Fire Ant Control in Pastures

 

Fire ants are pretty well established here in North Carolina and some of them like to call your pasture or hayfield home. Whether you are dealing with one mound or a hundred mounds in some cases, you need to know what to do for control.

Fire ants can negatively impact your equine or hay operation and cost you time and money. Impact may be felt through:

• Lost Labor Animal Injury Equipment
• Damage/Wear
• Hay Production
• Medical/Veterinary Costs
• Forage Degradation
• Electrical Equipment Damage
• Infested Feed
• Reduced Feeding
• Young Animal Endangerment

There are a few pesticides labeled for fire ant control in a pasture or hayfield situation. Some are for directly treating the mound and others are for broadcasting an infested area where there are a lot of mounds. There are also some pesticides that are for use only in horse pastures (where horses are not used for human consumption) and non-pasture farm areas. As always, please read the label and follow restrictions and directions for using in pasture. Here is a list of pesticides for use in pastures:

• Amdro Pro – For mound or broadcast
• Amdro – Horse or non-pasture areas only
• Extinguish – For mound or broadcast
• Extinguish Plus – Horse or non-pasture areas only
• Esteem Ant Bait – For mound or broadcast
• Award – Horse or non-pasture areas only
• Sevin SL – For mound drench only
• Advion – Horse or non-pasture areas only

Here are a few tips to help increase your success when applying a pesticide to control fire ants:

Do not apply baits and drench at the same time.

Allow 7-10 days between the two application. Ants will not forage and accept bait while they are disrupted by poison.

The best months to treat are mid-spring and fall. The best time of day to treat is mid-morning when air temperatures are around 70 degrees F.

To check and see if fire ants are active, place potato chips or cheese puffs on the ground. If ants are noticed within 5-10 minutes then they are considered active and foraging.

Additional tips when applying baits:

Do not apply if ground is wet or rain occurs within 36 hours. Do not store open product for longer than package allows– most products have a short shelf life. Do not store baits near other pesticides or fuel from which they may absorb odors and taste. Do not apply baits directly on top of the mound, fire ants do not come and go from the top of the mound. Do not disturb mounds when applying baits, this can interfere with their foraging behavior.

Remember, always read the label and follow directions! Some products may require you to reapply! You cannot get rid of fire ants overnight, just like anything else it will take time. Formulate a plan and stick to it so you can reclaim your pasture back.

To view the original publication and for more information please see the publication Fire Ants in Pastures.

 

Written by: Lauren Langley, Livestock Extension Agent | Source: S. B. Bambara & Wes Watson, NC State Extension Entomologists

Video Resources:

Equine Law Webinar Series

 

N.C. Cooperative Extension, Alamance and Chatham County Centers are proud to present the Equine Law Webinar Series with guest speaker, R.L. Adams from Carolina Equine Law. This webinar series was designed with horse owners and equine businesses in mind.

Through this free webinar series, you will learn about several important topics including equine contracts, liability, and insurance. These topics are important if you are considering leasing, boarding, hosting groups/events, giving lessons, etc.

Each webinar will take place from 7–8 p.m. EST on the following dates:

November 4, 2021: Equine Contracts 101

November 16, 2021: Equine Liability & Insurance

Pre-Registration Required: http://go.ncsu.edu/equinelaw21

 

About Zoom (Online Platform Being Used):

This webinar series will be delivered through Zoom, which is an online video communications platform that is free for users. You can download the free app to your phone or you can join by computer. If you cannot join by smartphone or computer, you can call in and listen from any phone.

Once registered, you will be provided with the information needed to join the webinar session.

Questions? Contact Lauren Langley at 336-266-0702 or lauren_langley@ncsu.edu or Kristina Britt at 919-542-8242 or kristina_britt@ncsu.edu.

Biosecurity: What Is It and Why Is It Important

Have you ever thought about how diseases are spread and how to prevent that? This is the basis for biosecurity, which refers to what people do to keep diseases, and viruses, and bacteria, and funguses, and parasites, and other disease-causing microorganisms, away from their animals, farm, and people. The information below is from the Equine Disease Communication Center which is powered by US Equestrian and the American Association of Equine Practitioners. As you read through the information and resources think about how you can improve biosecurity for your horses! 

What is Biosecurity?

