GRASSBUR CONTROL OPTIONS REVIEWED

            As temperatures warm, warm-season grasses and weeds will come to life, including the beautiful wildflowers.  Unfortunately, along with the good, there will also be those pesky weeds, including plants like the sandbur.

Field Sandbur (grassbur)

            Field sandbur (grassbur) is a summer annual or short-lived perennial grassy weed found in home lawns, sports fields, parks, along roadsides, and in bermudagrass pastures and hay fields.  This weed is especially adapted to dry, sandy soils but can be found growing in other types of soils as well. The big problem with this weed is the sharp, spiny burs that are part of the seedhead. The bur spines are stiff and can injure the mouths of animals and the hands and feet of people working in infested crops. Field sandburs generally start germinating in spring and will continue to germinate until late summer or early fall months. This weed will continue to grow until the first hard frost or freeze occurs in the fall.

            Until recently, there were few herbicide tools available to help manage the sandbur in our Bermuda grass pastures.  Now however, Prowl H2O, from BASF, has received a label that will allow application to dormant bermudagrass pastures and hay meadows for control of sandbur and other weed species (numerous annual grasses and small seeded broadleaf weeds) all of which are listed on the full label. 

            The label rates for Prowl H20 on dormant bermudagrass pastures and hay meadows is 1.1 to 4.2 quarts per acre.  The higher rate is suggested for more dense infestations of targeted grasses and weeds or where a longer duration of residual weed control is desired.  The timing for application is any time during winter dormancy and prior to weed germination.  Ideally, activation of this herbicide is accomplished with one inch of precipitation following application. 

            There are some additional restrictions including; do not harvest bermudagrass hay until 60 days after treatment, and do not harvest for forage or allow livestock to graze until 45 days after treatment.  Prowl H20 can be used on all bermudagrass varieties, but the stand must be established and have gone through at least one cutting before treatment.  The use of Prowl H20 on rangeland is prohibited.

(4 leaf sandbur with one tiller)

            If you miss the opportunity to treat for sandburs when the bermudagrass is dormant, there might be another option available.   Pastora herbicide, from Dupont, was recently labeled for control of emerged sandburs in bermudagrass.   Applications should be made to seedling sandburs (when the sandbur is less than 1.5 inches tall and/or across) and actively growing.  Moreover, applications of  Pastora have to be made to bermudagrass that  is less than 4 inches tall following initial green-up in the spring or after cutting for hay.  Tall, dense stands of Bermuda grass can intercept spray and reduce sandbur control. 

            Pastora  should not be applied to newly sprigged or newly planted bermudagrass. Apply only to established Bermuda grass that is at least one year old.  A follow-up application of Pastora may be necessary to control subsequent germination (flushes) of sandbur following the first application.   For the control of sandbur species, apply Pastora herbicide at a broadcast rate of 1.0 to 1.5 ounces per acre.  There are no grazing or haying restrictions for this herbicide, and as always, read and follow all the label restrictions when utilizing this product. 

            The control of sandbur in bermudagrass pastures and hay meadows with herbicides should be part of an overall management plan that includes fertility management based on soil testing, adequate soil moisture, insect and rodent control along with best management agronomic practices.

            Any references made to commercial products or trade names were made solely for educational purposes with the understanding that no endorsement nor discrimination is implied by Texas AgriLife Extension Service or its agents.

GULF COAST COTTON WORKSHOP SERIES BEGINS FEB 25

        The first in a series of Gulf Coast Cotton Management Workshops will be held on Friday, February 25, 2011 at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center on Hwy. 44 just west of the Corpus Christi Airport.  The focus of the first workshop will be the “Pre-season Planning to Emergence” period.  This series, offers producers the opportunity to ask questions and interact with industry representatives, consultants, county agents and AgriLife Extension and Research personnel.  With cotton prices currently at record levels, it is important to fine tune cotton production needs to be as efficient as possible to take advantage of the excellent prices.   This workshop is designed to provide local cotton growers with tools to help them be successful in the coming growing season, according to Dr. Juan Landivar, Director of the Corpus Christi Agrilife Research and Extension Center.

          The workshop will begin at 1:30 p.m. and conclude by 5 p.m.  Topics will include a discussion of weed management to avoid the growing herbicide resistance problem emerging in the cotton belt by an invited guest speaker, Dr. Peter Dotray, Associate Professor of Plant and Soil Science at Texas Tech University.  Representatives from cottonseed companies will discuss cotton cultivars for the 2011 season.

        Locally developed online management tools available at the Crop Weather Program website will be discussed and demonstrated.  Agronomic considerations for producing a good cotton crop will also be discussed, including temperature and soil moisture effects on germination along with seeding rates and final lint yields.  Early insect management will also be reviewed, including seed treatments and their role for early-season insect protection.

          The session will wrap-up with a discussion on cotton prices and marketing strategies for the upcoming crop.  3 CEU’s will be offered for pesticide applicators and certified crop advisors.  This workshop is being sponsored by Texas AgriLife Research and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Individuals with disabilities, who require an auxiliary aid, service or accommodation in order to participate in any of the mentioned activities, are encouraged to contact the County Extension Office at 361-767-5223 at least eight days before all programs for assistance.

Educational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all citizens without

regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age or national origin.

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Sorghum Referendum Underway

    The referendum period to vote to continue the United Sorghum Checkoff Program began February 1st and runs through Monday, February 28. All sorghum producers who have grown sorghum between July 1, 2008 and December 31, 2010 are encouraged to participate in the voting process. In order for a ballot to be considered valid, producers must include a copy of a settlement sheet or seed receipt proving that they grew sorghum and paid into the checkoff during the aforementioned time period. Ballots and proof of production must be returned to a producer’s county FSA office in person, by mail or via fax no later than Monday, February 28. One vote may be cast per entity. For more information about the voting process as well as who qualifies to vote, please visit www.voteforsorghum.com. Ballots are available  at your county FSA office, online at www.voteforsorghum.com or through Kristin Utterback. Please feel free to contact Kristin with any questions or concerns at 979-218-3029 or kristin@texassorghum.org.