Weed Wednesday: Vaseygrass and Dallisgrass
Weed Wednesday: Vaseygrass and Dallisgrass
*Vaseygrass grows in a bunch like Dallisgrass
*Vaseygrass looks very similar to Dallisgrass
*For either Vaseygrass or Dallisgrass control: Spray 12oz 41% glyphosate per acre NOW in Southwest Arkansas/Northeast Texas
*Trade name Round-up but can use generic
*Use a non-ionic surfactant
*Rainy summer can lead to increase in dallisgrass ergot fungus, poisoning potential for cattle
*No treatment for ergot poisoning
* Some cattle may recover if taken off infected Dallisgrass early
*Dallisgrass poisoning (also known as Dallisgrass staggers) occurs several days after cattle ingest a significant amount of dallisgrass seedheads infected with an "ergot-like" fungus called Claviceps paspali. *The seedheads typically are infected with the fungus in the fall, as the seedheads age. *Rather than flat looking seeds on the heads, the infected heads have gray to black swellings that have a sticky sap material on them.
Weed Wednesday: Spurweed
Weed Wednesday: Spurweed
Just a reminder for people who have a spurweed problem. We are coming into the time of year to treat your yards with a pre-emergent.
Timing is KEY TO CONTROL! NOW IS THE TIME!!!
The spurweed is a winter annual weed that germinates in the fall, producing a ground-hugging plant with parsley-like leaves. It grows in the fall and winter, blooms with tiny white flowers in late winter to early spring, then sets the seed which is the problematic sticker.
This fall (October) use a pre-emergent herbicide, such as atrazine. There are others but make sure it is compatible with your yard type, i.e. Bermuda, St. Augustine, Centipede, Zoysia, etc.
This winter/early spring (December-February) spray with a post-emergent herbicide such as a three way like Trimec Southern or Trimec Classic or Fertilome Weed Out to kill the weeds before they set more seeds. There are numerous formulations of two and three way mixes of 2,4-D, dicamba and MCPP. Make sure you read the label before purchasing that they are safe for your particular southern grass. For instance, Bermuda tends to be more herbicide tolerant than St. Augustine, Centipede, or even Zoysia.
It may, in some cases, take an application of both a pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicide. When trying to control weeds, it's a numbers game. You rarely achieve 100% control with one application. When using a pre-emerge herbicide, keep in mind you may have to come back with a post-emergent herbicide as a clean up to get any you missed with the pre-emergent.
What's the difference in a pre-emergent herbicide vs. a post-emergent herbicide? A pre-emergent is typically used to keep the seeds from germinating and in most cases has no effect on plants that have germinated and are already up. A post-emergent herbicide is used after a plant is already germinated and up. Timing is key here, too! It's easier to kill a small immature weed vs. a larger more mature plant.
THE KEY IS TO MAKE THE APPLICATION EARLY ENOUGH I
Weed Wednesday: Prickly sida A.K.A. Teaweed
Weed Wednesday: Prickly sida A.K.A. Teaweed
*Sawtooth leaves
*Yellow flower when mature
*Stems go from light green to dark brown or reddish brown as it mature
*Leaves go from a light green to a darker green as it matures
*Common in wooded, bare, fallow, or heavily trafficked areas but can be found in pastures and hay meadows as well
*Not all will have the red trim aound the leaves but it is common
*The key to prickly sida control is treating early before the weeds become too well established to control.
*GrazonNext HL or Grazon P+D are effective on this weed in the seedling stage.
*As the weeds get older, the percent of control declines.
*You will need to spray the first part of the summer (early June)
*Additional pics of teaweed in comments
Weed Wednesday: Watershield
Weed Wednesday: Watershield Pond Demo Rating
Weed: watershield
Herbicide ratings:
2,4-D - 70-80%
Glyphosate - 80-90%
Stingray - 100%
Imazpyr- 40% (we didn't talk about it in video because it wasn't really effective)
Copper sulfate - 0%
Clipper - 0%
*Proper weed ID is critical
*Never treat more than 1/3 of a pond at a time and during the hottest parts of summer don't treat over 1/4 of your pond at a time
*Treating too much will initiate fish kill due to oxygen depletion as the herbicides start to kill the plants
*we will work on some cost analysis on the above herbicides and get back with you
Weed Wednesday: pond demo
Weed Wednesday: Pond Demo
* we used 6 different herbicides
- Copper Sulfate
- Clipper
- Imazypyr
- 2,4-D
- Stingray
- Glyphosate
* main issues in the pond are watershield, naiad, hydrilla, coontail, and filamentous algae (pics in comments)
*will check it every 1-2 weeks and rate it in one month
Weed Wednesday: Lanceleaf Ragweed
Weed Wednesday: Lanceleaf ragweed
(Forgot to post yesterday)
* the key is to spray when the weeds are small (2-4" tall)
* small ragweeds can be easily controlled with 2,4-D amine 1qt/ac + surfactant
* spray in late spring/early summer (end of May first part of June)
* other herbicides control ragweeds such as Grazon P+D, GrazonNext, and Weedmaster but are usually more costly
* metsulfuron products are NOT effective on ragweed
Credit: University of Missouri had some excellent pics I posted in comments
Weed Wednesday: How to tell the difference between Large Crabgrass and Broadleaf Signalgrass in the field
Weed Wednesday: How to tell the difference between Large Crabgrass and Broadleaf Signalgrass in the field
Discalimer: This is not a completely technical way to discern the difference between Large Crabgrass vs. Broadleaf Signalgrass but a good quick way tell the difference while in the field
Large Crabgrass
* hairy all up and down stems
*leaf sheaths hairy and easily seen
*finger-like seed head with three to eight fingers inset (pics below)
Broadleaf Signalgrass
*large seeds not whirled usually three to four sticking out opposite each other (pic below)
*very short fine hairs up and down stem are difficult to see in field
Fertility in Forages part 2.
