Does anyone know about the use of chemicals MSMA and Atrazine on pasture where horses graze? I know the pull-off time for ATrazine is about 23 days but there is nothing said about MSMA.We're getting  crab grass out the wazoo.We really have no place to put them this time of the year but was wondering about using Atrazine next Feb or March before bermuda comes out of dormancy.

I think they have some arsenic residual effects in the soil but are labeled for hay ground and cattle grazing specifically from what the co-op has said.

I use baking soda to treat crabgrass and it works well.  Just dust the moist crabgrass plant and in a few days it will die, nothing could be more simple!

Baking soda isn't harmful to your horses unless they like the taste and then you just need to keep them off until it rains (washing the leaves.)

I have never heard of baking soda for crab grass. Do you know if it also kills surrounding vegetation? I have this flowerbed that I can't ever seem to get ahead of the crabgrass. Although it's bad enough this year that I'm tempted to jus concrete it anyway. Thanks for the info.

I appreciate your input,and thanks,but,I'm talking about a 5 acre pasture ,not just a plant here and there.What I'm asking about is something we will have to put out in a 55 gallon sprayer behind a tractor.

I could try that in my yard,but,there is just too much of it.

Honestly I can't remember. I know it usually wipes out annuals and legumes ( clover) so I think it would be OK with your bermudagrass. It is hard on ryegrass too.Buyer beware, read the label.Why do you want to rid yourself of the crabgrass? Rich

I don't want anything to do with fescue,having had 2 horses founder on it in the past.They brought it in to the pastures in Missouri,and didn't know what a mistake they made.Now that is just about ALL they have in pastures.Common bermuda is what grows and performs the best here,but it does take hot weather to get it going,and many chemicals will ruin it in the summer,or slow it way back.

I will talk to the extension agent in my county,but short of using Roundup and killing everything which we don't want,or using MSMA and having to take them off which we can't do,I really am at a standstill.One of our small front pastures is full of it,and we may try to get rid of it with MSMA if we could sell our horse that stays in that pasture!!!

Bermuda hybrids are the choice of hay ground here,but having a lot of crabgrass in them,and having it go to seed prior to harvest is one thing that has brought it into OUR pasture.Maybe a pre-emerge chemical in early spring will knock it out. 

Almost all of the commercially grown hay here where I live is hybrid Bermuda and we have fed it for years without any trouble.The only trouble we have when they are grazing it is: NOT ENOUGH OF IT during summer.I personally don't want anything with fescue in it if I can help it.I'll take crabgrass in my pasture over it any day.It would cost entirely too much for us to even buy any other type of hay,and it's high enough as it is.

Gee what happened?

Last time I checked,I was asking someone who would know about MSMA/crabgrass control in my own personal pasture.I didn't ask for what seems to come off as someone trying to get me converted to another type of hay (and what,truck it in from another state? when it's a mile up the road from me?) or Roundup my entire 5 acres and resow in something I don't want.

Like I said,I've never had a problem in the years (and there's been a lot of them now) that I've fed and grazed horses on common and hybrid bermuda.I've sure seen plenty founder on fescue,however.

Thanks anyway,houndog.

I don't know what U of NC said.I live in Arkansas.And,I don't know the old horseman that you speak of,either.I just know what we have to feed,and,apparently it's not bad.They all look good,winter and summer.

Speaking of county extension agent,I will call him to see,but last time I asked,they really didn't seem to know a whole lot about chemical application related to horses grazing areas.Perhaps the state plant board that regulates the chemicals would know more.

For some reason I've mysteriously become an "expert"  on my avatar but as you can tell,I'm sure NOT.

Bermuda can plug them up.  I've not had a problem with it.  My friend has 45 brood mares and 3 stallions and they bale off of 100 acres of bermuda.  All is well.  Of course this is all these horses have ever eaten.  Fescue will dry up pregnant mares, Alfalfa can have blister beetles, can't grow Timothy in the south . . . what's a girl to do??

Crab grass makes my backyard stay green

Import hay from Vermont???...