thistle: mow or spray

fishpick · Mar 8, 2010

jlrsn said:
Monsanto also manufactured...Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)...all of which we were told were safe!!.

Just an FYI - the process that makes the insulin that every Type 1 diabetic injects is from engineered bacteria... they are GMO's too...

If you use commercial laundry detergent - the enzymes in there - from engineered bacteria... as in GMO's.

I understand the anti-Monsanto feelings out there - and I'm not taking a side - just don't pitch out the baby with the bathwater...

Iplayfarmer · Mar 8, 2010

3BPercherons said:
That's a bit of over-kill (no pun intended) isn't it? On the advice of my local extension agent I used round-up to kill off a pasture in early fall, waited 2 weeks and then used a no-till drill to seed a good pasture mix. By the following spring I had a good pasture started, and by the fall it was ready for the horses.

Part of my project is specifically to eliminate the thistle (and other noxious weeds). I'm also working up some of the ground where it has been compacted, and I'm leveling the pasture to make watering a little more effective.

It may be overkill, but this pasture is in rough shape. My extension agent suggested that I fallow the pasture for a season and alternate spraying and tilling until weeds quit growing. Then go in with a good pasture mix. I'm not going to fallow it for the whole season, but I'm going to be as aggressive as practical.

Jerry/MT · Mar 8, 2010

skywaterbanjo said:
I was planning on buying a 5' rotary mower to take care of thistle in my vacant lot of about 3 acres. My tractor sales guy says I should think about a sprayer instead. Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this but I'm looking for some input.

Thanks

You an mow thistles before they bloom abut that will only reduce seed production. You can spray it with Milestone per the label instructions and get a good kill.

3BPercherons · Mar 8, 2010

Iplayfarmer said:
Part of my project is specifically to eliminate the thistle (and other noxious weeds). I'm also working up some of the ground where it has been compacted, and I'm leveling the pasture to make watering a little more effective.

It may be overkill, but this pasture is in rough shape. My extension agent suggested that I fallow the pasture for a season and alternate spraying and tilling until weeds quit growing. Then go in with a good pasture mix. I'm not going to fallow it for the whole season, but I'm going to be as aggressive as practical.

Makes sense. It seemed a bit aggressive, but every field has its own unique issues. For instance, tilling wasn't a good option for me due to the lay of the land, and my weed problem was evidently much smaller than yours. I did have some thistle return the following spring, but spot treatments w/ 2-4D took care of that issue.

jlrsn · Mar 8, 2010

fishpick said:
I understand the anti-Monsanto feelings out there - and I'm not taking a side - just don't pitch out the baby with the bathwater...

I appreciate your input as not everything is bad for us.....yet. Like I said, we were told that all those products I mentioned earlier were safe. I grew up on farms in NY and NJ and we sprayed everything!! As I grew older and friends started dying from Cancer I started to become more and more aware of reality.

I fully realize that we have to accept certain things in life that might eventually cause us harm but I've educated myself to be in a position to at least let my family and others who care know the risk.

At least we are protected by the FDA regarding chemical use. Funny thing is that Monsanto's chief lobbyist, Dr. Michael Taylor, has been appointed by Obama as the FDA's new Food Czar. I feel safer knowing that the fox is guarding the hen house.

I'll stick to pulling the thistles by the roots and not letting the thistles go to seed.

Have a great day,
Jim

Iplayfarmer · Mar 8, 2010

jlrsn said:
I appreciate your input as not everything is bad for us.....yet. Like I said, we were told that all those products I mentioned earlier were safe. I grew up on farms in NY and NJ and we sprayed everything!! As I grew older and friends started dying from Cancer I started to become more and more aware of reality.

I fully realize that we have to accept certain things in life that might eventually cause us harm but I've educated myself to be in a position to at least let my family and others who care know the risk.

At least we are protected by the FDA regarding chemical use. Funny thing is that Monsanto's chief lobbyist, Dr. Michael Taylor, has been appointed by Obama as the FDA's new Food Czar. I feel safer knowing that the fox is guarding the hen house.

I'll stick to pulling the thistles by the roots and not letting the thistles go to seed.

Have a great day,
Jim

I have no doubt that your manual labor is likely the most environmentally friendly approach to the thistle control.

I'll say one thing on this and then I'll shut up...

The risks involved with industrial chemicals are real, but I think sometimes the risks from the actions of the well-intentioned do-gooders are even greater.

Just because it's all natural doesn't mean it's all good. I think that it requires an open minded, level headed approach considering the potential risks of all practical options. My favorite case in point is my sister-in-law. When her babies are teething, she doesn't want to feed them any kind of harmful, risky, industrial substance like acetaminophen (tylenol); so she feeds them Vodka instead.

I wonder how the lady down the road would fare if she carefully painted a properly mixed chemical pesticide on the thistles rather than paint thinner. It may be her methods that are superior rather than her medicine.

Okay, I've said my piece. Now I'll shut up.

AKfish · Mar 8, 2010

Moderation in all things...

Using the right tool in the right way... :thumbsup:

(Don't spray when windy, near food crops, close to water, understand the recommended concentrations, and timeframe restrictions).

AKfish

jlrsn · Mar 8, 2010

Iplayfarmer said:
Okay, I've said my piece. Now I'll shut up.

No need to shut up! I enjoy reading everyone's feedback. Not saying that I'm right or wrong but these are my beliefs now. I had my times when my clothing was wet from loading and spraying herbicides, insecticides, and working with jet fuel and industrial chemicals like MEK, Toluene, and whatever. I've lost so many friends that did the same as I did from cancer before we knew better or could afford to do things differently! As time passed I became aware of the dangers and I no longer had to make a living working with chemicals.

Jim

dcyrilc · Mar 8, 2010

jlrsn said:
No need to shut up! I enjoy reading everyone's feedback. Not saying that I'm right or wrong but these are my beliefs now. I had my times when my clothing was wet from loading and spraying herbicides, insecticides, and working with jet fuel and industrial chemicals like MEK, Toluene, and whatever. I've lost so many friends that did the same as I did from cancer before we knew better or could afford to do things differently! As time passed I became aware of the dangers and I no longer had to make a living working with chemicals.

Jim

I have a five acre pasture which seams like it will grow anything but grass. LOL I forgot about it year before last and last year I found around 10K three foot alder trees growing there. I used a 3 gallon backpack sprayer and went through 27 gallons just spraying the little trees. I was amazed, it looked like I had a tree farm rather than a pasture. One of my next purchases, now that I have a tractor this year, will be a brush-hog!