Pasture Weeds

Smutgrass

Smutgrass is an exotic, invasive perennial grass species that ranchers have been fighting over the last 50 years. Smutgrass control is an expensive venture, costing anywhere from $26 to $36 per acre to control small and giant smutgrass, respectively.

We are consistently looking for ways to optimize smutgrass control with Velpar. One possible way is to look at the addition of surfactants to Velpar. Specifically, does the addition of a surfactant to Velpar increase smutgrass control compared to Velpar alone? What about other adjuvants?

Presenter

Barton Wilder obtained his M.S. degree in Agronomy in 2009. His research project examined the most effect rate of Velpar for small and giant smutgrass control in pastures. He also examined the effects of environmental conditions on smutgrass seed germination and optimization of smutgrass control with Velpar using various surfactants. Currently, Barton is the Ag and Natural Resource Agent in Alachua County.