"Royal Oak Farm is a 120-acre apple and peach orchard and raspberry farm. We also grow pumpkins, squash and gourds. Crop rotation consists of rotating between 3 fields where each field is only planted with cucurbits every three years. Our current weed control strategy has been standard use of herbicides in raspberry and cucurbit fields and Roundup in apple and peach tree rows. We are moving to a cultivation program utilizing cover crops and the Weed Badger to cut down on the herbicide use. We also raise about 25 - 30 head of beef cattle. Weeds on the farm: Canada thistle, Johnson grass, field bindweed, nimblewill, broadleaf plantain, dandelion and more. We also want to use more cultivating techniques in our pumpkins and squash."



Royal Oaks Farm is a fruit and vegetable, agritourism farm

Production approach: Sustainable (low chemical use)
Rotations: Varies
Cover crops: Rye, mustards, oilseed radish
IPM used: Cover crops; reduced, timely spraying
Tillage: Rototiller, plow, Weed Badger
Soil amendment program: Conventional sources, but reduced rates
Soil tests: Click HERE.

Field was visited 5/11/09. Despite a wet spring, soils were good shape. Canada thistle was observed in raspberries. The growing raspberries present a special challenge to the Nortons in using the timely tillage, mowing and sudangrass cover crop to help control thistle. Thistle was observed growing within the raspberry canes, and between rows (see photo above). Early tillage cannot be done within raspberries with destroying the canes. A grass cover is maintained in alleyways between raspberry beds. A modified plan was discussed with Paul and Dennis:

1. Till multiple times. The Weed Badger can be used in the region between raspberries and grass alleyways. Thistles will be hand-cut within raspberry beds. Once raspberries grow up, thistle is shaded out, but Nortons will monitor thistle growth to prevent flowering. Thistles in existing grass alleyways will be mowed.

2. Plant grass cover. A species will be chosen. Sudangrass cannot be used because raspberries are a U-pick operation, so a shorter grass is needed. Up to two plantings will be made to insure good establishment and competition with thistle.

3. Mow alleyways to prevent thistles from flowering.

4. Use timely mowing and narrow tillage to prevent thistle flowering. Over time it is hoped this strategy will wear out the thistle roots and reduce infestation.

A second visit to Royal Oak Farm was conducted August 17, 2009. In the raspberries, Dennis and Paul controlled thistle in the rows with the Weed Badger (2-3 times) and hand-cutting. Between rows, perennial rye was planted (mid-May) and kept mowed (see pics below). The perennial rye grew in nice and thick and was obviously suppressing the thistle. A few small thistles were observed between the rows and some growing in among the raspberries, but less than what was observed last year. The raspberries are you-pick and will soon be open to the public. Frequent mowing and tillage seems to be suppressing thistle growth and slowing the spread of the patch.

Follow up contact will be made next Spring to determine measure of thistle sprouting in the treated area. Sudangrass was planted in rows where old peach trees had been removed, and were being prepared for more apple trees. Some Cananda thistle was observed in this area, but sudangrass was not planted at a heavy enough rate to compete effectively with the thistle.

A brix reading was taken on a single stalk of sudangrass taken from the treated area. Brix reading was 6.


Single small Canada thistle sprout growing in perennial rye walk-way between raspberry rows.