New Product Touted To Take 'Burs' Out Of Summer Grass
Brian Triplett
This week I want to visit with you about a product that has received a new label for use in Bermuda-grass pastures, and an opportunity to obtain continuing education units toward the renewal of your Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide license.
Sandburs (grass burs) is a summer annual grass found throughout most of the state that produces seed encased in a spikelet called a "bur." The purpose of the bur, and its sharp spines, is to assist the grass in seed dispersal. Anyone who has ever walked through a grassy field in late summer can attest to the sticking ability of these burs when the person tries to pull them out of shoelaces or comb them out of a pet's fur. The grass is of little to no value as a forage plant (because of the burs and short lived nature of the plant) and it can inflict punishment around the farm all winter when it is bailed up along with desirable grasses in hay.
Traditionally, farmers would try to eliminate sandburs from pastures and hay meadows by increasing soil fertility and maintaining proper soil pH, which allows the more desirable grasses to out-compete the sandburs for sunlight and nutrients over time. A new tool, one that needs to be applied during the dormant season prior to Bermuda grass growth in the spring, has just been added to the list of options.
Prowl H20 herbicide, a product manufactured by BASF, recently received an emergency exemption from the Texas Department of Agriculture for use on Bermuda grass grown for forage, hay and grazing.
To be effective, Prowl H20 needs to receive around an inch of rainfall or irrigation prior to sandbur germination. Contact your local county Extension office or local chemical dealer for more information about this product and its proper use.
Always read and follow all label and supplemental materials that accompany pesticide products. Do not allow this or any other pesticide product to drift onto non-target areas, or your neighbor's property.
PESTICIDE EDUCATION
The last day of February is an important date for private pesticide applicators in Texas. The vast majority of these licenses, which are good for five years, expire on the last day of this month. If you are not sure, go ahead and check your expiration date now.
If you still have a couple of years left until you need to renew, go ahead and breathe a little easier. If, on the other hand, your license will expire soon, go ahead and make plans to spend the afternoon at the Smith County Extension office, 1517 W. Front St., Suite 116, on Feb. 25.
From 1-7 p.m., holders of Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide licenses (commercial, non-commercial or private) can attend a series of three, two-hour video lectures that will enable them to receive up to six hours of free continuing education credit for free.
From 1-3 p.m., producers can obtain 1.5 hours of laws and regulations, and 0.5 hours of general credit. From 3-5 p.m. you can receive two hours of integrated pest management. From 5-7 p.m. you can receive two hours of general credit. Even though these sessions are free, please call 903-590-2980 or e-mail me at b-triplett@tamu.edu to pre-register for planning purposes.
To renew their licenses, private applicators must receive 15 hours of continuing education credit every five years. Of this, two hours must be in the laws & regulations category and two hours must be in the integrated pest management category. Commercial and non-commercial applicators must obtain five hours of continuing education credit annually. One hour each in two of three categories - laws & regulations, integrated pest management or drift minimization - is required for license renewal.
Internet, at-home study and face-to-face courses offered by commercial enterprises are also options that can be used by license holders to obtain continuing education credits.
Brian Triplett is the Smith County Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources. He can be reached at 903-590-2980 or via e-mail at b-triplett@tamu.edu.
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