Delaying grass maintenance can have a knock-on effect on productivity and cash flow. Here are some helpful tips and tricks.
Pastures are the engine room of the farm. Delaying pasture maintenance can have a knock-on effect on productivity and cash flow. During autumn, conditions are ripe for weeds to germinate and establish in pastures. This is particularly so if the pasture has been stressed by drought, insect damage, overgrazing or muddy wet conditions. All of these can cause the pasture to open, letting more light into the soil which, in turn, allows weeds the opportunity to grow.
Left unattended, seedling weeds like thistles and ragwort can grow to become a significant problem in spring and summer. Therefore, late autumn is a great time to check the condition of pastures and identify those that might need spraying. While you might be tempted to wait until spring, by then the weeds will be larger and harder to kill.
Why spray now?
It’s much better to control weed seedlings in late autumn/early winter because they are smaller and easier to control.
As temperatures cool, clover growth also slows and herbicides will cause less damage to them, plus they’ll have more time to recover before spring growth kicks in.
If you leave things until spring, you will need to spray annual and biennial weeds like thistles and ragwort before they have a chance to spread. Unfortunately, it’s often not possible to achieve effective control without also sacrificing pasture clover.
The benefits of spraying pastures
Keeping pastures clear of weeds results in better pasture production and allows quality feed to grow which, in turn, supports livestock performance. Cleaner pastures also have a longer productive life.
There’s an old saying in the farming community – “One year’s seeding means seven years of weeding".
What to use
There are several herbicides that can be used for controlling broadleaf weeds in pastures - 2,4-D being one of the more popular options.
It’s effective against a wide range of broadleaf weeds, including ragwort and thistles. It’s important to note that 2,4-D is very damaging to annual, sub and red clovers so it shouldn’t be used where these are a key component of your pasture.
2,4-D comes in two different forms
Ester form
Available in brands such as Pasture Guard 2,4-D 680, it’s a stronger form of 2,4-D. This has a more powerful effect on weeds but can cause damage to white clover. Due to the high risk of spray drift, application of it is restricted to the cooler months of the year in many regions.
2,4-D Amine
Available in a range of brands including Pasture Guard D-Amine 720, the amine form of 2,4-D is more gentle on white clover. It can be a good option to use during active growth conditions, especially if weeds are small enough.
Pasture Guard MCPA 750 is also the less-volatile amine form and is equally good at killing thistles. Pasture Guard Nurture is a MCPB herbicide that is safer to use on all clovers, but isn’t as effective during cooler months or when thistles have grown beyond the two to three leaf seedling stage.
Spray now, for better production on your farm
To summarise, late autumn and early winter is an ideal time to spray weeds. Clover growth slows when soil temperatures are cooler which means that stronger herbicides, such as 2,4-D ester, can be used. Compared to using it over spring, they won’t cause as much damage to white clover.
