Vegetable Grower Perspective: Should You Pull That Weed? Maybe Not

Weeds are the bane of all plant growers around the world. But are they really all that bad and worth your time to get rid of them? According to one vegetable grower, knowing when NOT to weed is just as important as knowing when to weed.

Shay Myers, CEO of Owyhee Produce in Parma, ID, knows full well the importance of weed control. Myers (aka, “Shay the Farm Kid”) also uses social media to engage with peers and consumers while promoting supply chain transparency. In a recent post on LinkedIn, he makes the case that not every weed needs to be pulled.

In the post, he writes: “Once your plants are established and have enough size, removing every weed may not be worth the time, effort, or cost, especially if those weeds aren’t significantly affecting your crop. On the farm, we look at the same balance between weed pressure, potential yield loss, and the cost of control.”

Click below to watch and listen to Myers give his perspective on selective weed control for the greater good.

Do you agree with Shay? Leave a reader comment below.