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Spraying vs burning crp?

Hawk32

Hawk32

PMA Member
I have a mid management deal coming up on 11 acres of crp. I’m not discing so I’m trying to decide on burning or spraying. I asked nrcs office if there was any requirements on chemicals or application requirements and all I got told was to check with a coop. I could spray myself and would just cost me price of chemicals. Any recommendations on what chemicals I should use and amounts. Otherwise I will just hire someone to burn. What’s more beneficial to the crp?
 
Burn it! 11 acres is a cake walk. We did 110 acres with 2 guys. A day of mowing and building a back burn fire break then let'r rip.

It's seems scary but that back burn is great. If you have a wheeler with a tank on it makes for easy back burning. Mowing is crucial to slow down the burn in your creation of fire break.

Should be able to do by yourself. Slow is fast
 
I’ll go against the grain & be the minority on this for sure!!!…. SPRAY!!!! Far more effective at killing cool seasons & easier to target cool seasons while keeping other things safe. No massive loss of organic matter & nutrient value up in flames. There’s some definite benefits to having the coals there & a short term immediate nutrient release but u pay for it later. Weighing it all out- especially vs a hot fire…. IMO- herbicides will be far less detrimental on damaging soils. & I have “issues” with herbicides. I do like herbicides being a 1 man show vs fire (+ the fire department when I do it! ;) )

In full transparency…. Both have their +/-‘s & if it’s once every 5 years - u really can’t go wrong with either or do a crazy amount of damage.
I’ve been in regions of KS they burn every year- it’s sad what they do to their soils & it actually takes away diversity of plants- not improve. This situation- whatever you more comfy with. Herbicides require a bit of thought, technique & timing. Easy though. Fire requires that as well
 
Why do a natural process that's been happening on prairies for thousands of years when you can put chemicals in the ground water supply?

Problem with burning, people get into too big of a hurry.

Skip-i will bring my wheeler over and help with the torching.
 
If it gets out of control, just let it burn! May be some incidentals but all is well! Fence posts are usually the burn victims
 
Burning it myself scares the piss out of me to be perfectly honest. lol. Plus finding help when its go time (right wind) could be an issue.
 
Brush hog then followed up with an older spool type hay rake to get the mowed grass piled up against the standing grass. Worked pretty well for our burns. Done smaller burns solo and did 115 acres of mature switch one spring but had a crew of 8 for that one. CRP burn b (1).jpg
 
Sligh1 said:
I’ll go against the grain & be the minority on this for sure!!!…. SPRAY!!!! Far more effective at killing cool seasons & easier to target cool seasons while keeping other things safe. No massive loss of organic matter & nutrient value up in flames. There’s some definite benefits to having the coals there & a short term immediate nutrient release but u pay for it later. Weighing it all out- especially vs a hot fire…. IMO- herbicides will be far less detrimental on damaging soils. & I have “issues” with herbicides. I do like herbicides being a 1 man show vs fire (+ the fire department when I do it! ;) )

In full transparency…. Both have their +/-‘s & if it’s once every 5 years - u really can’t go wrong with either or do a crazy amount of damage.
I’ve been in regions of KS they burn every year- it’s sad what they do to their soils & it actually takes away diversity of plants- not improve. This situation- whatever you more comfy with. Herbicides require a bit of thought, technique & timing. Easy though. Fire requires that as wel
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I agree with spraying, it’s much more forgiving. If you do it at the right time you will only kill what you want to kill.
 
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