Weeds

Weeds are a major problem in agave fields, and unfortunately, there are no registered pesticides for agave in California. This means that we have to spend a lot of money on hand labor, which can cost over $600 per acre during the summer. We try to manage the weeds by mechanically cutting them in the center of the rows every 4-6 weeks during the summer. Buried drip helps by keeping moisture deeper in the root zone and not germinating as many seeds near the top of the beds. However, deep-rooted weeds like morning-glory are still a persistent issue.

We also face the problem of losing young clones that emerge with the weeds to the hand crews. To address this issue, we are working with Nutrien, a UC researcher specialist to run herbicide trials. If we can get both pre- and post-herbicides approved, we could dramatically reduce our weeding expenses. We are also working with the Western Growers Association to get products approved through the US EPA’s IR4 Program. This program considers the approval of certain labels for smaller specialty crops that are currently registered for use for other commodity crops.