Proof is in the pudding. Herbicide demo plot. Check out the impregnated fertilizer plot. Big difference in that plot with fertility. Shows the importance of fertility in Forages.
Weed Wednesday: Fertlity in Forages
Weed Wednesday: Fertlity in Forages
*make sure you have a fertility program included in your herbicide program
*get a soil report- they're free
*let us help you determine your fertility needs
*lime is not fertilizer and fertilizer is not lime
*you can't half your lime rate - use full recommendations provided from soil report
*if you don't test, you guess
*don't waste money, time, and labor on guessing
*use fertility to build up your good grasses to choke out weeds
Weed Wednesday: White Campion demo
Weed Wednesday: White Campion demo in sprigged Jiggs Bermuda
Weed Wednesday: Bitterweed
Weed Wednesday: Bitterweed
*1-2 pts of 2,4-D Amine per acre applied in May or early June before it flowers
*Use surfactant
*Easy weed to control, many other herbicides will kill it
*Metsulfuron will also knock it out but it will also kill your bahia grass
*Indicator of poor soil fertility, weak and thin pastures
*Take a soil sample and send off through your county extension office, it's FREE
*Fertilize according to soil report
*Additional pictures in comments
*As always, use precautions anytime you are using a herbicide
*Always read and follow label instructions, label is law
Small Ruminant Blood Collection
Learn how to collect blood from goats and lambs to determine pregnancy, etc. Credit to Hayley Rice 4-H PA in Hempstead County for filming and editing.
Weed Wednesday: Common Ragweed
Hey guys,
Forgive my rough appearance, I've been out in the field all day. Well, I guess I may need to take that back since this is my typical every day look. 😳😬 Just FYI, it's hot 🔥☀️🌡. Summer has finally started making her appearance and is here to stay, at least for awhile.
I know I'm barely making it in time for Weed Wednesday but here it is! My cat, Marshall Tucker, made a special guest appearance, or at least his tail did. Have a good afternoon and let us know how we can help you!
Weed Wednesday: Common Ragweed
*Qt of 2,4-D Amine/Ac + surfactant
*Apply when weeds are small (2-4")
* Grazon P+D, Grazon Next, and Weedmaster also control ragweed at qt/ac (more expensive option)
*metsulfuron products are NOT effective on ragweed
#extensionisthereforyou #millercounty #allaboutagriculture #whatcanwedoforyou
Weed Wednesday
Weed Wednesday: Thistle
*Different thistles are Musk, Bull, Milk, and Yellow
*Control will be the same
*The key to effective thistle control is spraying while the thistles are in the rosette stage of growth (before the flower stalk appears).
*Picture of thistle in rosette stage in comments
*Biennial thistles in Arkansas are readily controlled with properly timed application of 2,4-D amine at 1.5 qt/A. OR
*0.3 oz metsulfuron/Acre
*Use surfactant
*REMEMBER keep metsulfuron out from underneath the dripline of any wanted trees especially pecans or oaks etc
*Spring applications should be made from late February to early March.
*Fall applications from late October through November will enhance a thistle control program.
*Grazon P+D, GrazonNext HL and dicamba + 2,4-D (weedmaster) also
provide excellent control of thistles at 1 qt/A but usually more costly
Plant or Tree Diseases? No problem.
Here is a short video showing the process for having your plant or tree diagnosed. It's simple and FREE.
Weed Wednesday: Horsenettle
Weed Wednesday: Horsenettle
*I didn't get a good picture of it in the video. I was distracted by my helper! Additional photos posted in comments.
*Grazon products provide excellent control
*Graxon P+D use 2-4pts / acre. OR
*GrazonNext use 2pts /acre
*Use surfactant
*Time herbicide applications to occur between bloom and fruit set
*Complete Horsenettle control will not be achieved with a single herbicide application
*Spray for 3 consecutive years to achieve 90-100% control
Weed Wednesday: Woolly Croton aka Goatweed
Weed Wednesday: Woolly Croton aka goatweed
*Easy pasture weed to control
*Apply 1qt per acre 2,4-D Amine plus surfactant
*Other herbicides easily kill goatweed as well, such as metsulfuron, Grazon P+D, GrazonNext, and Weedmaster.
