Animal Health

Animal Feed

Agri- Chemical

Seed

Fertiliser

Bio-Fert

      Poor management leads to the establishment of heavy weed infestations in grassland.  Generally low weed populations are of no consequence but when most weeds reach density levels of 12 to 20% of total sward they will impact on either quality or productivity of swards.  The ideal scenario is to keep grassland weed free. Management practices such as grazing, drainage, fertility, mowing and chemical treatment must be carefully implemented to achieve this.  Weeds can seriously reduce productivity, overall output and animal health.  Weeds of major consequence include bracken, ragwort, hemlock, docks, thistles, nettles, rushes and dandelions.

Top

    Docks are the most pernicious and most damaging of all grassland weeds.  They have only 65% of the feed value of grass. The presence of docks in silage can affect fermentation thus reducing overall quality.  Broadleaf docks, and to a lesser extent curled dock, thrive under intensive grazing and conservation systems.  When fields become infested with docks, the available grazing is reduced which then impacts on the planned grazing cycle.  This in turn will affect the overall economic performance of that enterprise.  In trials an average increase in grass yield of 2.6 tonne DM per hectare per year can be achieved from dock control.  There are basically three main chemical options to choose from:

       a) CMPP based products – offer short term control e.g. Duplosan

       b) Fluroxpyr/triclopyr formulations provide season long control e.g. Doxstar, Pastor

       c) Asulox, Prospect and Eagle can be applied where clover is of value to the producer

Top

     Nettles generally occur in clumps and are mainly a problem in grazing situations. Hardly any grass grows in dense nettle patches.  Topping of nettles will stop seeding, but does nothing to prevent root spread and re-emergence.  Best results are achieved using triclopyr based products i.e. Pastor and Garlon.  Small nettles can be contained using Dicamba/CMPP based products e.g. Foundation.

Top

    Bracken is a weed associated with fertile soil.  It grows vigorously at a rate of up to one metre a year if uncontrolled. Bracken is highly poisonous and is best controlled in June and July with Roundup or Asulox.

      Ragwort is a notifyable weed and must be controlled.  It is poisonous to animals and can cause fatalities.  Healthy ragwort is generally unpalatable but once treated becomes more palatable.  Best weed control is achieved where the ragwort is either pulled or chemical treatment using 2,4-D amine or Ester or MCPA is applied at the rosette stage of the weed in autumn or early spring.

Top

      This is the most common species of rush found in Ireland and generally associated with wet and neglected pastures. Drainage and application of MCPA or 2,4 –D based products from June to July achieves best results. Cutting and removal of the rush about three weeks after spraying will be effective.

        Eventually old pastures loose their vigour and this leads to the introduction of less productive weed grasses and other costly weeds.  On such occasions it is vital to reseed pasture. Prior to reseeding, the ground must be sprayed off with Roundup or Roundup Biactive. This treatment kills all vegetation and prepares a stale seedbed free of weeds for the new pasture.

Top

         Tired of seeing those ugly weeds on the path or yard? One application of Weedall or Casoran G will give total season long control of weeds.

Back

All the above products are stocked at Quinns.  Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.