In a Michigan State University study, mechanical weed control cost half as much as chemical control. The Holy Grail that organic apple growers are looking for is an organically acceptable herbicide that acts like glyphosate or paraquat, but isn't. Most chemicals that will do that, like vinegar, are expensive because it takes so much to achieve the result, and repeated applications are needed. Dr. Matt Grieshop, organic pest management specialist at Michigan State University, isn't sure the chase is all that important. In studies he started last year, mechanical weed control, using the Wonder Weeder and other tools like it, cut the cost of weed control to about half what chemical programs cost and gave similar results.
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