Farm Question

Spudm

Member
Not sure about this. One of the fields I farm is next to a wetland and a pond. Along one side of the pond next to the field is an invasive species of ornamental grass called Phragmites, which I think is good soil erosion control along the hillside and bank of the pond. Yesterday an environmental company came on the property and weed sprayed the grass, per the DEQ. Your thoughts or opinion?
 
I guess they are allowed to do that. Funny the things they worry about and the things they don't just because it is wetlands. The autumn olive that has overrun everywhere they don't worry about because it isn't threatening their wetlands. They don't seem to get too worked up about all of the neighbors that call about the manure in the ditch either. But apparently those Phragmites are a cause for their concern.
 
I don't like non native invasive species.

They always seem to do far more harm than good in the long run.

Kudzu in the south.

There is something in North Dakota the wife of a friend of mine spent her Summer's spraying large areas to get rid of - I never heard what, but it was a 'good idea' brought in by the DOT to control road ditch erosion.

I've never seen govt workers given the equipment, time, or care enough to actually get such things actually killed, so it is probably wasted effort.

So, what do I think? Too bad the junk got started, don't believe much will be accomplished with the spraying.

Paul

Paul
 
If it is successfully killed, wait for the herbicide to degrade, then reseed with a local prairie grass (ask your agent) Jim
 
I'm in Michigan. If you have a wetland on your property, you get to pay the taxes & insurance, but don't touch it!
 
What I don't understand is all the weed spray that was put on yesterday, it rained hard overnight and today. A runoff concern, I wonder how any fish, turtles & snakes are doing in the pond today?
 
I'd say be glad they didn't pass a law requiring you to take care of it or force you to pay the tab for their visit.
 
That how it works? Guess I never paid much attention to it. I have wetland between my woods and the river here behind my house. I used to drive the HG42 across and to the river to pull the trees out of the river and back to the woods where I used them for firewood. No sense not using them or letting them set and go to crap in the river.
 
They would have been spraying a special formulation of glyphosphate that is safe to use in and near water. It will not harm aquatic life. Phragmites are a salt water reed native to Europe that were accidently introduced to North America over a century ago, but have really exploded in the last 20 years or so. Being a salt water reed, they have a big advantage over native reeds and rushes, given the amount of salt poured on our highways. They are very difficult to control.
 
Phragmites are bad news! You should be happy to get them sprayed.

From what I've seen, the phragmites are winning in Michigan; don't be surprised if they come right back.
 
Phragmite is also used by DEP type agencies as a wetlands indicator. If you don't want property suspected of being wetlands get rid of it. Each plant shoots out roots systems and hundreds of fluffy seeds. It is real hard to get rid of once it spreads into an area. It can grow in water.
 

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