unsure, contact your extension agent or seek the advice of a consultant to help create the best plan to control those weeds infesting pastures. You can also fi nd charts and other her- bicide information online from state universities and even the herbicide manufacturer. There are new classes of herbicides
for pastures that are only effective on particular weeds. Make sure you know what those new herbicides are labeled to control, explains Baumann, and at what stage of growth to apply herbicide.
More than half of your summer’s
forage is produced from May through July. Eliminating weed competition for nutrients, moisture and space early is critical.
Follow label recommendations To get the results you expect, you need to read and
follow label directions. “Companies have spent signifi - cant time and money on research to determine the best time to treat the weeds by a specifi c stage of growth, and the herbicide label refl ects this,” says Baumann. Don’t just time application based on past experi-
ence, a calendar date, or just when you have the time. Know what the label recommendations for treatment are and follow that. For example, Baumann says that even if you‘ve had luck controlling weeds in the past at sizes larger than the label recommends, don’t count on that happening again or getting the manufacturer to back up this off-label application.
Calibrate equipment Before applying herbicides, make sure to calibrate
sprayers so you know how much herbicide you are putting out, says Locke. If equipment isn’t calibrated correctly, then you may not put enough or possibly put on too much herbicide, which is not a wise use of
Boomjet Spraying
your herbicide investment and may result in illegal residues.
Don’t wait too late to apply If you wait too long to apply herbi-
cides, you may still get control of the weeds, but forage production will be reduced. “Some people want to wait for all the weeds to come up before applying herbicide. The problem is that fi rst fl ush of weeds hurts for- age yields the most,” explains Locke. Research shows that 50 to 60 percent of summer’s forage is produced from May through July. That’s why elimi- nating weed competition for nutrients, moisture and space early is critical.
Apply under correct environmental conditions Proper environment conditions for application are
important. Know the wind speed, direction, moisture forecast and humidity, and time herbicide application accordingly. Drift can reduce herbicide effectiveness and cause
problems with neighbors if the wind carries herbicide to other fi elds or pastures. Some herbicides require rainfall or irrigation soon after application. During drought years, this may create a challenge and affect when you apply. Also, weeds should be in good health at application
of a post emergence (foliar-applied) herbicide. Applica- tions to drought-stressed or cold-stressed plants may show reduced effectiveness. Effective weed control is an investment, and if you’re
unsure what might be the best options for your fi elds and pastures, seek advice and help from online re- sources, extension agents or agriculture consultants.
Fieldjet Spraying
tscra.org
February 2014 The Cattleman 41
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