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A Practical New Tool to Increase Pasture Production
Dow AgroSciences - June 20, 2001
Undesirable vegetation can deplete a pasture's grazing potential by as much as two-thirds. Weeds not only displace grasses, they also contribute to soil erosion. Weed removal increases grass production, which means your land can graze more cattle. If invasive weeds are thinning your grasses, your management practices may need a tune-up before productivity is reduced to unacceptable levels.
"Eliminating weeds means integrating all your management options – herbicides, fertility and regulated grazing," says Tyler Groeneveld, range and pasture Sales Specialist with Dow AgroSciences in Calgary. "I doubt any successful cattleman would say a technological quick fix is the answer to permanent pasture improvement. It requires proper integration of all the management tools."
Weeds and grazing
Regulated grazing is best understood from the perspective of the cattle. Cattle choose the best grass first. Their grazing preferences mean weeds are left to last, if cattle will graze them at all. Patches of prickly weeds like thistle aren't touched. If there is palatable grass in a stand of absinth wormwood, cattle will move away from the smell of sage and graze elsewhere.
Top growth suppression of weeds is not a long-term solution. Mowing has little effect on thistle because the root system contains enough food reserves to generate new shoots for at least another growing season. Killing annual weeds with a 2,4-D application affects only the weeds that are actively growing. A rain will often generate another flush.
Herbicide control
 A herbicide used in combination with regulated grazing and proper fertility is a useful tool for permanent pasture and native rangeland improvement.
"A tool like Grazon* can be a key part of an integrated plan for eradicating invasive weeds like thistles, dandelions and many other weeds," says Groeneveld.
"Unlike some herbicides that only suppress weeds or even wipe out your grass production, Grazon is tough on weeds, but easy on the grasses."
Grazon reduces weed competition for moisture and nutrients so grasses can reach full growth potential. When fertility and regulated grazing are correctly integrated with a Grazon application, healthy grasses can grow and thrive. Permanent pastures and native rangeland become more productive and can graze more cattle.
Grazon weed control
Grazon was developed by Dow AgroSciences to increase grass production by controlling broadleaf weeds. Grazon helps enhance grass production by providing broad spectrum, residual control of many common broadleaf weeds, including Canada thistle, oxeye daisy, tall buttercup, scentless chamomile, tansy, dandelion, diffuse knapweed, spotted knapweed, absinth wormwood, common burdock, sow thistle, prairie sage, pasture sage, plantain, milkweed and goldenrod. Grazon is active on the weed's foliage and in the soil. The unique chemistry translocates to control the entire plant, even the roots. The root control in combination with residual control is especially important for biennial and perennial weeds.
Verified performance
To verify a healthy grass response to the removal of undesirable vegetation, Dow AgroSciences completed two years of Grazon ranch trials at 20 locations in Alberta.
 "Field trials show a Grazon application resulted in a 36 per cent increase in grass production after only three months. A 67 per cent increase was realized after 15 months," says Groeneveld. "Used in an integrated approach that includes regulated grazing and proper fertility, Grazon becomes a practical tool that can help you graze more cattle on your land."
Permanent pasture and native rangeland improvement requires the judicious use of weed control options, plus management plans based on proven strategies. |
For more information on how to increase grass production, call Dow AgroSciences Solutions Center at 1-800-667-3852. |
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