Dow Agro Sciences have been pushing their

new product, GrazonNext HL impregnated in

dry fertilizer. Dow AgroSciences claims, “weed

control to be somewhat less than that from foli-

ar application of the same rate.” In their trials,

weed control ranged from 65-85% as compared

to foliar application. So what does Extension

have to say about this? In Howard County, with

the help of Robert Falcon Farms, Blair Griffin,

Johnson County Extension Agent, Kenny Simon,

Dr. John Jennings, both specialists from the

State Extension Office and Blake Williams, from

Dow AgroSciences, we did a replicated trial with

4 blocks and 7 treatments per block. Treatment

1: control. Treatment 2: foliar GrazonNext HL

only. Treatment 3: fertilizer only. Treatment 4:

foliar GrazonNext HL +fertilizer. Treatment 5:

foliar Grazon P+D + fertilizer. Treatment 6: foliar

Weedmaster +fertilizer. Treatment 7: impreg-

nated dry fertilizer with GrazonNext HL. Since

the application was early in the season,

nighttime temperatures still had not reached

>60 degrees F, so no nitrogen fertilizer was im-

pregnated or applied. The fertilizer that was

applied and impregnated was 0-50-100, to all

plots, except those that indicated no fertilizer at

150 lbs per acre. Each herbicide was applied at

a rate of 1qt/acre.

As of day 23 of the trial, foliar Weedmaster had

the greatest weed control at 100%, foliar Gra-

zonNext HL was second at 96% and foliar Gra-

zon P+D at 86% and GrazonNext HL impregnat-

ed dry fertilizer at 50% were third and fourth.

The weed control documented here was for

buttercup, curly dock, and chickweed.

On about day 28, nitrogen fertilizer was

applied to all of the plots that had been

fertilized with P and K already.

As of day 67, the results differed slight-

ly, indicating the best weed control was

the foliar GrazonNext HL at 96-98%.

Second and third place were foliar Gra-

zon P+D at 94% weed control and foliar

Weedmaster at 90% control. Last, the

impregnated dry fertilizer with Grazon-

Next HL at the expected, 80%. The

weed control documented here was for

buttercup, fiddledock, Carolina gerani-

um, horse nettle, and hedge mustard.

Other results concluded minimal forage

growth in the plots that did not contain

any fertilizer, no weed control in the

plots that did not contain any herbi-

cides. Plots that were fertilized did con-

tain a greater forage yield. The reason

the impregnated dry fertilizer with Gra-

zonNext HL plot was only at 80% con-

trol, was due to its lack of control of

buttercup. This conclusion was not con-

current with the large-scale demonstra-

tion of impregnated dry fertilizer with

GrazonNext HL that was applied via

tractor and spreader, on about 8 acres,

on the same property. However, after

discussion we concluded that the Gra-

zonNext HL impregnated on potassium

and phosphorus fertilizer potentially

bound up in the potassium or phospho-

rus or did not get enough rain to allow

the herbicide to penetrate the (cont’d)

Winter Annual Broadleaf Weed Control Trial Results

In This Issue: WINTER ANNUAL BROAD-

LEAF WEED CONTROL

TRIAL RESULTS

DICAMBA

BLACK VULTURES

BROOMSEDGE/

SAGEGRASS

BEEF PRODUCTION

CALENDAR

FAW: FALL ARMY

WORMS

EXTENSION CALENDAR

ABOUT ME

Howard County Extension Office

Around the “Hey” Ring

421 N. MAIN ST.

NASHVILLE, AR 71852

870-845-7517

870-451-3624 - MOBILE

SBEATY@UAEX.EDU

JEAN A. INCE

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT -

STAFF CHAIR

KAYCEE DAVIS

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT -

AGRICULTURE

TINA WILLIAMS

4-H PROGRAM ASSISTANT

CECILIA HARBERSON

ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST III

University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture and County Governments Cooperating

H O W A R D C O U N T Y B E E F A N D F O R A G E N E W S L E T T E R

August 2017

Winter Annual Broadleaf Weed Control Trial Results - cont’d

soil. In the large-scale application that our cooperating

producer applied, a Nitrogen-only fertilizer was impregnat-

ed. The results of this large-scale application actually indi-

cated greater than 80% weed control including control of

buttercup.

In conclusion, we found the Howard County replicated

trial to be concurrent with Dow Agrosciences’ results in

that the impregnated dry fertilizer with GrazonNext HL did

have about 80% weed control, as compared to foliar appli-

cations. The large-scale impregnated dry fertilizer demon-

stration indicated greater than 80% control and showed

that the best fertilizer to impregnate, in this situation at

least, would be a nitrogen fertilizer. There are other

demonstrations around the state; and so far we are seeing

similar results with the impregnated dry fertilizer having

about 80% weed control, as compared to the foliar appli-

cation of GrazonNext HL having about 100% control. For

your convenience, a chart is provided below, including

preliminary results of the Hot Spring County trial. Weed

control for Hot Spring county included horse nettle, ver-

bane, and dewberry. Fertilizer application for the Hot

Spring County Demo was 60-80-100.

