Spraying 2,4-D - Sanity Check

[mx1alex]

What are you trying to kill? That will determine what rate you should be applying. Depending on what you're driving it may be hard to keep a steady 3 mph. You can find out what speed you're comfortable maintaining and then do you calcs based off that. Lots of ways to skin a cat when it comes to determining tank mixes, calibrating the sprayer etc.

 

[jeffreyca84]

What are you trying to kill? That will determine what rate you should be applying. Depending on what you're driving it may be hard to keep a steady 3 mph. You can find out what speed you're comfortable maintaining and then do you calcs based off that. Lots of ways to skin a cat when it comes to determining tank mixes, calibrating the sprayer etc.

It’s being used in a horse pasture. I’m boxed in by residential so all that is around me are lawns.

 

[jeffreyca84]

Not sure where you are located, but if there is a tomato plant anywhere near you, and it gets a whiff of the 2,4-D, it will be toasted. 2,4-D is one of the most volitile herbicides ever. It will even get up and move after you have sprayed it. I've heard stories of it being sprayed on rice and because of weather conditions, it got up and moved across the Mississippi river and killed a cotton crop. It is illegal to spray it here in Louisiana between April 1 and about October 30, in the cotton growing areas.

I do think your calculations are correct in your first post. But please be careful if you do decide to spray. Check with your county agent to see if there might be alternatives.

Just spraying a horse pasture. I’m land locked by neighbors and their back lawns. There are no vegetable gardens or anything except for grass around me.

im trying to knock down a broadleaf infestation that’s gaining traction.

 

[RalphVa]

Lots of stories when I volunteered at the extension office about this stuff. Could kill neighbors' stuff miles away.

 

[workinonit]

2,4,D comes in 2 formulas. Ester and amine. Amine is much more stable that ester and will not carry over/drift/travel nearly as bad as ester. Farm stores stopped carrying ester here. If you want some they have to order it.

 

[5030]

I use it all the time for broadleaf and I use the 2-4-D (B) on my alfalfa. it stinks and I always wear proper PPE.

 

[jeffreyca84]

Regarding the volatility - my plan is to be spraying between 60-70F, during low wind and with a small tow behind sprayer with nozzles 18” off the ground.

 

[hosspuller]

You might look at Grazon Next HL for a pasture. It has a residual effect. Even through the manure. 2,4-D alone isn't very effective. There are several herbicides you can tank mix with it. Along with a surfactant.

 

[workinonit]

Go for it. It'll be fine. Seriously, if you have a plan then do it. Just relating personal experience. No one knows your situation better than you.

 

[ponytug]

Personally, as a horse owner, I wouldn't use it on pastures, as 2,4D bioaccumulates. Without knowing what it is that you are trying to suppress it is hard to advise.

If you are having issues with some weeds, I would think about either changing the grazing patterns with electric fence subdivisions in the pastures, or think of having something like a few goats or cows to graze what the horses don't/won't graze. We use cows, and we have a little mustard and the occasional thistle, but nothing else.

I have friends who spread the manure every fall, till it in, and reseed for their horse pastures. Their pastures look awesome, but it is a lot of work and it doesn't work for sloped pastures.

YMMV...

All the best,

Peter