Early Summer Control Of Sericea Lespedeza Using Herbicides

Jun 02, 2023

Sericea lespedeza is a major invasive species of concern on rangeland, pasture, and some CRP acres in Kansas. This Category C noxious weed infests over 465,000 acres in Kansas (Figure 1). Category C noxious weeds are those that are well-established and known to exist in large or extensive populations. Control efforts should be directed at reducing or eliminating new infestations as well as using approved control methods on established populations.
Figure 1. Distribution of sericea lespedeza in Kansas. Source: Kansas Noxious Weed Survey

Figure 1. Distribution of sericea lespedeza in Kansas. Source: Kansas Noxious Weed Survey

Sericea lespedeza is a perennial legume with trifoliate leaves. The leaves are club or wedged-shaped (Figure 2). Plants are usually about 3 feet tall but can grow to several feet under ideal conditions. Plants will start to bloom in August with white to cream-colored flowers with a purple throat. The most seed production occurs in September.
Figure 2. Trifoliate, wedge-shaped leaflets of sericea lespedeza. Photo by Walt Fick, K-State Research and Extension.

Figure 2. Trifoliate, wedge-shaped leaflets of sericea lespedeza. Photo by Walt Fick, K-State Research and Extension.

Prescribed burning stimulates the germination of sericea lespedeza seed. June is a good time to control new seedlings and established sericea lespedeza plants using herbicides. At this time, sericea lespedeza is in a vegetative growth stage (Figure 3) and is rapidly growing. By the end of June, plants will begin to branch and become woodier.
Figure 3. Vegetative growth stage of sericea lespedeza. Photo by Walt Fick, K-State Research and Extension.

Figure 3. Vegetative growth stage of sericea lespedeza. Photo by Walt Fick, K-State Research and Extension.

Chemical control options

The most effective herbicides to treat sericea lespedeza during the vegetative growth stage are Remedy Ultra (triclopyr) and PastureGard HL (triclopyr + fluroxypyr). Broadcast applications of Remedy Ultra at 1 to 2 pints/acre and PastureGard HL at 0.75 to 1.5 pints/acre should be applied in spray volumes of 10 to 20 gallons/acre. Another herbicide option would be Surmount (picloram + fluroxypyr) at 2 pint/acre. Surmount is a restricted-use pesticide and would be a good choice if you want to treat roughleaf dogwood or blackberry simultaneously. Once sericea starts to branch, metsulfuron-containing herbicides such as Escort XP (0.5 to 1 oz/acre) can be effective.

For spot application, mix 0.5 fl oz PastureGard HL per gallon of water or use a 1% solution of Remedy Ultra in water. Aerial applications of these products should be done with a minimum spray volume of 3 gallons per acre. Higher volumes, e.g. 5 gallons per acre, will generally be more effective.

There are no grazing and haying restrictions for livestock and lactating grazing animals following use of Remedy Ultra and PastureGard HL. There is a 14-day waiting period prior to hay harvest using these two herbicides. If Surmount is used, there is no waiting period before grazing all livestock, except for lactating dairy animals (14 days before grazing). Surmount also requires a 14-day waiting period prior to hay harvest. There are no grazing or haying restrictions following the application of Escort XP.

As a noxious weed in Kansas, sericea lespedeza needs to be controlled. Sericea lespedeza has a tremendous seed bank that helps reestablish stands.

Herbicide treatments will need to be repeated every 2 to 4 years to keep this invasive species in check. Initial treatments should reduce dense stands to the point where spot treatment can be used in future years. Left untreated, sericea lespedeza will dominate a site, greatly reducing forage production and species diversity

Source : ksu.edu

Video: U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan | Made by Producers for Producers

Join Jill Brokaw, a third-generation pig farmer and staff member of the National Pork Board, as she dives into the vital role of the US Swine Health Improvement Plan, also known as US SHIP. The program establishes a national playbook of standards for monitoring African swine fever and classical swine fever.

Why Should Pork Producers Care? If a disease breaks out, officials will establish a control area to help contain the disease. This plan is designed to mitigate risk and demonstrate freedom of disease at the site level. The goal is to support business continuity outside of the control area in case of an outbreak.

How Will the Pork Industry Use US SHIP? US SHIP uses already existing programs to support the standards for biosecurity, traceability and disease surveillance.

Biosecurity: This plan uses your completed Secure Pork Supply plan to demonstrate compliance with the biosecurity program standards and shows your ability to reduce the risk of disease introduction.

Traceability: AgView can be used to demonstrate compliance with the traceability standards and the ability to electronically provide State and Federal agencies the traceability information they need to determine where disease is and isn’t.

Disease Surveillance: The Certified Swine Sampler Collector Program helps expand the number of people certified to take samples. In the event of a large-scale foreign animal disease outbreak, we will need a trained group of sample collectors to help animal health officials find where the disease is present. This is to help you demonstrate freedom of disease and support the permitted movement of animals.

Getting Started with US SHIP:

1. Enroll in U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan

2. Share 30 days of movement data

3. Have a completed Secure Pork Supply Plan

4. Become U.S. SHIP certified

5. Maintain communication with your state

Takeaway: U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan helps safeguard animal health. Together, we're creating a sustainable future for pork production in the United States and taking steps to strengthen the business of U.S. pork producers everywhere