Press Release

Naturally, it's from Ergonica!  World of Weeds Index

To: National - California - Local - Ag Industry - Media
From: Ray Cruz, Ergonica
Date: December 10, 2004
Subject: Press Release - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Topic: The Weed Twister Alternative to Hand Weeding in Agriculture
 
Spurred by recent regulations to restrict hand weeding on California crops, Ergonica has developed an ergonomic, industrial strength model of the Weed Twister.  The Weed Twister has a patented design like a double-coil shaped fork that allows for very precise penetration more deeply into the roots than possible with a hoe.  It can also be used to scrape new seedlings off the surface of the soil like a circle hoe with a diameter of only two inches.  The accurate precision, ergonomics and efficiency of the Weed Twister are what make it stand out in comparison with various hoe designs and other hand tools intended for weed removal and cultivation.
 
Ergonica plans to have a 48 inch industrial version of the Weed Twister available for early spring in 2005, and a 52 inch model a few months later.   For home gardens, the 36 inch version of the Weed Twister is currently available for purchase in several nurseries in Southern California and on the web at www.ergonica.com.  The industrial models will not only have longer handles, but will also be designed to withstand a greater amount of repetitive stress.  California regulations require that hand tools used for agriculture have handle lengths of at least 48 inches.
 
Not only can organic growers benefit from the use of this tool, but so can any grower with crops like celery, cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, spinach, carrots and strawberries, for example.  Many nursery crops also require precise weeding and the Weed Twister has been successfully applied to crops in containers of various sizes, we well.  In preliminary tests in the fields of Oxnard, California, the industrial model of the Weed Twister successfully removed such weeds as little mallow, goosefoot, yellow nutsedge, purslane, nightshades and lambsquarters. 
 
Ergonica presented the Weed Twister alternative at a public hearing on hand weeding regulations in Glendale, California, on November 18, 2004, sponsored by the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (OSHSB).  Ergonica  recommended that an upper weight limit of three pounds be established for hand tools in agriculture.  Ergonica also suggested that OSHSB establish a centralized process for identifying suitable hand tools as alternatives to hand weeding for specific agricultural conditions. 
 
In 1975, the short hoe was banned in California farms to protect the health and safety of farmworkers.  All other short handled tools were banned in 1978.  But this led to the increased use of hand weeding which has posed even greater health risks.  Several attempts to prohibit hand weeding have failed in the California legislature in recent years.  Now the conflicting parties are attempting to negotiate their differences through regulations under the auspices of the OSHSB. 

The current regulations prohibit hand weeding unless no other suitable alternative means is available.  Ergonica is hoping to position the industrial model of the Weed Twister as a reasonable and suitable alternative to hand weeding in many of the conditions where hand weeding is practiced.  An updated version of the current OSHSB regulations should be released by February 5, 2005.

 
Ergonica sincerely hopes that some of the political friction between interested parties will be diffused by technological solutions, like the Weed Twister, that can potentially increase efficiency and also protect the health and safety of farmworkers in addition to adhering to compliance with the new Cal OSHSB regulations.
 
For more information, please contact:
 
Ray Cruz
ray.cruz[AT]ergonica.com
323-441-9797
 
Ergonica
PO Box 69154
West Hollywood, CA 90069
 

Weed Twister from Ergonica

 

Weed Twister Image 3
Weed Twister
36" x 2" coil diameter
Click for expanded image

 

 

 

 

Organic farmers will also find this tool to be an ideal solution for hand weeding vegetable crops where herbicides are not appropriate.  For agriculture applications, please see the White Paper On the Weed Twister and Other Alternatives to Precise Hand Weeding in Agricultural Applications.  The ergonomic features of light weight and efficient action make this tool especially favorable to farm labor.

 


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