*Wait approximately 3 weeks from today to spray to get all the goatweed seeds germinated and up before applying post emergent herbicide.
*Spray in May or early June BEFORE they reach 12" tall
Miller County has a new feral hog trap!
Check it out!! Miller County got a new feral hog trap specifically for Miller County!! It's a Game Changer Jr. made by Bull Creek Outdoors. I've been trapping with these traps for about 4 years now and they are excellent traps.
If you want us to help you in your feral hog management program, please let us know.
We have just a few basic requirements.
*must have hogs on bait on camera for a minimum of 3+ nights and be able to get us those pictures
*must have verizon service in bait/trap area
*small fee for trap use ($25/7day use)
True Armyworms in Miller County
Scouting wheat and finding these little devils, true armyworms in wheat. In wheat, if you're not ready to cut, or if you can't cut due to the ground being too wet, you may need to spray. If you can spray, spray 2.5- 3.8oz per acre of Lambda-Cy. Make sure they're up in the tops when you spray and not down in the thatch. If you're in ryegrass and can cut for hay or graze, that's a couple of other options for you. Let us know how we can help you. #stillonthejob #covid19 #extensionisthereforyou #strongertogether #millercounty
Weed Wednesday: Buttercups
Weed Wednesday: Buttercups
*Easy to kill
*Spray late February to early March before bloom
*1pt up to 2pt 2,4-D Amine per acre
*Use surfactant
* Too late to spray now
*Always read label
*Label is law
Weed Wednesday: Dewberry and BlackBerry treatment for forages
Weed Wednesday: Dewberry and BlackBerry treatment for forages
Weed Wednesday: Dewberries and Blackberries for forages
*2 options
*1st option: Metsulfuron is the most economical treatment at 1oz/Acre
*Must use 0.25% surfactant (1qt/100gallons)
*Spray in May/June when plant is actively growing and leafed out
*Will kill bahia (consider spot spryaing if bahia is main warm season annual)
*2nd option: Remedy Ultra 3pt/acre
*much more costly condiser spot spraying
*Apply during or after bloom
*Regardless of herbicide option: DON'T MOW SAME YEAR AS APPLICATION
*Make follow up application the next year
*1st year application will get you 70-75% control
*2nd year application will get you 90-100% control
Weed Wednesday: Groundsel
Weed Wednesday
Groundsel:
*spray now (end of March) will kill bahia once it comes up
*metsulfuron at 0.5 - 1oz per acre
*cost around $3.50 - $5.00 per acre
*common trade name Cimmaron
*generic versions Patriot or Manor
*use surfactant
*don't use on Ryegrass
*will kill bahiagrass
*stay out of drip line of trees you want to keep such as pecans, oaks, etc
*knocks out a lot of other common weeds
Buffalo Gnat Scouting
I scouted this past Friday, February 14th. My husband went with me as Doug was unavailable. We put in at the spillway at Lake Wright Patman and went down river about 4miles. Previously, Doug and I had put out 3 artificial substrates. We were only able to check two due to boat issues we started having. Unfortunately, on the two we checked, the lines on each were gone. I assume since the river was up all the water must have possibly washed them away. Fortunately, however, there was a lot of debris on our second line out that was entangled on the anchor, including a large stick, that we were able to check. There were significant amount of BG larvae on the samples. While on the river Friday, the water temp was 50degrees F and the dam was about half opened. Water was somewhat out of the banks. This is important because buffalo gnats have to have cold flowing water to hatch and cycle. Also, air temperatures also have to be cool. Once the larva hatch into flies, if the air is above 70 degrees F, the flies will not survive and start to die off. We will try to go back in a week or so and put substrates back out and check again.
Checking for Buffalo Gnat larva on the Sulphur River
We had a big day on the river checking for Buffalo Gnats. Saw a sow on the banks with about 8 piglets. Nearly got stranded when the boat died and wouldn't start back. Fortunately, I had really good help who got us back going. Pictures to follow.
Catching hogs with Bull Creek's Gamechanger Jr.
We finally got that group we have been patiently waiting for.
Southwest Arkansas Cattleman's College
Southwest Arkansas Cattleman's College. This was a four day college held over four months. Eight counties participated. The first session/day was held in December. The second was January, the third was February, and the fourth and final session was just concluded in March. This was a great program with each session being half classroom and half hands-on activities. Can't wait to do this program again. If interested, contact us. We'll take applications this fall for another Southwest Arkanas Cattleman's College this winter.
Dr. Kelly Loftin, our livestock entomologist, and I have been out on the Sulphur River this afternoon scouting for buffalo gnats.
Doug Petty, former Miller County Extension agent, and a I out scouting the Sulphur River today looking for Buffalo gnat larvae. Didn't have any problem finding them today. This looks like it's going to be a year for the buffalo gnats.