Texas Spring/Summer Thread

[txdon]

texasjohn, I do not have an applicators license. Can I get one over the internet? is it that toxic to humans? Do I have to wear full protective clothing and what sort of mask? I'm guessing there is no organic herbicide that works. Thanks!

 

[sseelhoff]

Reclaim or Remedy are the only two effectine herbacides. Both are expensive but work, I have used both. One is a foliar application, the other is applied to the stem/trunk. Use dye in either mix to avoid missing plants or double coverage. Now is the right time for Reclaim...right now and for next 5 weeks or so. Texas Brush Busters has the formula.

Mesquite « Texas Natural Resources Server

Both are very specific to mesquite, will not harm other plants. If you wish, PM me with questions. Do you have an applicator's license?

We used Remedy last year. Mixed with diesel. Worked well. Applying more this summer to another area.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Txdon I attended a 8hr class and took a test at the end to get my liscence and within the 4yrs need to attend classes to keep it,if you do not get your credits you will not be able to re-test for a year.
Just as with any chemical need to keep it off your skin,read the labels,its not all that bad just add the mixuter in a sprayer soak the tree down around 12inches up. Remedy doesn't need a liscence and small qunity of some like 2-4d also doesn't. Adding diesel like mentioned helps,I aways add Dawn when spraying my pastures.

 

[Western]

Don, we bought Remedy at TSC. Worked good mixed with Diesel, but digging them up was faster although more surface destructive.
I had a older neighbor that cut them off then applied the mixture, said he didn't want drying thorns all over his pasture (he piled and burned the tops) I liked his idea, I burned the ones I dug also. I think those thorns can sit there 100 years:laughing:

 

[texasjohn]

texasjohn, I do not have an applicators license. Can I get one over the internet? is it that toxic to humans? Do I have to wear full protective clothing and what sort of mask? I'm guessing there is no organic herbicide that works. Thanks!

Reclaim is restricted, Remedy is not. Unsure of the difference except Reclaim (my preferred mesquite killer) is a foliar spray thus much more likely to drift than the specific application to tree stems of remedy. The license is obtained only by taking a class ...usually on a Sat. and offered only a couple times a year by the soil conservation folks...or at least they would know exactly who gives the class in your area and when it is next.

Protective gear...gloves, rubber apron, eye shield, etc is always a good idea when handling chemicals. I always do. When spraying, do so by staying up wind from the spray and keep drips/spray off of skin, shoes, etc...the safety police have good best practices that are worth following. I have not ever had any ill effects from spraying although Reclaim has on rare occasions misted back on me and I can taste it immediately (touches skin, gives strange taste sensation...kinda metallic).

There is absolutely NO other herbacide that works. Anyone tell you differently, do not believe them.

I wear a painter's fiber mask.

You want to go organic...ONLY way is to DIG them up, including ALL roots within 1 foot of the surface. There are root buds that WILL sprout if you don't dig them up, pile them and burn.

Will send you a PM.

 

[jinman]

What about Reclaim and Remedy with runoff that goes into ponds/steams? For example, I just bought and used some nutgrass killer called Sedge Ender and it says it is very poisonous for fish in ponds. I won't use it anywhere near one of my ponds. The good news is it works very well.

 

[Bird]

I attended a 8hr class and took a test at the end to get my liscence

Of course I've never taken that class and test, so I don't know how tough it is. I had figured it wouldn't be too tough, but a neighbor down in Navarro County took the class and then failed the test.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Of course I've never taken that class and test, so I don't know how tough it is. I had figured it wouldn't be too tough, but a neighbor down in Navarro County took the class and then failed the test.

You can get the book before hand(I found that out when got in class) and study(also has a practice exam with it) I would say its hard enough where someone is going to have to study the material or already have hands on and not just walking in and guessing and pass it.

 

[Western]

Sometimes I wonder if the person that writes the test, actually reviews the curriculum:laughing: I have taken many "classes" did well in the course, but when taking the test, it looked to be in French:laughing:

Bird, I graduated 2nd in the LEO Academy and sweated bullets while taking the TCLEOSE exam in Austin:laughing: The instructors where right, the curricula works only in the field!!

Looks like us North Texans may be into some rain!! Jim, make sure your windows are down and the tiller is out, we cant mess this one up:laughing:

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Update on property appraisal. My father in law blamed my Mother in law and she blamed him for displacing and forgetting about the form they mailed them. She noted that it was buried on "his desk". Anyway we met up there early and went in and low and behold, one of the top people there is a friend from the church we joined just over a year ago. I explained what happened and he said "Just hurry and fill out the form and return it". Also, he said "Kyle, what percentage is actually a hayfield and what percentage is covered in trees?" I said it's probably 70% hayfield but with all the dead trees we have, it may end up closer to 90%. I told him we haven't fertilized due to the drought for years and that we didn't even have a good enough cutting last year to bale. He says that's the story all over the county. He said to write down on the form the percentage expected to be hayed. I guess the rest gets charged the high tax rate. So, watch out tree huggers, I might be cutting down a few more trees if they don't die first from the drought. (Probably won't happen) My FIL prefers the trees over hay bales.

