LoessHillsArcher
PMA Member
Yes, it can't hurt, add crop oil as well to help the Roundup (gly) stick to any growing plants. Just make sure to apply the Oust/gly mix before the switch germinates (which, depending on weather/soil temps, could be as early as late April)
Also, last year, did the switchgrass in your plot get very large or well established? Just a heads up, one field we planted into switch and it became very weedy the first year, similar to what you have it sounds like. So the next spring we sprayed Oust/gly/cropoil the following year and it really helped clean up the weeds/foxtail but also really set the switchgrass back that year (Oust is best applied to well established switch plants, it can be harmful to young switch). It did not kill the switch but it was stunted that year. The following year it bounced right back though and is now a beautiful field of switch with a good ratio of "weeds" in it yet.
It started coming up but isn't filled in or get taller than 1 foot. Are there better alternatives than the Oust? It looks like that is what Dbltree recommended for the second year.
LoessHillsArcher
PMA Member
You could do atrazine @ 4qts/acre but the Oust will work. I just wanted to give you a heads up it may stunt the switchgrass this year. It sounds like you're field is a little ahead of what ours was after the first year, I think you'll be ok with the Oust. 
Didn't mean to talk you out of it.
Didn't mean to talk you out of it.
Central Iowa
Life Member
The deal is if you have seed sitting there that did not stratify and germinate last year it may this year. Using the Oust would keep this seed from germinating.if it's real thin I would frost seed more in the thin spots and hit it with 4-6 qt of atrazine. Based on the info you gave us this is what I would do.
Last edited:
LoessHillsArcher
PMA Member
Great suggestion if you have a thin stand! Atrazine for another year is the safer route. :way:
Jbohn
Well-Known Member
Ok, last year was my seedling year, added my Atrazine to late and Foxtail went nuts, some over 5 feet, mowed 3 time's and did identify switch but obviously not the way I wanted. I have atrazine , Oust for this year but not sure what to do. The foxtail is so thick I don't think my chemical will reach the soil because of heavy Thatch build up.. I know you shouldn't burn a first year stand but was considering just to get my chemical to soil.. What is your guys thoughts.. Ill be out to my place in 3 weeks so I any thoughts or experiences I would appreciate. Thanks
There's many ways to "skin a cat". In that scenario, one example if you could do it. See if you could light it on fire right now. Get rid of all the junk. If so, light away. Then, right after, for example, go and seed more switchgrass. The way you described, I think you may have lost some or most of your plants, not sure. If so, fire ain't gonna hurt cause you need more seed anyways and you need clear soil. i'd seed more in almost all cases. Then, if anything starts coming up before switchgrass is germinating, I'd blast 1, more than likely 2 times with atrazine & round-up. That will kill everything else that's there and if you spray a week or 2 before germination (watch soil temps) Your switch will have active atrazine that made soil contact & new seed can grow without any weeds.
Other options.... - Start over, beans for a year. -disc up & cultipack so bare soil & frost seed (more to it than that, not ideal and probably not what I'd do) & more seed then lots of round-up & atrazine. -drill in indian and big blue and spray the whole thing with round-up & Plateau @ 12-14 oz acre before germination (established switch from previous year will be fine but other areas will fill in with Indian and BB) Plateau, unlike Atrazine, is not near as fussy with soil contact & would work with trash. -Mow the heck outta what's there to try and clear it, maybe drag harrow, seed more switch and soak it with high water content & lots of atrazine/round-up. I mean, there's a LOT of ways to do this. Your goal needs to be dealing with all the crap on top and fixing that issue. Good luck
LoessHillsArcher
PMA Member
Sounds good to me! Keep us posted on how it looks over the next few weeks and throughout the summer!
Hammerin Hank
Member
Frost seeded 3 acres of switch last winter and on one half of the field got some switch, the other half 100% foxtail. I had frost seeded and applied atz and r/u last April. So, a little disappointed but I see this is common. I am doing another 3 acres this year which was broam that i killed and mowed last fall.