Treatment Howard County Trial Hot Spring

County Trial Price/acre of herbicides

Percent Weed Control

Forage Growth

Day 23 Day 67 Day 46

Control Minimal 0 0 0 -

GrazonNext HL, foliar, no fertilizer

Minimal 96.6 98 100 $11.25

Fertilizer only, no herbicide

Good 0 0 0 -

GrazonNext HL, foliar, fertilizer

Good 96.6 96 100 $11.25

Grazon P+D, foliar, fertilizer

Good 86.6 94 75 $8.32

Weedmaster, foli-ar, fertilizer

Good 100 90 95 $7.83

Impregnated Dry Fertilizer, Grazon-Next HL

Good 50 80 80 $11.25

Dicamba

Have you been hearing this pesticide name in news late-

ly? Relax, it does not greatly affect cattle or forage pro-

duction. Dicamba has been used as an herbicide for more

than 50 years to manage 200 broadleaf weeds, particularly

the Palmer Amaranth in cotton, soybean, and other major

row crops. Dicamba has been recommended by industry

as a potential tool to help farmers manage difficult weeds

in newly developed genetically modified cotton and soy-

bean varieties engineered to tolerate this herbicide. How-

ever, this summer saw an increased number of complaints

in Dicamba drift and soybean injury in non-tolerant varie-

ties, than ever before. There is currently an emergency

rule- ban sale and use of Dicamba in row crops, in effect

for the state of Arkansas through November 7,

2017. However, Weedmaster, from the above demonstra-

tion contains Dicamba, this product is labeled for pasture

use and may still be purchased and applied during this

time. If you have any questions or concerns about Dicam-

ba use or plant injury, please contact the Arkansas State

Plant Board, Call: 501-225-1598, Email: info@aspb.ar.gov.

Selected from UACES Pest Management Newsletter, May

31, 2017 Dr. Becky McPeake, Extension Wildlife Specialist

Black vulture

populations

have been grow-

ing in the south-

eastern United

States since the

1960s. Many

vulture species

occur worldwide

as scavengers of

carrion. Unlike

their less ag-

gressive cousin the turkey vulture, black vultures will gang

up and prey on living calves, pigs, lambs, and goats. They

sometimes attack vulnerable cows while giving birth. Black

vultures can also be an urban problem. Legally black vul-

tures are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Trea-

ty Act. It is illegal to harm, harass, or take black vultures

without a permit. Livestock producers with black vulture

problems should call USDA APHIS Wildlife Services at 870-

673-1121 to schedule a site visit. A technician will provide

recommendations and issue a permit application for har-

assment or removal, if necessary. Permit applications are

sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for approval and

can require weeks to months for processing, so Wildlife

Services should be contacted without delay.

The cost of the permit varies depending on number of

birds permitted for removal. Around smaller livestock op-

erations, problems with vultures may be alleviated with

constant vigilance and persistent harassment. Loud noises

produced by automated cannons or other devices are

often used for disturbing roosts when conditions are fa-

vorable. In urban and some rural locations, nearby resi-

dents would need to tolerate loud noises produced by

such devices. Protecting larger livestock operations is

more difficult where cattle range over large areas. Addi-

tionally, pyrotechnics may disturb livestock especially dur-

ing calving season. A method recommended by the Na-

tional Wildlife Research Center for reducing black vultures

at roosts is using effigies of vultures hung visibly upside-

down by the legs with wings spayed and appearing dead,

which frightens away other black vultures. In some states,

Wildlife Services issues permits for shooting and displaying

nuisance birds to prevent livestock depredation. However,

Wildlife Services - Arkansas is skeptical about its effective-

ness, as birds and other wildlife often become habituated

to repeated use of frightening devices such as this. When

proof of black vulture depredation is obtainable, produc-

ers can apply for reimbursement through the Livestock

Indemnity Program under the USDA Farm Service Agency

(FSA). There must be strong evidence of vulture depreda-

tion including authentication by a date-stamped photo or

video. Also required is documentation of livestock owner-

ship through purchase or other means. A local FSA com-

mittee determines whether there is enough evidence to

warrant reimbursement, which is up to 75% of the average

fair market value of livestock lost.

Pictured are vultures perched outside my car window as I

drove through Nashville, just north of town, a few weeks

ago.

Black Vultures

http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-vulture

Fall calving:

Vaccinate cows- Oct, Nov

Evaluate heifer target weights- Aug-Sept

Sire selection and management- Aug-Nov

Check body condition scores- Aug, Oct-Nov

Forage Test and plan feed supplementation- Sept- Oct

Provide free choice mineral- year round

Fly control- through Oct

Work/care for newborn calves- Sept-Nov

Watch for prussic acid poisoning and Nitrate poisoning-

through December

Spring calving:

