Page 15 - Aug242023

The Midwest Cattleman · August 24, 2023 · P15
K-State weed expert shares tips for combatting common problems in pastures

HORSETAIL CALLED THE ‘DINOSAUR OF THE PLANT WORLD’

By Pat Melgares, K-State Research and Extension news service
In rural America, talk suppressing horsetail weeds. routinely receives
about horsetails in a field Newer studies report that pi- questions about poi-
conjures thoughts of farm- cloram and metsulfuron may son hemlock and
hands in saddles, working be helpful in reducing horse- goatgrass this time
cattle or checking on emerg- tail. of year.
ing crops. “But,” Lancaster said, Poison hemlock
When Kansas State Uni- “they’re going to come back, is – at its name sug-
versity weed management and so it’s going to take re- gests – highly poi-
specialist Sarah Lancaster peated herbicide applications sonous. It is highly
gets questions about horse- in order to fully control them toxic to sheep, cat-
tails, however, the inquiry with chemistry.” tle, swine, horses,
is probably not about four- Research from Canada is and many other
legged farm animals. uncovering other potential domestic animals,
“I like to call horsetails the herbicide options, Lancaster as well as humans.
dinosaurs of the plant world,” said, “but there are not a lot Hemlock “looks a lot
Lancaster said. “They’re a of great herbicide options out like wild carrots,”
weed species that has liter- there.” Lancaster said, in-
ally been around since the Horsetails belong to the cluding a basal ro-
time of the dinosaurs. That, genus known as Equisetum, sette and “lacy-look-
in and of itself, should tell which means “living fossil.” ing leaves.” ies grown in Kansas, which
WHAT DOES SUMMER us why I get questions about Plants in that category tend “Poison hemlock will have means it’s particularly chal-
lenging to control in wheat
it. They’re pretty tough and to be found in wet areas, red speckles on the stem once
they’re very difficult to man- “so if you’re struggling with it starts to bolt,” Lancaster fields and even in pastures,
age.” them in a cropping situation, said. “If it’s in a pasture, you according to Lancaster.
Horsetail, also called one thing to think about is need to take care of it.” Healthy wheat stands
mare’s tail, is a deep-rooted, water management,” Lan- She adds, instinctively, often out-compete joint-
invasive weed that spreads caster said. cattle know to avoid poison ed goatgrass, but drought
quickly, forming a dense car- “Fortunately, we don’t find hemlock based on having through much of Kansas
pet of foliage that crowds out horsetail in production fields been around it. “So generally has provided an opportunity
more desirable plants, such a lot,” she said. “Usually, they speaking, we don’t panic too for jointed goatgrass to win
as pasture grass. are found in areas where much if we see poison hem- some of those battles.
“They look a lot like as- drainage is poor, and water lock, but if you’re someone Lancaster said CoAXium
paragus, actually,” Lancast- stands for large parts of the who brings in cattle from wheat varieties – a produc-
er said. “They reproduce by year.” another state or desirable tion system that capitalizes
spores, not seeds; they’re just For questions or to confirm forage is not available, it is on herbicide tolerant wheat
a very different sort of plant. whether a plant is horsetail more important to get rid of -- are best for controlling
Many of the go-to herbicides or not, Lancaster is available it or prevent cattle grazing in jointed goatgrass.
don’t work on them.” by email, slancaster@ksu. those areas.”
Lancaster said some past edu. 2,4-D and glyphosate prod- KSU
research studies indicate ucts are effective on poison
that 2,4-D or MCPA – a phe- Poison Hemlock and hemlock, Lancaster said.
noxy herbicide similar to Goatgrass Goatgrass is an ancestor of
2,4-D – can be effective in Lancaster said she also the red winter wheat variet-

Horsetail has been around since the time of the dinosaurs, says K-State weed
management specialist Sarah Lancaster. | Photo courtesy of Sarah Lancaster