Purple top weed in hay field?

[Don McCallum]

I checked a leased hay field today that needs to be cut in the next week to two weeks. I found a lot of purple top (vernena bowariensis sp.) in it. Do
you think that it would be safe to feed cows this winter?
I have another field with a lot of horsenettle that I sprayed last week with grazon next. It looks like I am getting a good kill. Do you think that it will
be ready next week?

 

[Bez__]

I checked a leased hay field today that needs to be cut in the next week to two weeks. I found a lot of purple top (vernena bowariensis sp.) in it. Do
you think that it would be safe to feed cows this winter?
I have another field with a lot of horsenettle that I sprayed last week with grazon next. It looks like I am getting a good kill. Do you think that it will
be ready next week?

Why would you accept the answers of complete strangers on the internet?

I have an answer that might be reasonable, but I will not give it.

Call your nearest ag university and ask to speak to someone who is a feed / forage specialist

Call your nearest federal or state ag department and ask to speak to someone who is a feed / forage specialist

Or

Call your nearest feed and seed and fertilizer operation and ask to speak to their feed / forage specialist.

Always try to deal with someone who is a pro in their field and near enough to you that you know they know your local conditions.

Further more, no one knows where you are - if you are south would you want an answer from someone north? Or vice versa?

Accuracy of a response will definitely be doubtful in many cases as there are many here who I have known for a long time and I would not wish to seriously take their advice - and I will add there are some here who I would happily take advice from.

So - what happens if you take the advice from an idiot and it fails?

A phone call to any or all of the above agencies is cheap - spend the dime - good luck

Cheers

Bez__

 

[ousoonerfan22]

Dam Bez maybe he wants some opinions.

 

[Don McCallum]

Bez, Ou22 is right, I checked it out on the internet, and I have already decided what I am going to do. I might call the co. agent tomorrow,
but I haven't made my mine up about that as of now. Thanks for your help, that is very true of some but not of most.

 

[Limomike]

Don, Are you talking about what we call iron weed? cows wont eat it if thats what it is.

 

[novatech]

Good advice Bez.

 

[JWBrahman]

I checked a leased hay field today that needs to be cut in the next week to two weeks. I found a lot of purple top (vernena bowariensis sp.) in it. Do
you think that it would be safe to feed cows this winter?
I have another field with a lot of horsenettle that I sprayed last week with grazon next. It looks like I am getting a good kill. Do you think that it will
be ready next week?

Why would you accept the answers of complete strangers on the internet?

I have an answer that might be reasonable, but I will not give it.

Call your nearest ag university and ask to speak to someone who is a feed / forage specialist

Call your nearest federal or state ag department and ask to speak to someone who is a feed / forage specialist

Or

Call your nearest feed and seed and fertilizer operation and ask to speak to their feed / forage specialist.

Always try to deal with someone who is a pro in their field and near enough to you that you know they know your local conditions.

Further more, no one knows where you are - if you are south would you want an answer from someone north? Or vice versa?

Accuracy of a response will definitely be doubtful in many cases as there are many here who I have known for a long time and I would not wish to seriously take their advice - and I will add there are some here who I would happily take advice from.

So - what happens if you take the advice from an idiot and it fails?

A phone call to any or all of the above agencies is cheap - spend the dime - good luck

Cheers

Bez__

In Don's defense he said it was Verbena, which is a southern plant.
However, I second everything you said. For some reason there is an attitude that the cattlemen who studied hard and got an education are less than those who "have already spent enough time in the classroom".

Don, do not bale the Verbena. Mow and bale around it. Afterwards take a finishing mower and skin it down to the base. I would go back with a push mower to really nail it if it is a small patch. That should knock it back enough to let your pasture grasses take over.