One on top another, dozens if not hundreds huddled together the entire length of the colonized plant’s stem.

After some microscope work I had a name—these were cowpea aphids, Aphis craccivora Koch.   Sometimes they are called black bean aphids; however true black bean aphids are a different species, Aphis fabae.  What’s interesting about cowpea aphids  is that it has a wide host range (more than 50 crops) including alfalfa, legumes, ground nuts, peas, beans, cucurbits and brassica.  As well, it feeds and reproduces on shepards purse, lamb’s-quarters, smartweed and curly dock.            

Like other aphids, cowpea aphids cause damage by injecting toxins into plants, transmitting viruses and producing honeydew that can result in sooty moulds.  

Degree-day information for pests.