Case Study - Noxious Weed Control in Diverse CRP Plantings
August 04, 2015 by UGUIDE South Dakota Pheasant Hunting
Case Study: Noxious Weed Management in Diverse CRP
Site: UGUIDE South Dakota Pheasant Hunting – Pheasant Camp Lodge
Location: Charles Mix County, South Dakota
Background: UGUIDE manages its 700 acre farm for cropland conservation, pheasant and additional wildlife species. 600 of the 700 acres are non-crop acres like CRP, sloughs, tree belts, etc. Every year there are random sites where our 2 biggest problem weeds (Canada Thistle and Musk Thistle) are needing to be treated. In 2015, however, the infestation was especially bad and we had to treat all 600 of the non-crop acres for thistle control. Mechanical clipping has been used in past attempts but has proven not to be a viable control practice for thistle.
Products: In our trees this year, for the first time, we used DOW’s Transline Herbicide in between the rows in spot and boom sprayed applications at the 16 oz/acre rate. In the CRP fields, we used various combinations of Transline, Milestone and 2-4-D Herbicides along with prescribed surfactants. Application timing varied from early June to late June.
Results: Overall, the 16oz rate of Transline in trees and the 5oz/acre rate of Milestone in the CRP fields were the two best strategies for thistle control. We were impressed with the tolerance of deciduous trees to the Transline drift due to some slight winds. Conifers are very tolerant to direct contact with Transline. We had excellent control of thistle in the tree belts with Transline. In CRP we did see some susceptibility on grasses with the Transline product and would advise using Milestone only in CRP fields. Milestone is by far the most selective herbicide for diverse CRP plantings.
Partners: 3 key partners have played an important role in the design, development and ongoing management of this property:
DOW AgroSciences – Mike Schalla – ND/SD Pasture & Noxious Weed Specialist
Pheasants Forever – Jim Ristau – Farm Bill Biologist & CRP Specialist
Millborn Seeds – Jason Tronbak – Conservation Specialist & Certified Wildlife Biologist
Summary: Thistle control is measured over a long period of time. Most herbicides used on thistle will have a negative impact on the desirable forbs/flowers in a CRP planting. It is in our plans to learn to have some level of thistle tolerance in our management plan (20%) and also have ready a good herbicide plan to get thistle under control as well as a good interseeding plan to re-establish any forbs that herbicides may have taken out. A milestone tolerant seed mix design may also be the best starting point when attempting to maintain the highest optimized wildlife conservation plantings.
