Pasture Information

Pasture Information:

Rangeland or pasture is not often treated in our area.  As the values of grasslands and cattle increase, it makes sense to maximize forage values in pastures with chemical treatments.  The three most likely targets for application are grasshoppers, yucca, and sagebrush.

Grasshoppers are commonly considered to be at economic levels when they reach 8 per square yard in the adult stage. Treatment in the adult stage is difficult and expensive, but low-cost treatment can occur in the early nymph stages (Stages 2-4) with Dimilin 2L.

Dimilin is a growth regulator, and prevents grasshoppers from maturing once they molt. This means that control is somewhat slower than with other products, but it is very safe for cattle, other insects, and other mammals.

Cattle cattle do not need to be removed from the pasture, and control will continue for up to 30 days. Control will begin to be noticeable in about a week, and after two weeks, high levels of control are commonly seen: greater than 90 percent is often reported. Treatment can be done economically: as low as $5 per acre in 2008, for example.. 

The Dimilin label (PDF, 86 KB) allows split-swath spraying and use of low rates, but it only works on small grasshoppers. Scouting should occur in mid-June and treatment should occur on small grasshoppers. Dimilin will not control adults, and other products are much more expensive and difficult to apply later in the season.   

Yucca is widespread in some pastures, and while a light infestation may help with snow retention, heavy infestations make the area unusable by cattle. Grace Flying Service currently has several test plots out, and we are working with DuPont to find herbicide combinations which are effective in our area. It takes up to 18 months to fully evaluate effectiveness, so progress is slow. We will keep you posted on our progress.