Biosecurity is any procedure or measure designed to protect the population against harmful biological or biochemical substances (source). In the equine industry, biosecurity refers to the precautions we take to limit the spread of disease when working with horses. These preventative measures are vital to maintaining the health of all horses regardless of their occupation, whether they be a companion animal, a working horse, or a show animal. Even the smallest precautions can help to keep horses safe from infectious diseases. 

Prevention is Key

Best practices in disease prevention include a combination of following a vaccination plan and taking simple, but important, biosecurity measures in your barn, while traveling, at events, and when caring for your horse. Suggested biosecurity protocols differ depending on the situation and location. Listed below are some general biosecurity resources. Take a look at the biosecurity subpages which provide resources that are specific to common situations and locations to help you keep your horse safe, happy, and healthy at all times.

• USEF Biosecurity Video
• Biosecurity Toolkit for Equine Events
• Breeding Operations
• Disinfection
• Events
• Facilities
• Isolation and Quarantine
• Racetracks
• Travel

Here are a few things that everyone can do to help prevent the spread of disease:

1. Optimize Resistance to Disease.
   1. Vaccinate. The first step to prevention is to keep your horse on a vaccination program that takes into account his/her job (pleasure horse, show animal, working animal, companion), general health status (age, history of illness, etc), amount of travel, and location (some regions pose more risk of disease than others). This vaccination program should be discussed and implemented with your veterinarian.
   2. Reduce Stress. Stress can compromise the horse’s immune systems and make him more susceptible to infection. Happy horses are more likely to be healthy horses.
   3. Optimize Nutrition. Adequate nutrition keeps your horse strong and healthy and gives him the tools he needs to fight off possible infections. 
2. Reduce Exposure.
   1. Practice Biosecurity. Use all of our resources to determine what aspects of your horse’s daily life put him at risk for disease and establish a plan for reducing those risks.
   2. Limit horse-to-horse and horse-to-human interaction. This one is easier said than done given the gregarious nature of the horse but is vital to horse health. Horses and humans can be carriers for the pathogens that cause disease. Establish groups of horses on your facility to reduce intermingling and encourage all humans to avoid interacting with multiple animals without disinfecting between contact.

How are diseases transmitted?

 

Additional Resources for General Biosecurity

AAEP Biosecurity Guidelines, AAEP

Biosecurity Tips for Horse Owners, USDA/APHIS

Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity (video), The Horse

Protect Your Horse from Infectious Diseases (Poster), Equine Guelph

Biosecurity for Horse Owners- Information Sheet- Equine Guelph

Fall Vaccinations

As temperatures begin to cool with the arrival of fall, now is a good time to schedule your horses for fall vaccines.  There are two categories of vaccines - core vaccinations and risk-based vaccinations.  Core vaccines include Eastern & Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE and EWE), Tetanus and West Nile Virus and should be included in vaccination programs regardless of geographical locations. Risk-based vaccines such as Botulism, Potomac Horse Fever, Rhinopneumonitis (EHV-1 and EVH-4), and Equine Influenza should be given based on the risk of disease in a herd population or geographical area.  

In North Carolina, particularly in the eastern part of the state, it is highly recommended all horses regardless of age or travel status receive a fall booster of Eastern/Western Encephalomyelitis, a mosquito-born disease.  On September 16, 2021, a second and  third confirmed case of EEE was confirmed in eastern North Carolina for the year.  EEE has a high mortality rate in unvaccinated horses and treatment options are limited and often ineffective. Other fall boosters to consider include EHV-1 and EHV-4 and Influenza, particularly for horses in boarding operations of travel for shows and trail rides.  

Regardless of your location or the time of the year, any vaccination plan, should be developed with your veterinarian to ensure the best disease coverage is maintained for your horse.  The American Association of Equine Practitioners also has an very informative recommendation chart to study to become better more familiar with your options: https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/2021-05/Adult_Vaccinaton_Chart.pdf

The (literally) Smoking Gun: Hay Fires

Photo from Alabama Cooperative Extension: 
https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/forages-livestock/reducing-the-risk-hay-fire/

Even though temperatures have consistently stayed in the 80's, the shorter days tell us that winter is approaching.  Many of us have started our winter preparations, which can (and should) include stocking up on quality hay.  However, baled hay can be its own fuel and ignition, and can result in a hay fire.

