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Herbicide or Not, Here We Come
January, 2023
Laura
Bennett, Livestock Agent - Multi-County, UF/IFAS Extension Pasco
County
Although our weeds don’t “hide”, it is time to
“seek” them out. While everything is somewhat dead in pastures, it seems
hard to believe that Spring will be here soon. It is now the time to start
making a gameplan for killing weeds. There are several principles that will
help you be successful in your weed-killing venture, should you choose to go
on the offensive.
You may choose to manage weeds with mowing, or
you may choose to exist with the weeds by using grazing strategies. However,
herbicide application may be necessary to gain back your forage production.
There are some important concepts to keep in mind when using herbicide for
weed management, both to save money and have successful weed control.
Herbicides affect different aspects of plant
“life” and disrupts functions in everyday plant activity. The herbicide’s
mode of action will determine what plants it will be effective on. This is
very important because if you choose the wrong herbicide, you may have zero
response in your targeted weed and may even kill your desirable forage. The
Weed
Management Guide is a helpful resource for making your
herbicide plan and choosing the correct herbicide for your pasture.
Now, be sure you address the common pitfalls of
herbicide failures. The environment plays a big roll. Generally, you want a
healthy, growing weed that is still relatively young. A drought stressed,
mature, or damaged plant will not actively absorb the herbicide and then
respond to it. Amount of time after application before a rainfall event can
be problematic. Optimal air temperature will be listed. Wind can “drift”
your herbicide away (sometimes to the neighbor), so be extra careful. Poor
application and calibration of equipment are especially detrimental to
successful herbicide use.
Here is the headline: it is estimated that the
herbicide label prevents 95% of herbicide failures. No one likes reading
directions, especially a lengthy herbicide label with tiny print. Go to the
manufacturer’s website and access the herbicide label on your computer.
Then, you can make it as large as you like. Remember, herbicide companies
test their products extensively and under all conditions to develop their
recommendations. They want you to be successful in your weed management
endeavors.
The saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a
pound of cure” could never be truer. Herbicide and herbicide application is
expensive. Make every attempt to use grazing management and soil fertility
to maximize your forage’s competitiveness. Get your soil tested. Not
encouraging weeds in the first place is best, but herbicide sometimes must
be added to your management plan.