Herbicide trial proves fruitful

After a successful trial this week, the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) intends to implement the use of a new organic herbicide for weed control in the community.

The herbicide is Homeplate, a non-selective herbicide that works to fight weeds while protecting other types of crops.

MCK director of public works Martin Morris said the herbicide was selected after carefully researching the most environmentally-friendly products to use, and was sprayed in select areas this week. Morris said it was highly effective at killing weeds, something that is essential to ensure the longevity of infrastructure, with weeds tending to cause cracks if not addressed early.

Typically Public Works deals with weeds in Kahnawake using whippersnippers.

“Since they’re powered by gas, this is actually a cleaner alternative, and it’s less time-consuming, it doesn’t kick up debris,” Morris said.

With the trial of the project a success, Morris said Public Works will be ordering more of the herbicide, though dates and areas for the next phase are yet to be established. In the interim, the team will continue using the gas-powered trimmers, he said.

Public Works consulted with the Kahnawake Environment Protection Office (KEPO) ahead of the project, and Timothy Law, KEPO’s general manager of environment protection, said the team researched the active ingredients.

He explained that the active ingredients, caprylic acid and capric acid, are compounds derived from coconut oil and other seed oils, and work by coating the surface of plants, disrupting the surface membrane of leaves, causing the leaves to dry and ultimately die.

The herbicide remains only on the surface of the plant, meaning it won’t be absorbed into the root or ground.

He said that sprayers will use a targeted nozzle to ensure that the herbicide is only sprayed on intended plants, and that the product has been used in organic farming operations.

“From the research that we’ve done, KEPO hasn’t flagged any hazards for the environment that’s associated with its herbicide if its used correctly and for its intended purpose,” Law said.

He said the team takes into account the reason why herbicide is being used during its consultation process.

“We want to look at the purpose, from KEPO’s perspective, it’s not a great use of herbicide if you’re trying to just beautify your garden or do it for aesthetic purposes. We’re more thinking if there’s a public safety concern, an infrastructure concern, and if there’s alternatives there,” he said.

He added that KEPO takes research into any potential herbicides seriously.

“I think herbicides can be pretty scary and at KEPO we recognize the historic and ongoing use of herbicides and the impacts its had on people.

“When we’re researching herbicides, we think about the potential environmental risks of that herbicide, how long it lasts in the environment, what it targets, and whether it has chronic or long-term impacts,” he said.

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