I am going to no till drill it this time but am waiting to get the implement from the county which looks like late April. Just wondering thoughts on when to spray atz and r/u. Already have some green coming through that didn't get killed from the fall spray. I am looking at the forecast and see nothing but rain and wind the next 10 days. If i don't spray until right before drilling will that negatively impact the seed? If I spray after seeding how many days do I have before germination occurs and canceling the round up?
I am going to no till drill it this time but am waiting to get the implement from the county which looks like late April. Just wondering thoughts on when to spray atz and r/u. Already have some green coming through that didn't get killed from the fall spray. I am looking at the forecast and see nothing but rain and wind the next 10 days. If i don't spray until right before drilling will that negatively impact the seed? If I spray after seeding how many days do I have before germination occurs and canceling the round up?
LoessHillsArcher
PMA Member
I've never had the benefit of drilling switch but I'd say you've got a good amount of time you can spray r/u and atrazine after drilling the switch. I agree with you on not spraying during this wet, cool weather. Hold out and let more green up so it can get hit with the roundup. Just my opinion.
I'm curious what others have to say on germination rate of switch drilled in late April, will it germinate this year yet even? Just curious, I thought it always had to be cold stratified to germinate? Or could this seed possibly have been 'manually' stratified before planting?
I'm curious what others have to say on germination rate of switch drilled in late April, will it germinate this year yet even? Just curious, I thought it always had to be cold stratified to germinate? Or could this seed possibly have been 'manually' stratified before planting?
I drilled 6 acres of switchgrass in April 2 years ago and had good results. The only reason I did this is because I took some of the switch (which was new seed) and planted it in a couple of containers with some potting soil to see if it would grow. I would say 98% of it germinated within a week or two so I figured it would be good to go. I think it turned out better that the switch I frost seeded the year before.
I have a few thin spots that I'm going to drill as soon as the rains quit and the field dries out some.
I have a few thin spots that I'm going to drill as soon as the rains quit and the field dries out some.
Anybody in the market for 50# of CIR switchgrass? 50 # That will plant 6 +/- acres. Osenbaugh offered a price break at 200# and I only need 150#. Price would be $6.75/#.
Bullbuster
New Member
As for drilling switch...I had this done professionally last year because I learned about frost seeding too late in the game & the company was working on a Wetland reserve project elsewhere on my property. It was planted in early June in central Wisconsin and did very well on my higher sights. Some of my plants were 30" tall. This was fresh CIR & Kanlow form Osenbaughs. Can't say enough good things about John & his crew
Bullbuster
New Member
I planted Egyptian wheat into newly planted Switch (same year-2014). I am sure the competition set it back but I was inpatient waiting for a visual screen. I will let you know how the switch with the EW faired as I have pure switch right next to it.
Jbohn
Well-Known Member
I burned off my first year CIR in March cause I was over run with Foxtail last year I did get it mowed twice. I also put down more atrazine at the rate of (4qts) per acre.
When I arrived at the farm this week end I was happy to see that there is a good rate of switch that establish last year A few spots it didn't germinate.
Bad thing was with little to no rainfall in the last 3 weeks I don't think the atrazine worked in to the soil lots of completion not sure if it's foxtail or fescue.
I hit it with Platuea at 6oz an acre I hope that cleans it up and kills the unwanted grasses. Should I have used more ? Label say's 12oz for fescue. I was kind of scarred to spray it, didn't want to hurt the switch that has emerged from last years planting.
Overall very happy with last year considering the foxtail mess.
I checked this years planting I prepped with oust last fall clean as a whistle.. Need some heat and it should get going..
When I arrived at the farm this week end I was happy to see that there is a good rate of switch that establish last year
A few spots it didn't germinate.Bad thing was with little to no rainfall in the last 3 weeks I don't think the atrazine worked in to the soil
lots of completion not sure if it's foxtail or fescue.I hit it with Platuea at 6oz an acre I hope that cleans it up and kills the unwanted grasses. Should I have used more ? Label say's 12oz for fescue. I was kind of scarred to spray it, didn't want to hurt the switch that has emerged from last years planting.
Overall very happy with last year considering the foxtail mess.
I checked this years planting I prepped with oust last fall clean as a whistle.. Need some heat and it should get going..