yard, stable & paddock Gourmet Grazing
Q – We don’t top our fields as they are grazed fairly heavily by ponies and regularly poo-picked, but we have a problem with weeds, which we are finding difficult to effectively control this season. We did get a contractor to spray off the buttercups in May, taking the ponies off for a fortnight and that’s usually enough, but the problem now is a mix of a few docks and small patches of creeping thistle. We even have some yellow rattle, which we’ve never had here before and that’s really affecting the grass growth. How do you suggest we can manage this, ideally without needing to move the ponies again? Our grazing is in two paddocks totalling about six acres and because it’s such a small acreage, the contractors don’t really want to know as they are all so busy at this time of year.
Answer - Ideally you could use a selective herbicide and apply it using an ATV and small sprayer with a hand lance and small boom. This would give you the freedom to ride around and treat isolated areas with the hand lance and larger areas with the boom, when required. If you are treating very small areas you could leave the grazing animals in the field as there should be little problem of poisoning. However, to be on the safe side you could easily fence off the sprayed area with a temporary electric fence for a few days, leaving the rest of the paddock for grazing. The amount of herbicide chemical required would be nominal due to the localised use of the mixture. Logic produce a wide range of sprayers with innovative design, strength and accuracy, designed for use over many years. The OBS range is perfect for paddocks, spot spraying and
around buildings and equestrian yards etc. These On-Board models are quick-attach to an ATV, UTV or any other suitable vehicle, with capacities of 60lt to135lt. Deck Mounted models are suitable for UTV cargo beds or a trailer and have 270lt and 600lt capacities and the small Trailed model has a capacity of 270lt. All these models have a ‘Shurflo’ 12v electrical pump powered by the host vehicle and a choice of hand lance, hose reel and booms from 1.5m to 4.0m wide. Prices start from £365.00 + VAT Most importantly, before you purchase a suitable sprayer for these duties, you must have the correct certification in order to buy any herbicide or operate a sprayer. See ‘Equine’ April 2017 issue, which covers this topic. Basically, anyone who uses or applies pesticides (this includes fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and growth regulators) in
with the experts at Logic
agriculture, horticulture, forestry, industry or amenity workplaces, must possess a valid Pesticide Certificate in order to purchase chemicals from a registered supplier. This legislation is not optional and it applies to volunteers, employed and self-employed people alike. Sign up to a course at your local agricultural college, City and Guilds, or Lantra educational outlets (there are others – go online to check out options for ‘Courses in the Safe Use of Pesticides’) where you will be given instruction on the safe use of these products, which is very straightforward and applies simple common sense. If you have six acres, the investment in this certification will pay off quickly as the alternative weed control costs will become increasingly expensive.
Logic OBS390S - 60lt Sprayer c/w OBS104 3 metre boom
Equine Page 42
www.theequinesite.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
