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Diverse System Trial at Rodale Institute’s Midwest Organic Center

Treffler- Man@Machine is really excited to announce the continued work with Rodale Institute.

Rodale Institute and Treffler-Man@Machine have teamed up together since 2017 to take on the issue of weed control and shallow tillage at the Kutztown Farm in PA. Now the Rodale Institue’s Midwest Organic Center (MOC) has recently initiated the Diverse Systems Trial that we are excited to share.

Rodale-MOC’s new study aims to better understand the interactions between diverse row crops and livestock grazing in organic systems and to produce data that encourages more producers to reintegrate livestock into row crops system. The primary goal of this research trial is to demonstrate how increased crop diversity in these corn-soybean rotations and annual livestock grazing enables producers to undertake regenerative management practices that minimise erosion, improve soil health, and naturally interrupt pest/disease/weed cycles. Consequently, these diverse crop rotations need fewer synthetic inputs and less tillage passes, thus making these production systems more resilient and profitable. The DST is intended to be a long-term trial that will span over twenty years. 

Even with an effective crop rotation, one of the biggest concerns in organic production systems are the weeds and that’s where Treffler machines are making the difference. With the Treffler tine weeder, harrowing is made possible in the pre-emerged stage. This is a real important moment to flush out lots of weeds. Those early season passes are really important to minimise weed emergence and allow the cash crops (especially small grains) to get ahead and out compete the weeds, thus reducing the seed bank for future crops. Our shallow cultivators destroy cover crops at 1″ preparing the surface for seeding with minimal soil disturbance. The art of harrowing and shallow cultivation supports better soils and crops. Equipped with seeders, that can easily be removed when not in use, with our machines you make the most of every pass. Ultimately, diverse row crop rotations and physical weed control with minimal soil disturbance are a winning combination that allows for effective weed management in a regenerative organic system.

Treffler is a proven effective weed control method in all your crops whether you are growing vegetables, herbs, flowers, field crops or nurseries.