Summary
Livestock producers can increase stocking rates and income through the use of weed control herbicides which will increase their overall forage production.
Situation
Livestock need pasture and hay. Jefferson County derives over 19% of its agricultural income from beef cattle and dairy income along with a small percentage of horses and sheep. Pastures/hayfields are composed of warm-season perennial grasses, primarily Bermuda grass. Newly established as well as older fields of Bermuda grass often have invasive grassy weeds that decrease forage quality and productivity. This costs producers in terms of reduced weight gains, stocking rates, hay and milk production valued at $406,000 per year.
Among the worst of these invasive grasses are crabgrass (digitaria spp.), sandbur (Cenchrus pauciflorus), goosegrass (Eleusine indica) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam).
In the fall of '09, Prowl herbicide gained a supplemental label for pasture/hayfield use and Pastora herbicide, for annual grass control, anticipated labeling in the summer of 2010.
Response
It was quickly recognized that these two herbicides could replace the judicious use of the non-selective, contact herbicides currently being used on annual grassy weeds. Prowl, used pre-emerge, has efficacy on sandbur, goosegrass and crabgrass while Pastora has post-emerge efficacy on crabgrass, bahiagrass, goosegrass and suppresses sandbur. Pro-actively, a large plot trial was established in summer '09 using Prowl to control sandbur in a Bermuda grass hayfield and small plot trials were conducted in the spring-summer of '10 using Prowl and Pastora to control crabgrass and goosegrass in Bermuda grass pasture. Establishing and rating the results of these trials provides data for accurate recommendations for controlling weeds with these products.
Impact
An 8-acre hayfield was observed to have an infestation of 30% sandburs on two acres and 65% on six acres. Because sandbur emerges in mid-summer, Prowl was applied the second week of May ahead of a predicted rain event. Sandbur was controlled 75-90% the first year with the least control in the heaviest infested areas. In the pasture trials, Prowl was applied pre-emerge March 5 over dormant Bermuda grass. Crabgrass control was 100% through May and maintained 70-80% control through August while Bermuda grass density increased from 67% to 100% through May and maintained 80-90% through August. Pastora, applied April 27 when crabgrass and goosegrass were in the seedling stage (less than 1” tall) controlled crabgrass, goosegrass and ryegrass 100% through May maintaining crabgrass control near 100% and goosegrass over 90% through August. Bermuda grass density in the Pastora plots went from an initial 70% to over 90% during the trial.
As results of these trials are published, local producers have indicated there will be at least 733 acres of newly established and older Bermuda grass pasture/hayfields that will use a combination of Prowl and Pastora this coming year The acreage, so far, will be approximately 733 acres. Based on trial data, pasture/hayfields with moderate to severe annual grass weed infestations can expect increased forage production at a value of $102/A.
State Issue
Agricultural Profitability and Sustainability
Details
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Year:
2010
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Geographic Scope:
County
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County:
Jefferson
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Program Areas:
- Agriculture & Natural Resources
