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Author Topic: Weeds in fields  (Read 10033 times)

Mickey

  • Joined Jul 2012
  • Dumfries & Galloway
Weeds in fields
« on: September 07, 2015, 01:51:07 pm »
First year with our land and haven't had time to treat any of it with pesticide etc.  The previous owner mentioned that they used 'Pasture' once a year in the fields but I have found a bottle of 'Grazon' that they left in the shed.  Please could you let me know what treatment(s) if any you are putting onto your pastures, should I get some 'Pasture' for next year?

Thanks,
Mickey

Rosemary

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Barry, Angus, Scotland
    • The Accidental Smallholder
Re: Weeds in fields
« Reply #1 on: September 07, 2015, 02:31:33 pm »
I think the stuff they're talking about is Pastor. Both Pastor and Grazon 90 are weedkillers made by Dow Agrochemicals. More info here http://uk.dowagro.com/products/grazon-pro/

We don't spray here - relying on cutting and grazing. These weedkillers for grassland also kill clover and we want clover to fix nitrogen for our grass. WE've tried spotspraying but it stll made a hell of a mess of the clover.

IretonsFarm

  • Joined Aug 2015
Re: Weeds in fields
« Reply #2 on: September 07, 2015, 03:24:46 pm »
If you're thinking of spraying you will need to get your ticket to stay legal although not sure if that extends to Scotland? http://www.nptc.org.uk/qualificationschemes.aspx?id=2

If you have the equipment topping is far cheaper as that little bottle of Grazon will be £40 + VAT and doesn't go as far as you would think.

Personally we do both; graze / top the fields and only spray the headlands or problem areas.

devonlady

  • Joined Aug 2014
Re: Weeds in fields
« Reply #3 on: September 07, 2015, 07:14:47 pm »
Goats are useful for clearing up rubbish. Herbicides have a way of finding their way into water courses.

mab

  • Joined Mar 2009
  • carmarthenshire
Re: Weeds in fields
« Reply #4 on: September 07, 2015, 09:45:07 pm »
it rather depend on what you have growing there that you don't want.

pasture/grazon are (as the name suggests) selective weedkiller for pasture which will kill thistles, nettles bramble - there's a whole long list - but not the grass (although as Rosemary says it will still kill some of the nice things. IIRC patsure and grazon are basically the same but pasture is more concentrated for use in a tractor mounted sprayer, whereas grazon is for knapsack application.

if you have bracken then Asulox is the selective weedkiller you want - but it's only available on 'emergency license' (was banned by EU a few year ago) and rather expensive.

the other weedkiller that springs to mind is glyphosate (roundup) which kills more or less everything - grass, bracken, bramble, japanese knotweed, trees, etc, but is supposed to break down on contact with the soil and is considered relatively safe for the environment (still need to keep away from water courses), and also has the advantage that animals avoid sprayed plants so is relatively livestock/pet safe.

I would prefer not to use these chemicals but I have a lot of wilderness to tame and this is the last year I can use them without a cert, so I'm having a bit of a blitz (weather permitting), particularly on the bracken.

farmers wife

  • Joined Jul 2009
  • SE Wales
Re: Weeds in fields
« Reply #5 on: September 08, 2015, 04:15:52 pm »
we wouldnt dream of putting herbicides onto our fields now, the evidence on glyphosate is over whelming - it gets into the foods and kills bacteria and any living organisms in the ground you are in essence bleaching the soil (killing it).  Over the years who have spent a fortune on weed killers and thistles/docs etc but to no success and you have to do it the exact time of year too.
[/size]
[/size]Weed control can be done by either close grazing with sheep, prevent poaching or over compacting in areas. Laying a good layer of compost/well rotted manure is a better course of action.  If you have to but not wholly recommended plough and reseed however ploughing may just spread the seeds of the weeds.
[/size]
[/size]Herbicides are harmful chemicals and the more you put on the more so called fertiliser its a win win for these agro chemical companies while you strip and ruin the grounds not forgetting the damage to wildlife.
[/size]
[/size]You havent explained your land management and why you think you need these herbicides.

Marches Farmer

  • Joined Dec 2012
  • Herefordshire
Re: Weeds in fields
« Reply #6 on: September 08, 2015, 04:58:55 pm »
Too laate to do much now.  How much land?  Good idea to cut and burn dock and thistle heads.  Topping or grazing with cattle, sheep or goats will help a lot (not equines, they're fussy eaters), but start in March before the leaves get too tough.  If you don't have stock of your own ask around to see if anyone wants some grazing, although you'll have to provide good fences and a water supply.

