Weed Control in Organic Agriculture (PLSC 234)

Offered by the University of Saskatchewan

Weed Control in Organic Agriculture was developed through collaboration between the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan and the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC). While any undergraduate student in Canada can take the course for credit, this class is simultaneously offered as a non-credit option to farmers. The mix of both producers and students creates an interesting dynamic.

This course covers the principals and practices of weed management in organic field crop production. It highlights aspects of basic weed biology and ecology that make weeds vulnerable to various management techniques. Practical cultural, mechanical and biological techniques are considered, within an integrated weed management system.

Weed Control in Organic Agriculture offers a practical final project where participants envision and design an organic weed management system for their operation. They consider the types of crops they would grow, the management they would use with those crops, and the impact this would have on their weed dynamics. This allows them to see that their decisions matter, and to plot more effective strategies.

Course Outline:

1. Introduction to Weeds and Identification
2. Weed Ecology
3. Cultural Weed Control
4. Mechanical Weed Control
5. Biological Weed Control
6. Integrated Organic Weed Control

Please visit the University of Saskatchewan's website for more information and to register.