Word to my tractor brethren and sistren: Join the church where you local appraisal peeps attend.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

The Lord is watching over me. Here's why I know.

This morning after leaving the tax office, I was about an hour and a half behind my normal leave time. I was taking the back road (known by the locals as the "hemorrhoid highway" around the north side of Lake Somerville. The road has a few rolling hills, up and downs and I came over a hill and saw a truck turned diagonally across the road. The fellow ran towards me shaking his arms to stop so I pulled up and asked him what's the matter? He yelled "The bridge is out up ahead", some big truck must've punched a big hole in it. I said "does the county know about it?" and he said yes and that they had just arrived at the far side and were putting up barricades. I told him Thank you, thank you, thank you and that he was saving lives today. The bridge is a small one that technically is wide enough for two cars, but because they put it at a sharp bend in the road, it is only safe for 1 car at a time. I drove off on a detour road and thanked the good Lord many times.

 

[Western]

Kyle, the way they charge me, I doubt any of the appraisers here go to church!!!:laughing: Good you got it resolved though, maybe you can apply for the loss of hay, or some kind of AG loss???

 

[texasjohn]

If he failed the test, he was asleep or can't do math or has memory problems...it takes some money and time to take the test, but it is not particularly difficult.

Of course I've never taken that class and test, so I don't know how tough it is. I had figured it wouldn't be too tough, but a neighbor down in Navarro County took the class and then failed the test.

 

[texasjohn]

Reclaim is exceptionally specific for mesquite. I have sprayed a mesquite bush burried in a tangle of green briar, hackberry, other stuff. ONLY the mesquite was affected, nothing else, including grass on ground was bothered. I have seen zero evidence of collateral damage with either product. I can see very slight damage in the immediate vicinity, on occasion from the diesel oil that is in the mix...and always that is in exactly the same area which is covered by the blue dye I use. Grass is slightly yellowed for short while, continues growth. I see no down slope runoff effect nor any pond effect...and all my area drains into ponds.

What about Reclaim and Remedy with runoff that goes into ponds/steams? For example, I just bought and used some nutgrass killer called Sedge Ender and it says it is very poisonous for fish in ponds. I won't use it anywhere near one of my ponds. The good news is it works very well.

 

[texasjohn]

Kyle, I think that the ag acreage will be what it always has been. 70℅ fields is more than many ag areas. Grazing for livestock is also a valid ag use.

 

[jinman]

Lucky me! I got enough rain last night to wet my deck solid. No puddles, just a wet deck. My grandson and I took a Kawasaki Mule ride when he got home from school yesterday. I don't know when I've ever seen our lake as low as it is now.

On the fun side, my grandson showed his ability to be sharp-eyed and spot things. He saw this little fellow below beside the road, so we went back and he caught it. It's about 2' long. We kept it overnight, but I made him let it go this morning before going to school.

 

[txdon]

TexasJohn, thanks for all the information. I was walking the field yesterday evening and decided that if I put about 16hrs on the BH I can finish the project. I really like sticking to my original plan (20 years now) of staying organic. I just got behind in my yearly 1 day of digging after my heart attack and paver drive and now the project seems overwhelming - but it is not. I just have to get-er-done. When I told my wife my time estimate she laughed. HMMM - she is usually right. If the estimate is way off I'll reevaluate. Thanks.

Next, I'll have to figure out a way to smooth the hog damaged field so I can drive the golf cart on it.

I just saw a commercial on TV about a Tweet Pee. It's used on baby diapers to activate and tweet the Mom's phone when the diaper is wet. I can use it as a rain tweet when I'm not here to immediately celebrate the long due rain! (If it ever comes).

 

[txdon]

Kyle I also found the TAX office to be receptive to my ideas. They put the size of my house (while being built) larger than the blue print. They came back out and measured from the inside of the rock ledge instead of the outside, it made a big difference.

 

[Western]

Light drizzle!:thumbsup:

If your around Brownwood, your dancing now!! pretty nice storms on radar down South

 

[jinman]

Well, the rain dots have again connected on my deck and it looks like it is still increasing in intensity.:thumbsup: I was in the garden putting up a trellis net and decided I should call it quits before I got soaked. I've never used this netting before, but I saw it online and bought one 5' x 30' net for around $13.50. I think that is way overpriced and found the same netting on a roll of 365' from Memphis Net and Twine for less than 1/2 the price per running foot. I ordered a roll and plan to put it on both sides of my tomatoes starting bout 2' above the ground. The net I bought was 3-1/2' tall instead of 5', so it will fit nicely on 6' t-posts and my 6' bamboo while leaving a gap at the bottom to till and water without the hassle of cages. I'll use line between the nets where required for support across the row. Here's a photo of the trellis net on one row of sweet peas. I drove PVC pipe into the ground and just dropped in the bamboo poles. It worked great.