Pregnancy check cows- Sept-Oct

Vaccinate heifers for brucellosis- Aug-Oct

Evaluate heifer target weights- Sept-Oct

Wean calves- Sept-Oct

Check body condition scores- Sept-Oct

Forage Test and plan feed supplementation- Sept-

Oct

Provide free choice mineral- year round

Fly control- through Oct

Cull cows and heifers- Sept-Oct

Beef Production Calendar

Broomsedge/Sagegrass

I have had a few producers concerned about sagegrass,

aka broomsedge popping up in hay fields here at the end

of summer. Honestly, it could be a symptom of a larger

problem. First, broomsedge, Adropogon virginicus is not a

sedge at all, but actually a grass similar to big and little

bluestem. It is a clump-forming perennial with tall slender

stems up to 3 feet tall in late summer. Broomsedge is an

invasive grass moving into old fields, road cuts, overgrazed

pastures and other places with bare ground. Visibility of

broomsedge in pastures most likely indicates poor soil fer-

tility, typically soil badly in need of liming, soils with ex-

tremely low pH (<5). A soil report may indicate an opti-

mum amount of phosphorus in the soil, but a low soil pH.

Oftentimes a low pH in the soil does not allow phosphorus

to be utilized in the soil. Therefore, even though it is there

in the soil, it is not readily available to plants. So an addi-

tion of phosphorus may allow desired forage growth and

mask the broomsedge problem, but in this scenario, it

does not improve soil fertility. The soil pH is still too low

and will still require liming. Broomsedge will also probably

return next season. Liming is a more long-term fix and

allows for truer increased soil fertility, although at poten-

tially a greater cost, as liming can be expensive. Once a

field is limed, that increased soil fertility will last much

longer than one season and will benefit the soil much

longer than an addition of phosphorus would, again, in

this scenario. In addition, there are no effective herbicide

options for broomsedge aka sagegrass. Glyphosate may

be a possibility, however only when spot-sprayed so as not

to disrupt desirable forage growth. However, if you spray

the weed, without treating the cause of the problem, you

are treating the symptom, and not the actual problem.

For more information, please contact the Howard County

Extension Office, 870-845-7517. Pictured below is a stand

of broomsedge, aka sagegrass.

August 18- Farmers Market, NDOG, Composting

August 29- “What’s Buggin You” Invasive Pests program

with Extension Entomologist Dr. Kelly Loftin, EH House,

6pm- livestock and pasture pests, 7:15pm- pests in the

home garden. Call to pre-register, 870-845-7517.

August 31- County Extension Council Meeting- if your

attendance is requested, you should receive a letter.

September 4-9- Howard County Fair

September 15- Review of Summer Agri Programs, 3pm, EH

House, topics to be covered include: aquatic weed control

demo, 300 Day Grazing- what local producers are doing,

GrazonNext Impregnated Dry fertilizer weed control

demo, and Invasive Pests. If you missed a program over

the summer, drop in to hear a brief review.

Extension Calendar

FAW: Fall Army Worms

Adapted from “Fall Armyworms are Early This Year” June,

2017 Dr. Kelly Loftin, Extension Entomologist.

Armyworms were early this

year, in fact, about two weeks

earlier than typical years. Re-

ports indicated a greater variety

in sizes of individual

armyworms, meaning overlap-

ping generations. Meaning that

an adult female moth could be

laying eggs at any time to re-

infest a field. A product with

longer residual activity should

be considered when overlapping

generations are scouted. Treatment threshold for

armyworms is 3 worms (or greater) per square foot. Pro-

ducers should be scouting their fields regularly for

armyworms, even after initial applications of pesticide are

made. Outbreaks typically occur in waves about 30 days

apart. Scouting for FAW is critical to avoid forage losses. It

is best to take at least 10 one-foot-square random samples

across a pasture or hay meadow when scouting.

Indications of FAW infestation:

Field appears “frosted”

Presence of birds in the field

The field smells like freshly cut hay

Tips for FAW control: Be prepared ahead of time. If you

have waited until the worms are 1.5 inches long or longer,

you are too late and the majority of the forage damage

has already occurred. Per acre insecticide costs vary from

as low as $3.00 to over $10.00 per acre. When calculating,

always consider cost-per-acre rather than cost-per-gallon.

Consider residual activity of the product, ESPECIALLY if you

are seeing worms of multiple sizes, i.e. overlapping gener-

ations. Some products with longer residual activity include

Besiege (active in-

gredients:

chlorantraniliprole

and lambda-

cyhalothrin) and In-

trepid (active ingre-

dient: methoxyfeno-

zide).

For more infor-

mation, please see “Managing Armyworms in Pastures and

Hayfields” available at http://www.uaex.edu/publications/

PDF/FSA-7083.pdf. For other insecticides labeled for use in

pastures and hayfields, see “2017 Insecticide Recommen-

dations for Arkansas at http://www.uaex.edu/

publications/pdf/mp144/c-forages.pdf.

About Me

In October, I will accompany, for the second year in a row, our National STEM Ambassador for 4-H to Brooklyn, NY for

National Youth Science Day. Be thinking about us and for safe travels during that time.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons

regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status,

genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Kaycee M. Davis County Extension Agent-

Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institu-tion. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact your

County Extension office as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.

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Notes: Mention of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the University of Arkansas

System Division of Agriculture.