Corporate bribery?

[grassfarmer]

grassfarmer, better try and sell your theory to AAFRD, so they can initiate amendments to the Provincial Weed and Pest legislation in order that we aren't violating it by having pastures full of thistles.
In fact, I will NOT buy any hay from a location that has ever had a weed notice for thistles, I have spent enough time and resources getting it eradicated from my own fields, I sure don't need to buy the damn stuff !!

[grassfarmer]

Emrald1, I don't need to get the rules on weed control changed because the system I use does not result in thistle or other serious weed problems that would cause my county any concerns.
I was trying to raise an alternative way to to get rid of thistles. When you say you have spent enough time and resources getting them eradicated from your own fields and at the same time tell us that you spray for thistles every other year it looks to me like you are not succeeding in eradicating thistles, rather you are perpetuating the problem.
My post above was an attempt to explain why selectivly spraying for "pest" weeds using chemicals can never succeed longterm. I'm not making this stuff up, rather repeating the results of research done by learned people like Allan Savory.
Besides why should we think Government agencies are the fount of all knowledge when it comes to implementing smart legislation?
Look at the US example of the BLM/ National park administrators. To this day many are still blaming
"overgrazing" for causing erosion and desertification of some of their land when Savory clearly proved 30 years ago that it was in fact removing the animals from the land that had caused the problem.

[cswilson]

Emerald I should tell you I ranch amongst some of the best and fussiest farmers in Sask. I share fencelines with them so obviously my 'weeds' aren't that big a problem.

[silverback]

Maybe I grew up under a rock, but I was always taught that thistle seed is airborne. No? If the theory is correct, the reason one needs to re-spray is because there is always new seed blowing in from the neighbors.

Maybe I am wrong.

[grassfarmer]

There is a good article on Canada thistles at: www.wildflowers-and-weeds.com/weedsinfo/Cirsium_arvense.htm

A quote from the article: "Canada thistle flourishes where over-grazing, cultivation or mulching has created open habitat for it. The plant does not do well in tight and healthy ecosystems."

[cswilson]

That's who polluted my pasture those dang plow jockeys lol.I shgouda known lol.

[cswilson]

grassfarmer, thankfully you are an expert on most matters regarding farming but my reference to AAFRD was to the weed legislation not information on controlling thistles, although am sure they do have info available at least they used to.

I am sure that thistles are airborne and when the neighbour chooses to allow his property to run wild with every weed imaginable it is likely that the rest of us will end up having to use some control methods periodically.

Weed management and control are individual choices and what works best for some may not be the choice of others.....