Best Management Practices for Interior & Exterior Weed Control
Rationale
Weeds (unwanted plants) can harbor pests that have the potential to spread to greenhouse crops. It is important to remove weeds within and in the immediate exterior greenhouse environment. Appropriate use of cultural, mechanical and physical controls will reduce the need to apply chemical controls, thus minimizing potential runoff of pesticides to surface and ground waters. New York State commercially certified applicators apply herbicides as needed; priority is placed on least toxic chemicals and appropriate application timing to minimize environmental impact. Greenhouse staff apply interior herbicide applications. Cornell Grounds Department employees or greenhouse staff apply exterior herbicide applications. Good communication between greenhouse staff and Grounds employees minimize drift, exposure and contamination risks. Proper notifications, record keeping and reporting are emphasized.
| Environmental Principle: Environmental impact is reduced when care is taken to prevent over-application and improper use of herbicides. |
Operational Aspects |
Environmental Assurance >> |
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Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
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Overview |
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Emergency Preparedness |
Exterior & Interior: Staff educated on proper procedures to handle emergencies: spills, drift and plant material over-exposure |
Exterior & Interior: Staff educated and written protocols exist for proper procedures to handle emergencies: spills, drift and plant material over-exposure |
Exterior & Interior: Staff educated and written protocols exist for proper procedures to handle emergencies: spills, drift and plant material over-exposure |
Environmental Awareness |
Exterior & Interior: employees are made aware of the hazard to surface and groundwater from over application and toxic herbicides |
Exterior & Interior: employees are aware of hazards, and hazards are being reduced through physical and mechanical weed controls, use of less toxic chemicals and application timing |
Exterior & Interior: employees are aware of hazards, and hazards are being eliminated through physical and mechanical weed controls, use of less toxic chemicals, application timing and use of barriers, such as ground cloth below gravel and/or concrete floors |
Training |
Exterior & Interior: herbicide applicators are trained and are required to be NYS pesticide apprentice under direct supervision of NYS commercially certified applicator |
Exterior & Interior: herbicide applicators are trained and are required to be NYS commercially certified applicator |
Exterior & Interior: herbicide applicators are trained and are required to be NYS commercially certified applicator with recertification coursework in IPM |
Communication |
Exterior: Greenhouse staff and managers communicate application with Grounds team leaders Interior: Greenhouse staff communicate application schedule and equipment needs with other growers and greenhouse users |
Exterior: Date, location, time and chemical to be applied communicated and agreed upon amongst greenhouse staff, greenhouse managers and Grounds team leaders with at least 24 hours notice Interior: Greenhouse staff communicates application schedule and equipment needs with other growers and/or researchers in the immediate area of application |
Exterior: Date, location, time and chemical to be applied communicated and agreed upon amongst greenhouse staff, greenhouse managers and Grounds team leaders a week in advance, including rain date Interior: Greenhouse staff and managers communicate application schedule and equipment needs with other growers and/or researcher in immediate area through postings and verbal communications |
Management |
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Physical & Mechanical Controls |
Exterior: None Interior: gravel floor; benches free of soil media; weeds hand pulled |
Exterior: gravel around greenhouse structures Interior: gravel floors use quality ground cover under gravel; benches free of soil media; weeds hand pulled and gravel raked |
Exterior: ground cloth underlying gravel around greenhouse structures; occasional mechanical trimming and hand weeding Interior: concrete flooring; welded wire benches; drains & floor cracks free of soil media; field soil-based media is sterilized; weeds-specific research material grown in a greenhouse with concrete floors |
Application Timing |
Exterior & Interior: during normal work hours |
Exterior: early morning, late afternoon, or early evening when greenhouse fans can be shut down Interior: late afternoons after final water for the day is complete or sunny day |
Exterior: early morning, late afternoon, or early evening when greenhouse fans can be shut down; applicator has knowledge of interior locations of herbicide-sensitive and research plants Interior: late afternoons after final water for the day is complete or sunny day when greenhouse is free of plant material |
Application Equipment |
Exterior: high pressure application Interior: hand held pump sprayer |
Exterior: hand held pump sprayer Interior: hand pump sprayer on wheels |
Exterior: backpack sprayer Interior: backpack sprayer |
Chemical Selection |
Exterior: any NYS registered herbicide product, appropriate for the weed species Interior: any NYS registered herbicide product, appropriate for the weed species with low residual activity |
Exterior: any NYS registered herbicide product, appropriate for weed species; product chosen for effectiveness against particular weed species Interior: any NYS registered selective herbicide product, appropriate for the weed species |
Exterior: NYS registered herbicide products, appropriate for weed species; product chosen for efficacy against particular weed species; product selected is the least toxic (relatively high LD50) and least environmentally persistent among options Interior: any NYS registered selective herbicide product, appropriate for the weed species |
Application Notification |
Exterior: treated areas posted with signs as required by NYS DEC Interior: 24 hours advance notification by applicator and area posted with required signs |
Exterior: treated area posted with signs as required by NYS DEC; application posted inside building Interior: applicators provide notification by posting signs 24 hours in advance and calling or e-mailing greenhouse users |
Exterior: treated area marked with signs as required by NYS DEC; application posted inside building and occupants notified of application before it occurs Interior: applicators provide notification by posting signs 24 hours in advance and calling or e-mailing greenhouse users |
Record Keeping & Reporting |
Exterior & Interior: complies with NYS regulations |
Exterior & Interior: complies with NYS regulations; scouting occurs and some records made |
Exterior & Interior: complies with NYS regulations; scouting occurs; records of problems & solutions kept for multiple years |
Application Frequency |
Exterior: routine for maintenance Interior: as needed for maintenance |
Exterior: scheduled periodically; consideration given to plant material in the greenhouse Interior: as needed for maintenance, consideration given to plant material in the greenhouse |
Exterior: only as needed based on surveys; never “by-the-calendar”; consideration given to plant material in the greenhouse Interior: IPM Practices followed with consideration given to plant material in the greenhouse |