About Us
County Impact Statements - Pike County
New Possibilities in Forage Weed Control Extension Demonstration
Shows Effectiveness of Herbicides
More producers are trying to produce quality hay to reduce feel costs and as
a cash crop. Drought and extended periods of high temperatures in the summers
and ice in the winter took a toll on summer forages in Pike County.
Stands of bermudagrass that were weakened by adverse weather and repeated
armyworm attacks were more subject to invasion by weeds. Both broadleaf weeds
and grassy weeds were management problems for quality conscious producers.
Broadleaf weeds could be dealt with by following normal herbicide programs.
Crabgrass, foxtails, and Johnsongrass are difficult to control. A new chemical
named Oaisis was introduced in early summer. It was labeled to control grassy
weeds in bermudagrass. A demonstration plot of Oaisis was put out on a local
farm to determine its effectiveness compared to Roundup herbicide. The
Roundup-treated strip caused less damage to the bermuda, but failed to control
the weeds. The Oaisis treatment was very damaging to bermuda, but was 100%
effective in controlling weeds. The bermuda did recover to a solid stand.
Demonstration plot- untreated area in foreground illustrated the
effectiveness of the herbicide used in the background.
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Impacts
- Forage quality is important to farmers as an economical source of animal
nutrition, and also as a cash crop.
- Forage and weed control were part of the program at the Tri-County Beef
Conference held at Cattlemen’s Livestock Market in Glenwood. Approximately
120 producers attended the meeting.
- Market goats are a growing livestock enterprise in Pike County. At the
Goat Ranchers Workshop in February, quality forages for goats was presented.
- Office visits and phone calls to the Extension office for forage
management information often lead to farm visits so that management options
can be personalized to the farm situation.
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