Making weed control safer, smarter, and more sustainable
Our proven, chemical-free Lightning Weeder system is changing the dynamics of farming.
Using the insight and expertise of farmers, shaped by science, Lasco has developed the Electric Discharge System (EDS) for killing weeds – a reliable tool to restore soil vitality, diminish chemical dependence, and safeguard our farmers, our lands, and our future generations.
How LASCO is transforming
crop management.
The most destructive weeds in American agriculture, such as Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, horseweed (marestail), and giant ragweed, have evolved resistance to multiple common herbicides such as glyphosate, atrazine, and ALS inhibitors.
The long-term health and environmental problems caused by herbicides have risen in prominence at the same time that weeds have adapted to herbicides down to the DNA level and have therefore rendered them far less effective. If your herbicide kills 95% of the weeds, it’s the 5% of immune weeds that survive and reproduce.
Effective weed management now requires an integrated approach that rotates herbicide modes of action and incorporates cultural and mechanical tactics to prevent or manage resistance.
Farmers across multiple regions report that when late-season weeds appear after the final spray, the Lightning Weeder is the tool that prevents them from taking over. This collective feedback underscores a clear industry shift: electrical weed control is no longer viewed as a novelty but as a practical, scalable solution for modern agriculture.
A tried and true method of non-chemical
weed control for over 45 years.
Research in the 1970s led to the first commercial electric weeder, the Lasco Lightning Weeder LW-5. The technology operates similarly to a microwave oven: the applicator bar delivers an electrical pulse down the stem of the plant to heat up water molecules in the weeds to effectively kill them while also reducing seed viability and biomass.
Herbicide resistance and environmental concerns have increased interest in electric weeding as a sustainable alternative. Engineered for quantifiable results in the field, LASCO focuses on power, precision, and reliable performance in every pass.
LASCO provides farmers with effective, chemical-free tools so they can thrive, based on real experience and a shared commitment to improving soil health and yield, giving them greater control, confidence and freedom in managing their crops.
Featured Video
The process of non-chemical weed control can easily and quickly address the weeds that are affecting the viability of your crops. LASCO’s Lightning Weeder’s patented Electric Discharge System (EDS) preserves soil structure, protects beneficial organisms, and supports long-term productivity. With no chemical residue , the farmer and his crops are protected.
When Farmers Talk,
We Listen
“As a 6th generation farm growing soy, corn and sugar beets, we were dealing with chemical resistant weeds like water hemp and looking for innovative solutions. When we found LASCO’s Lightning Weeder and spoke with the CEO, Kevin Olson, we were impressed with his extensive knowledge of electricity and we bought it in 2023 and have nothing but success. There is the thrill of knowing that the Lightning Weeder lets us outsmart the weeds who were chemical resistant die with the electricity. We were so successful with our crops our neighbors hired us to use the Lightning Weeder on their sugar beets farms. Last summer we worked 24 hours a day for 13 days straight- we made money and the farmers were happy with the results. We are looking to buy another Lightning Weeder this year. It’s worth it.”
— Ethan Johnson, Johnson Family Farm, Glyndon, Minnesota
In the News
- June 2, 2026
- Farm Equipment
Decentralized digital controls and tougher running gear designed to handle today’s higher horsepower tractors highlight improvements to LASCO’s new Lightning Weeder.
The latest iteration of the familiar LASCO…
- April 24, 2026
- California Farm Equipment
Electric Weed Control Demonstrations Begin in California Specialty Crop Fields
For many growers, weed control isn’t getting easier—it’s getting more complicated. Fields that were once manageable with a standard spray program are now requiring multiple passes…
- March 16, 2026
- Fertilizer Daily
LASCO promotes lightning weeder for field operations to cut farmers’ costs and improve efficiency
Rising fuel expenses continue to weigh on U.S. farmers, particularly during operations that require repeated passes across fields such as…