Pasture Pro v. 2,4D

[Buck63]

Can someone tell me the difference between using PasturePro and straight 2,4 D? PasturePro’s label shows that it has 2 active ingredients, dimethylamine salt of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and diethanolamine salt of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Gordon’s Amine 400 2,4 D is just dimethylamine salt of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Both labels show the same information regarding use, effectiveness and grazing after dried. Since PasturePro is not available any longer where I shop, I’m wondering if the 2,4D is just as safe and effective, or if there’s a really good reason that 2nd ingredient is in the Pasture Pro.

Thanks in advance.

[Foxglove]

There are three people I go for to get advice on my pasture: my hay guy (he has 500 acres of hay fields and horses), the experts at the Helena Chemical Company where I buy my fertilizer and herbicide, and my vet (also a horse owner).

The hay guy is in the business of growing grass without weeds –
The chemical expert knows his products and tested my soil . . .
My vet knows the affect of the chemicals on horses . . .

Based on what they tell me, I SPRAY Trimec once a year in the spring, then keep horses off pasture for 7 days or until it rains. Until last year, when I couldn’t get it, I did a liquid fertilizer mixed into the Trimec called CoRon. One pass, weed and feed. I have no weeds and lush pasture.

My other go-to person if I was unable to get advice from the three above, would be my county extension agent.

My cost per acre is $42 plus my labor --BUT as I said, last year I could not buy for any $$$ the CoRon --experts said ok to skip a year since I fertilize every year and have for 20 or so . … what my chemical cost is --is offset by my savings in hay.

[DMK]

All I can say is that in my experience pasture pro is more effective than the Gordon’s, so if you can order it or grazon that would be my personal choice.

[Leather]

Both of them are the equivalent of 38.6% of the “active ingredient” 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, Pasture Pro just has two different salt forms.

In theory they should have the same safety - according to the EPA the DEA salt and DMA salt forms have the same toxicity profiles.

Effectiveness should also be the same in theory, but there could always be minor differences.

It’s sort of like how most people do just fine with the generic version of a drug but some need the actual name brand or a specific formulation - the active ingredient is the same but there are non-active ingredients that can influence effectiveness in some people.

[SusanO]

So is Pasture Pro an aminopyralid like Grazon? I thought it was but maybe I am wrong. I usually stick to spot spraying Roundup but sometimes that doesn’t do the trick. I have some Pasture Pro and I use it carefully after getting Grazon poisoning in my garden soil. That was a disaster for several years. Is PP just a broadleaf herbicide or do I need to be more careful?

[Leather]

@SusanO

So is Pasture Pro an aminopyralid like Grazon? I thought it was but maybe I am wrong. I usually stick to spot spraying Roundup but sometimes that doesn’t do the trick. I have some Pasture Pro and I use it carefully after getting Grazon poisoning in my garden soil. That was a disaster for several years. Is PP just a broadleaf herbicide or do I need to be more careful?

Pasture Pro (2,4-D) isn’t in the same class as aminopyralid.

https://site.extension.uga.edu/organic/2020/07/herbicide-carryover-in-compost-and-hay/

The herbicides in question are in the pyridine carboxylic acid class of broad-leaf weed herbicides and are found in products such as Grazon. This class of herbicide is used on most hay fields and some pastures. The problem is the very long activity time of pyridine carboxylic acid herbicides (3+ years) when compared to phenoxy herbicides such as 2,4-D which break down in a few months.

What gets confusing is that “Grazon” (which can be multiple formulations) often includes 2,4-D.

[enjoytheride]

Frankly, we use whatever is cheapest. Pasture pro you’re paying for the brand name. We generally use the Gordons. We spray in the spring for buttercups and assorted other weeds.

[Buck63]

Thanks for your reply!