Mickey

  • Joined Jul 2012
  • Dumfries & Galloway
Re: Weeds in fields
« Reply #7 on: September 09, 2015, 12:27:55 pm »
Greatly appreciate those responses, thanks.  We have three main field areas, 2 at a little under an acres each and one of almost 12 acres, the fields are mostly grass with some areas of quite dense weeds, nettles etc.  I was going to strim the weeds down but am concerned at just spreading the seeds around hence I was considering the previous owners advice to use weed killers such as 'Pastur' and 'Grazon'. 

Having read your advice I am going to look at the alternatives, I know nothing about 'topping' so will read up on that first, my neighbor has recently cut their fields and baled it all up so we are way behind things this year but will hopefully be doing a little better in the next one.

Thanks again,
Mickey

IretonsFarm

  • Joined Aug 2015
Re: Weeds in fields
« Reply #8 on: September 09, 2015, 12:48:30 pm »
Topping is just a term used for running the mower over without any intention of collecting the cuttings, mowing is when you cut for hay/ hayledge/ silage.


Rosemary

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Barry, Angus, Scotland
    • The Accidental Smallholder
Re: Weeds in fields
« Reply #9 on: September 09, 2015, 01:09:46 pm »
Not equines, they're fussy eaters

Not if you strip graze and lift dung daily. Our two ponies did the best grazing job ever on that basis.

Dan

  • The Accidental Smallholder
  • Administrator
  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Carnoustie, Angus
    • The Accidental Smallholder
    • Facebook
Re: Weeds in fields
« Reply #10 on: September 09, 2015, 02:25:13 pm »
I know nothing about 'topping' so will read up on that first

You might find this series useful, many of us are really grass farmers without realising it.  :)

http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/smallholding/grassland-management/

Buttermilk

  • Joined Jul 2014
Re: Weeds in fields
« Reply #11 on: September 09, 2015, 02:53:23 pm »
Not equines, they're fussy eaters

Not if you strip graze and lift dung daily. Our two ponies did the best grazing job ever on that basis.
I do this and they have managed to reduce the amount of rushes growing too.  So well have they done I even managed to take a cut of hay from one field which has not been suitable for over 40 years.  The sheep are now strip grazing the aftermath and one passing farmer thought I had reseeded it.

Carse Goodlifers

  • Joined Oct 2013
  • Perthshire
Re: Weeds in fields
« Reply #12 on: September 09, 2015, 05:29:52 pm »
If you're thinking of spraying you will need to get your ticket to stay legal although not sure if that extends to Scotland? http://www.nptc.org.uk/qualificationschemes.aspx?id=2
It covers the entire UK.
Come November this year - Grandfather Rights are gone.  In theory it could mean that unless you have a spray certificate, you may not be able to purchase any pesticide product from your local country store or indeed a larger agri distributor.  Some already have that policy in place - no certificate...no product.

While I agree that cultural control methods e.g. grazing, topping, ploughing, draining etc should always be looked at first in controlling any pest weed or disease issue, pesticides (covering insecticides, fungicides, herbicides etc) do have a place but it depends on the person as to what they feel about using them.  And as I mentioned above - no certificate...no product.  For many smallholders it will be easier to top etc but for farms, pesticides can be vital.

As Rosemary mentioned, Pastor or Grazon is not clover safe.  Many grassland products are not clover safe in grassland but there are a couple which will give the clover a sore head but it will recover.  I have had varying results with them and its sometimes been due to tempertaures when they have been applied.


Buffy the eggs layer

  • Joined Jun 2010
Re: Weeds in fields
« Reply #13 on: September 09, 2015, 08:05:21 pm »
If you look on the pro green web site you will see a range of selective weed killers displayed in a table which shows which weeds they are effective on and which ones they dont harm. I use polo as its strong on Dock, nettle  and Ragwort but dosent harm the clover and other valuable herbage in my pasture.


These chemicals are called herbicides if you are planing to use pesticide / insecticides to treat chaffer for example it may be worth asking your farming neighbours what they use.

SallyintNorth

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • Cornwall
  • Rarely short of an opinion but I mean well
    • Trelay Cohousing Community
Re: Weeds in fields
« Reply #14 on: September 09, 2015, 10:03:59 pm »
Not equines, they're fussy eaters

Not all, many natives are great weed-clearers.  My Fells selectively eat thistle heads.   :love: :horse:
Don't listen to the money men - they know the price of everything and the value of nothing

Live in a cohousing community with small farm for our own use.  Dairy cows (rearing their own calves for beef), pigs, sheep for meat and fleece, ducks and hens for eggs, veg and fruit growing

 
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