Fertilizer: correct application?

[sheepfarmer]

My knickers are in a knot. I was out in my veggie patch putting in seed, and realized my eyes were burning and the inside of my nose. I figured out that there was some correlation to a JD tractor with a spray rig in my neighbors field about 300 yards away. He went away but after a while made another pass, and it happened again, so I hopped in my car and caught up to him in the next field and flagged him down. I asked him what he was spraying and he said fertilizer for the emerging corn plants. I said what kind of fertilizer? He said ammonia, and I said where I was, and that it was making my eyes burn. He said yeah it goes right for moisture (cheerfully). No "gee I'm sorry, I'll be more careful". I said " you know it's toxic". He said yeah they make him wear eye protection and safety gear. So I'm supposed to wear eye protection in my own yard? I didn't say it but I should have.

I don't know if it was anhydrous ammonia or ammonium nitrate or some mixture.

After a brief discussion in which I mentioned I'd appreciate it if he sprayed when the wind was blowing the other way, especially when he treated with roundup. I don't need my sheep pasture and veggies treated with roundup. My neighbor leases out this field and so has little or no control over this guy.

So to my question, is this competent and reasonable use of chemicals if the overspray carries 300 yards or more? Are there any regulations? I am unlikely to do anything about it, but would like to know.

 

[Ramos]

Sounds par for the course if it was anhydrous ammonia. It is highly volatile, so a little in the air goes a long ways. Unless your eyes are actually tearing up and your breath catches, it's just an unpleasant annoyance.

As for the glyphosate (Roundup), the nut behind the wheel should be able to control drift up to a 12mph breeze. This assumes proper nozzles, pressure, height and windscreens.

 

[bearbait]

To be honest I know little to nothing about this however I find it hard to believe he can spray without a permit and some kind of training. Also a little common sense goes a long way. There is no way you should be subject to this on your own property. The least he could do is inform the surrounding neighbours of what he is planning to do.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

If it was anhydrous ammonia, they put that in the ground with a culivator and the tank will look like a propane tank.

If it was urea-ammonium nitrate, they spray that in a liquid form.
While it's an irritant, it's not really toxic so it's not heavily regulated in farm use, and it's used a lot in Michigan!
You're eye's may hate it, but you plants and grass will love it.

Farmer in Michigan are protected from a lot of local laws and ordinances that would infringe on their processes and make it illegal for them to do what they need to do to produce crops.
Here is one read on it.
https://www.michfb.com/MI/Farm_Busi..._Resources_and_Environment/Right_to_Farm_Act/

 

[sheepfarmer]

Well I should be the last one to complain about farming activities, but my perception is this outfit is not very good or careful. This is the same crew that runs their furrows straight down hill and then the thunderstorm runoff carries all the topsoil across the road and clogs a drain system and winds up in another neighbor's yard.

I asked the guy if it was Roundup ready corn, and he said yes, he'd be back in a few weeks to spray for weeds. He has been using this plot for some years, and never has asked about using the roundup, even on the edges.

The neighbor who actually owns the ground has taken up raising honey bees, and the question I should have asked was if it was Bt corn. The pollen from that will kill her bees.

*****This last statement is not quite correct, sorry. I should have checked first. Figured if it killed Lepidopteran caterpillars it would if carried back to the hive kill bee larvae, but evidence is not clear. Along with neonicotinoids may have a role in Colony Collapse Disorder.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Sorry I typed a line in there that wasn't supposed to be there about roundup.

Yea they use roundup on corn.

And yes roundup kills bee's and bee hives.

"If the farmers use Roundup more than once during the summer, there is almost no way to keep the hives alive. Exposure to Roundup once may not kill the hive, but it will reduce the population so much that the bees may not be strong enough to gather excess honey for the beekeeper that season."

I personally do not ever recommend roundup for anything... I know some say it's ok, I just don't think so!

 

[sheepfarmer]

Sorry to hear that the roundup will get the bees too. I have had a wild colony for many years, it moves around. Last couple of years it's been in an ash tree on my driveway.

 

[Creature Meadow]

Hey Sheepfarmer.

I have a farmer friend that attends my church and some months ago was discussing spraying of chemicals.

While I cannot recall the fine details I do recall him saying he is required by law to notify homeowners in the area he is spraying of what and when he will spray.

Do not recall the time but I believe it is a 24 hour notice, contact via phone, voice mail or note left on front door advising the details.

Distance I cannot recall.

Not sure this helps but I will ask him again Sunday at church to refresh my memory and I'll try to report back so you will at least have a reference.

Have a great Friday, side note we are digging taters tonight.

Jay

 

[sheepfarmer]

See post 5, made mistake on bt toxicity to bees. Not sure what truth is, but immediate toxicity is not clear.

 

[Ramos]

Please, please, please do not think this is aimed at anyone in particular here. Just a few random thoughts from the other side of the fence, so to speak. These thoughts are also in compliance with Oregon law. I won't pretend to know much about other states that may have tighter regulations than mandated by the Feds.

Farming practices include many activities that can be loud, smelly, dusty, smoky and/or irritating to neighbors. These activities may also take place at odd times of the day or night. This was never much of an issue until new neighbors arrived that did not come from a production ag background.

We are not required to inform our neighbors of what/when something will be done. It is, however, inarguably the courteous thing to do. Harmless inconveniences/irritations come with the territory. Things like a baler waking you up at 2:00AM or the smell of chemicals for a day, as examples. Overall, it's still way better than the city life, right?

Now, if the neighbor is spewing out NH3 and sends you to the emergency room or kills your lawn or fruit trees with drifting herbicide, you bet that individual is liable. You may be surprised just how willing they are to right a wrong.

In regards to licensing & application of chemicals... How do you know if someone is licensed unless you ask? Some chemicals are restricted and many are not. FWIW, restricted use products not only require a license to purchase. That license also requires continuing education with documented credit hours.

I guess the most important thing I want to say is the best neighbors are the ones who are patient, courteous and understanding of each other. And yes, BOTH sides of the fence play into this.

In the words of Forrest Gump: "And that's all I got to say about that."

 

[D2Cat]

This is the sign my neighbor has on his fence.

 

[skeets]

Sounds like an old hippy commune I use to know

 

[bucktail]

Sounds like an old hippy commune I use to know

Used to. riiiiiight

 

[bearbait]

Used to. riiiiiight

Lol, yup, was thinking the same thing.

 

[skeets]

What youz guys trying to say

 

[bucktail]

What youz guys trying to say

That used to means last Wednesday.

 

[skeets]

WOW this is a tuff crowd in here tonight