Weeds and brush invaders are a big topic for farmers this year and with good reason. The previous year’s drought conditions made pastures prime targets for infestation and prompted the University of Missouri’s extension offices to add combating this enemy a major focal point to assist the agricultural community. “There’s been a lot of discussion about weeds this year for two reasons: our pastures have been thinner than they have been in the past due to the dry weather and second we’ve had a tremendous amount of rainfall this summer, which has really brought those weeds on strong,” noted Tim Schnakenberg, an agronomy specialist with the Stone County extension.
There are things that farmers can do especially to control thistle and poisonous hemlock to reclaim the pastoral battlefields. Part of the process to help farmers get control of their own situation came in taking the group out into the battle zone, which was a pasture of Greg Vaught, a farmer residing just north of Crane, Mo.
“First thing everyone has to know is what the weed is and then you can study up on it,” said Schnakenberg. Once the enemy has been identified then you can understand the life span, habitat and what timing is needed for either spraying or grazing with cattle. He emphasized that you just have to know and understand the enemy before you can take it on.
When it comes to deciding your course of action naturally you have to consider your livestock, which boils down to dairy versus beef cattle. “Dairy farmers really have to be on top of it because a chemical could get into the milk supply a lot easier if you’re not paying attention to the restrictions of the herbicide,” explained Schnakenberg. There are products on the market that are more ‘dairy friendly’ such as Grazon Next and Chaparral.
One farmer in the crowd asked about the effectiveness of mowing first then spraying. Though it seems like a viable solution Schnakenberg said, “You’re setting yourself back if you mow first. The philosophy of knocking it back then keep beating it while it’s down doesn’t work. You have to have the leaf area on the plants to absorb the chemical and that’s what get’s the chemical into the root systems.”
One point Schnakenberg made abundantly clear to the audience is that vigilance is needed more than anything. Just because the plant is killed does not mean that it would not rear its ugly head again. “With some grassier weeds the seeds can lay dormant for just a couple of years, but some of the broadleaf weeds we’re looking at longer,” he said. Weeds like thistle and spotted knapweed seeds can stay in the ground up to seven years. Keeping an eye out for new weeds is just as important so you can combat it now before it takes over the pasture. Spraying is often the choice for knocking back the enemy but in the cases where you have grassy weeds growing up in grassy field a weed-wiper may be the best weapon of choice in deploying a non-selective herbicide like Round-up. “The weed-wiper has a drum that has a bar that sprays the chemical on the carpet-like covered drum which rolls on to that weed. The stuff you want to save below is not affected,” noted Schnakenberg, “It can help save clover as well, which is just a good feed source.”
Using a management intensive grazing system can keep the weeds at bay while keeping the costs and hazards of spraying to a minimum. “Basically having multiple paddocks that you can move cows in frequently so they don’t stay in one paddock very long is the key. Where you have 30 days rest period for the grass it fills back in and shades out the weeds,” Schnakenberg said, “It’s not a cure-all but it makes a big difference in the long run. Any time you don’t have to spray is good.”
If spraying is the only option then you have to make sure that your application not only gets the weeds on top, but gets to the roots to end the problem. “If the chemical kills too quickly, then there’s not enough time to transfer the chemical down to the root and that’s what we’re talking about today is getting to the root of the problem,” explained Schnakenberg. The number one thing is making sure you use the chemical according to the label and make sure that your application equipment is calibrated.
Calibration is not that difficult and only needs to be done if you are changing you equipment combination such as tractor and sprayer, or nozzles on the sprayer. “Once you’ve got it set, write it down so every time you get back on you the tractor you know how many RPMs on your throttle, pressure settings and all the variables are there for the next time you apply your herbicide,” he said.
“I get a lot of calls every day about weed control and I think we had a good amount of participation in this event,” noted Schnakenberg.
Vaught, whose farm the weed and brush tour was held said, “This was the first time I’ve been to one of these weed tours and I got a lot out of it and I hope that by having it here I help others get something they could use.”
