After soil studies and weed analysis my local ag agent recommends an application of Cimarron. (I have a horrible buttercup and knotweed problem which mowing has’nt solved). It suppose to have no waiting period for grazing. Has anyone used this product- or does anyone know anything about it? Apparently its similar to 2-4-d.
I’ve never used it (as I’ve been boarding most of my horse ownership) but I have worked in the Ag industry for a long time and have known of this to be sprayed on pastures. I’ve never heard of any issues if the label is followed.
If it is labeled as safe to spray then it should be safe. Manufacturers are liable for damage to livestock and horses if the product is sprayed according to the label then causes injury or death. And most manufacturers steer clear of labeling as ‘horse safe’ unless it is very safe.
Just took a class offered by the Extension Service and they said Cimmaron is for use on Bermuda grass, not fescue or orchard grass pastures. It have ‘soil activity’ meaning it continues working to prevent additional weeds from sprouting for a couple of months. One drawback was this soil activity causes the chemical to be eaten by the horses and coming out in the poop. That poop is not suitable for putting on gardens even after composting because it will damage but not necessarily kill garden plants. No harm in using on pastures since you want to kill new weeds anyway.
At least, that’s what we were told.
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[QUOTE=littlebaypony;6947086]
Just took a class offered by the Extension Service and they said Cimmaron is for use on Bermuda grass, not fescue or orchard grass pastures. It have ‘soil activity’ meaning it continues working to prevent additional weeds from sprouting for a couple of months. One drawback was this soil activity causes the chemical to be eaten by the horses and coming out in the poop. That poop is not suitable for putting on gardens even after composting because it will damage but not necessarily kill garden plants. No harm in using on pastures since you want to kill new weeds anyway.
At least, that’s what we were told.[/QUOTE]
So either your extension is mixed up, or you miss-remembered. This information might apply to clopyralid but does not apply to metsulfuron, the active ingredient in Cimmaron.
You can read the label here, and it doesn’t say any of that.
http://www.cdms.net/LDat/ld5MU008.pdf
I used to work for Extension and can remember several individuals who had really great luck with Cimmaron. It worked to clean up some weed issues when other products hadn’t done the job. A little bit goes a long way and they had no issues with cattle or horses grazing the pastures after they were treated.
However, if you’re having issues with buttercup and knotweed, now may not be the best time to spray for them. Most winter weeds in my area have already gone to seed, meaning they’ll be back next year regardless of whether you spray the parent plant now. Your best bet is to use mowing to control the weeds you have now and then plan to spray for them next year when they start returning. Late Feb/early March is a good time to spray, depending on how warm your area is and what time frame the weeds start growing. The goal is to spray after the weeds have germinated but before they get big enough to seed/flower out. Herbicides won’t have any effect on the seeds so you have to get your timing right to break the weed reproduction cycle.
[QUOTE=SkipHiLad4me;6948172]
I used to work for Extension and can remember several individuals who had really great luck with Cimmaron. It worked to clean up some weed issues when other products hadn’t done the job. A little bit goes a long way and they had no issues with cattle or horses grazing the pastures after they were treated.
However, if you’re having issues with buttercup and knotweed, now may not be the best time to spray for them. Most winter weeds in my area have already gone to seed, meaning they’ll be back next year regardless of whether you spray the parent plant now. Your best bet is to use mowing to control the weeds you have now and then plan to spray for them next year when they start returning. Late Feb/early March is a good time to spray, depending on how warm your area is and what time frame the weeds start growing. The goal is to spray after the weeds have germinated but before they get big enough to seed/flower out. Herbicides won’t have any effect on the seeds so you have to get your timing right to break the weed reproduction cycle.[/QUOTE]
My buttercups are up but not flowering yet and the PA knotweed is barely sprouted- so I am thinking that now may be OK? Any recommendations on horse safe surfectants? I am thinking about something basic like a little Dawn or food grade oil- am I being naive?
Dawn works great!! But make sure you put it in after you add the water :winkgrin:
Since buttercups are equine-toxic and will “crowd out” other vegetation then current control is appropriate. I’ve never had much success with aggressive mowing and that has it’s own problems as when you aggressively cut a pasture for one purpose you aggressively cutting for ALL purposes and cutting your production per acre (maybe by a lot). Buring diesel in mowing also has it’s own environmental issues.
So maybe one good pass with an herbicide might be both more economical and environmentally friendly?
G.
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Old post bumped by spam but still a timely topic.
Bumping this for any experience composting manure after using Cimarron specifically.
