buttercup question

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westparc

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buttercups seem to be everywhere this year.
seen as they are poisonous to horses will they cause problems in hay as the hay fields are covered?
thanks
 
In short - yes they are very poisonous and 'creep' so they will always get worse (last two winters has really helped them). They should be sprayed 1st week in April.

However, no they are not poisonous in hay or haylage as the toxins evaporate (if you google you will get confirmation of this).

Worse thing is when you see them in starvation paddocks with stupid owners who are poisoning their own horses - happened to a friend of mine, laminitic pony didn't die but was seriously ill.

Hope this helps
 
weve got them in rest field and have been told to spray them when the flowers go over.
but hay fields are covered and this was concerning me so thanks.
i know what you mean people but dont seem to think that they are poisonous
 
westparc said:
weve got them in rest field and have been told to spray them when the flowers go over.
but hay fields are covered and this was concerning me so thanks.
i know what you mean people but dont seem to think that they are poisonous
Click to expand...

Interesting because I've always been told to spray at point of flowering. Managed this last year (usually I am too late and they have gone over) and really ineffective. Hmmm will be going back to spraying when gone over next year methinks. Don't worry about your hay - there is an article on this in H & H if you can find it
 
An agric contractor told me that they are best sprayed when actively growing/coming up to flowering. Once flowered you've missed the boat. Having said that, after the recent rain, following the very dry spell, they are off again so might be a good time to spray if grass not going to be cut for hay in next couple of weeks. Have also read people have had success with autumn spraying but persistence seems to be essential in dealing with buttercups.
 
I used somthing called banish made especially for getting rid of buttercups, it was very good but found it worked better when the flowers were out.. :-)
 
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