by Raphaël Thierrin

Rodweeders are tillage implements which have been used in Western Canada for most of the 20th century. They control weeds without disturbing the soil surface much. Because they leave most of the crop residue on the surface, they help conserve soil and moisture. This is very important in areas where soil drifting and dryness are constant problems.

A rodweeder drags a rod which rotates under the soil surface at a rate of up to 150 rpm. Its action pulls the roots of any germinating weeds to the surface, where the weeds eventually wither away. The rod slightly compacts the soil underneath its path, preventing moisture from evaporating and ensuring that this water is available to crop seedlings. The crop may be seeded before or after rodweeding, one or two inches below the depth of the rod. As the seedlings grow past the hardened layer, they come into the soil which has been aerated by the rod. This process often makes soil nutrients more easily available to the growing plant.

The rodweeder is versatile; it can be used by itself or in conjunction with another farm implement, usually a seeder or cultivator.

It is a vital tool for the organic farmer in dryland country. In southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, conventional farmers use it too. Because it is so common and because it is dependable, it is taken for granted. Farm machinery articles rarely mention rodweeders. Articles on weed control prefer to concentrate on the use of herbicides rather than on mechanical controls.

Rodweeders have been around for a long time. Unfortunately, in the past, they have been associated with black fallowing. This practice of leaving the soil uncovered in alternate years is not held in high regard today. But although the machines may often have been used incorrectly, that does not mean that they are now museum pieces. There is a place for rodweed-ers in modern farming, if the producer uses them at the right moment.

I became a strong believer in rodweeders after spending a few days working on Dwayne Smith’s farm last summer. Dwayne farms near Vulcan, Alberta, the town which is now the mecca for Star Trekkies. No water is beamed into Vulcan from outer space, however, dryland farming is the norm here.

Dwayne has a combination of light and heavy soils. He is a certified organic producer who uses a ten-year rotation where flax, cereals and green manures play an important role. The rotation helps him to control pests and weeds, but he also ensures that his crops will outcompete weeds by using his rodweeder a few days after seeding.

By doing so, Dwayne gets rid of germinating weeds at the same time as his crops have started to move toward the sunlight. His crop will then be able to emerge about four days before any additional weeds have been able to reach the surface. Studies done by J.T. O’Donovan at the Alberta Environment Centre have shown that this four-day lag provides sufficient time for many crops to provide a good harvest, even if the weeds are not controlled further. In other words, the crop’s production will not be harmed by the presence of weeds.

In such a situation, Dwayne feels that it is pointless to worry about weeds. Even if he were a conventional producer, he feels that he would not apply herbicides after his crop has emerged as this would be a waste of money.

The rodweeder gives Dwayne the best means of weed control during the crop year. At the same time, it provides good residue trash cover and control over soil and water erosion.

The rodweeder is a product of much experimentation by southern Alberta and Saskatchewan farmers in the early part of the 20th century.

In Vulcan: The Making of a Prairie Community (U.of T. Press, 1988), Paul Voisey mentions that a patent for a rodweeder was taken by a Nanton farmer in 1913. Other rodweeders were designed in later years by creative tinkerers from Vulcan, Gleichen and Champion. If you look at a map of Alberta, you will notice that all these towns are neighbors. This shows that rodweeders were in heavy use in these dryland areas at that time. Another source, a history of tillage implements published by the Reynolds-Alberta Museum shows that Calgary inventors were very busy too.

Institutions got into the act: it was reported in 1922 that the Claresholm Agricultural School was experimenting with rodweeders.

Paul Voisey mentions that the rodweeder was considered to be quite effective, especially since inventiveness in blade cultivators was lagging behind that of rodweeders. Rodweed-ers coupled with cultivators enabled farmers to control weeds on a larger scale than before and at a faster pace. Being able to till fields quickly also meant that cultivation could be done less frequently. Soils could form a crust in fallow years: this did not permit grasshoppers to lay eggs as easily as before and hence the tilling instruments had an enormous side benefit for pest control.

An important innovation occurred in 1925, when Morris introduced the spring-loaded trip device which enabled the rodweeder to go over rocks and to be effective in a greater variety of soils.

By the 1930s, farmers were aware of the strengths and weaknesses of their farms. They knew which soils were light and prone to drifting. They also knew where moisture accumulated and which crops were productive. They were aware of the respective advantages of different implements. And so it became easier for them to use rodweeding in a co-ordin-ated effort. It became important for a farmer to possess a variety of tools to be prepared for any eventuality.

In dry months, the rodweeder was essential to control weeds without causing a dust bowl. In wetter times, the cultivator could be used. When the soil was hard and dry, the rodweeder was placed behind the cultivator. It took time for these practices to become intuitive, and the rodweeder was a ground-breaking device in more ways than one.

Today, several different models are available.

• The Rod Master: Honey Bee manufactures this model which can be attached to various implements. It can even be tied to large chisel blades without necessitating a link to a shank.

• The Hydra-Rod: This 35-foot rod, sold by Victory Equipment, can be installed in different ways for different conditions. On rocky soil, for example, it is best to install it as a series of shorter rods, seven feet each. The rods themselves are purchased from Morris.

• The Hexi-Rod: This attachment is manufactured by Coaldale Iron Products and is available in lengths ranging from 12 to 54 feet. As the name indicates, the cross-section of the rod is a hexagon. It will rotate fairly easily when pulled. For an additional cost, you can have a power drive which will spin the rod. One power drive can ensure the rotation of 50 feet of rod.

• The 7000 series rodweeder: Morris still manufactures a standalone model. Its 7000 series is available in a variety of widths, with an optional cultivator possessing a trip device with a clearance of 20 inches for rocky soils. According to Morris, the rodweeder should require less maintenance than previous standalones, because of its simpler drive system.

If you are interested in buying a rodweeder, consider a used implement. In a review of the Western Producer Classified in July and August of 1993, I spotted two dozen rodweeders or attachments in the Auctions and Tillage Machinery columns. The Morris B3-36 and its Multiplex counterpart appeared most frequently.

The rodweeders with the highest price tags were a Leon 56-footer and a Morris 48' with Multiplex. Attachment rods were listed at prices similar to what they would retail at as new equipment, i.e., around $25. per foot.

Before buying a used rodweeder, you will need to assess what could go wrong and whether you have the finances or ability to make the necessary repairs. An excellent illustrated guide to help you is Used Farm Equipment: Assessing Quality, Safety & Economics, by J.W. Garth et al, published in 1987 by the Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.

If you farm in the Palliser Triangle and if you are not currently using a rodweeder, I hope that I have convinced you to take a new look at this useful implement.