The Secrets Of Prickly Pear You Will Want To Know

The Secrets Of Prickly Pear You Will Want To Know

Prickly pear is a cactus species that has an edible fruit and is tropical in nature. It does have health benefits in treating diabetes and other ailments, but in regards to ranchers and farmers, it is considered a formidable pest. Prickly Pear for ranchers can easily overtake a pasture and is very hard to kill as it is a very resilient species. In fact, many people have trouble controlling it on their own and rely on crop protection services such as helicopter aerial spraying from Heli AG. While much is known about this cacti health benefits, not a lot is known about how to control its spread and growth when unwanted. There are a few facts you may not know about Prickly Pear that helps you understand why crop protection services are needed to kill or control its spread.

TO KILL OR NOT TO KILL, THAT IS THE QUESTION

While Prickly Pear and other kinds of cacti do cause problems with livestock movement and foraging, it can have some benefits for some wildlife in times of drought. Species like quail, javelina, and deer can use it for food and cover, so you may want to choose methods that selectively kill off unwanted growth but retain patches where you keep some for these reasons. A good crop protection services company like Heli AG will be able to guide you in a targeted control method to make the best of its benefits while mitigating its negative impact on your pastures.

CONTROLLING PRICKLY PEAR IS AN ONGOING PROCESS

When striving to control Prickly Pear on your pasture, remember that you are in it for the long haul, it is ongoing. This is why it is best to deploy helicopter aerial spraying from a crop protection services company to save you time and headaches. Surmount by Dow Chemical is one of the leading herbicide products being used to effectively control Prickly Pear. It is a hybrid blend of Tordon 22k and a soap-like agent called Vista, which is safe for rangeland uses. This helps in the leaf uptake of the herbicide and has a better spreading power than traditional Tordon 22k alone. Since the seeds spread easily into the soil and can germinate at any time, you must apply a constant coverage of herbicide to prevent outbreaks.

TARGETED HERBICIDE IS AN OPTION

You can alternatively, in areas where Prickly Bear borders foliage and shrub you want to keep, apply a small concentrated herbicide mix directly to the leaves of the cacti without killing the trees and grasses you want to preserve. This is a more costly service from crop protection services companies but it is helpful in controlling patches that are surrounded by valuable crops. However, there is another method aside from herbicide which may work and simply involved top removal of the cacti to prevent growth.

AERIAL HELICOPTER SPRAYING WORKS BEST

If you have large swaths of Prickly Pear growth and  are not concerned with any crops nearby, crop protection services company, Heli AG, recommends aerial helicopter spraying on a regular basis to effectively kill and prevent seedlings from the new growth of Prickly Pear.  If you are ready to eliminate or control your Prickly Pear infestation, contact us today!