Hay fires are unique to the horse and agriculture industry.  The majority of hay fires occur within 6 weeks of baling, usually due to an excessive amount of moisture in the bale.  This is thanks to the growth and multiplication of mesophilic (warm temperature) bacteria naturally found in forages.  Much like with composting, the mesophilic bacteria release heat within the bale and can cause the temperature to rise between 130-140 degrees Fahrenheit.  The ideal moisture level for hay being baled is 15-18% moisture.  At this moisture level, at 130-140 degrees Fahrenheit the bacteria begin to die and the internal temperature of the bale begins to cool.  However, in bales with higher moisture content, the heat created from mesophilic bacteria provides a breeding ground for thermophilic (heat-loving) bacteria, which in turn creates hotter temperatures (up to 170 degrees Fahrenheit).  Bales with higher moisture content also sustain these higher temperatures for longer periods.  For example, a bale with 30% moisture may have a higher interior bale temperature for up to 40 days.  It's easy to see how spontaneous combustion can occur in these situations.

Other factors that can have added risk of hay fires include the volume/density of the bale, and ventilation or airflow around stacked bales.  Bales with a lower density/not packed as tight, that are stacked lower and have good airflow have a lower risk of overheating and combusting.

If you are concerned that hay may have been baled at too high a moisture content, make sure to monitor the internal bale temperature 2x a day for the first 6 weeks after baling.  You can use a temperature probe ($20 at most ag supply stores).  When taking temperatures, drive the probe into the center of the bale and leave it there for 15-20 minutes to get an accurate reading.  You can use the chart below for further actions to take depending on the internal temperature of your hay bales.

In the event of a fire, or even if your hay is smoldering, contact the fire department immediately.  Always remember to protect your own life first!  You can always replace hay, buildings, and equipment, but there is only 1 you.

If you do take action to fight the fire, here are some actions to consider first:

• Check the surrounding area for flammable products, like gasoline cans.  If they are present, LEAVE IMMEDIATELY and make sure to notify firefighters of the flammable products upon their arrival.
• Remove any extra vehicles or machinery from the area around the fire to make room for fire service equipment.
• Move any bale moving equipment out of the way, but make sure it is also readily available if needed.
• Turn off electricity to the building (if you have any).

For an in-depth review on how barn fires can start and how to prevent them, check out Penn State's Fire Safety in Horse Stables publication.

A Word to the Wise

    We have had a very interesting year regarding weather here in North Carolina, so as we move into fall and winter we need to think about our hay reservers. In the piedmont region where I live we have been extremely dry in some areas and the western part of the state has seen a lot of rain and flooding. If you buy your hay or even make your own hay it is a smart idea to really pencil out how much hay you have on hand and think about the future. Since my region has been so dry our second cutting of hay has produced about half as much as it normally does. So, as a hay producers I have already contacted people that I sell to to let them know the limited supply we have and they should reach out to other hay producers to procure their winter supply. If you buy hay in NC this is something you need to do now, reach out to your hay supplier and make sure they have enough hay to supply you with for the winter months. They also may be struggling and you may need to find an alternative source. Also, because hay is in short supply I would imagine prices may go up this winter so if you have the resources to buy and store hay it may be in your best interest to get your supply in the next few weeks as producers are finishing up the hay season. Thinking ahead and being prepared is something any animal owner should be doing and the weather this year has been so hit or miss that we need to be wise about our future hay reserves. If you have trouble finding hay you can always reach out to your local Extension Agent and we usually know where to find hay or contact someone who does. Thanks and have a great Fall! 

Second Trimester Care

If you bred your mare in the spring, she will likely be in or close to her second trimester at this time. The second trimester is defined as day 114-210 of gestation. Management isn’t much different from a non-pregnant mare but there are some considerations to keep in mind. Always consult with your vet for specifics regarding your mare and your situation. But here are some general guidelines for the second trimester.

Many people think a pregnant mare is fragile and must be handled carefully. But they need exercise and as long as there aren’t any extenuating circumstances, you can saddle up and ride. In most instances, mares can safely participate in more rigorous activities like cantering, jumping, and competitions up to about month five of gestation. Light riding is fine up to about month 8, though you may need to adjust saddle fit to accommodate her growing shape. At a minimum make sure your mare has plenty of time turned out in a pasture, paddock, or dry lot. 

It is always a good idea to provide high-quality feed but a pregnant mare’s nutritional demands are not much higher than normal during this time. In fact, you must be careful not to overfeed at this stage. Many people think they should feed for two once the pregnancy is confirmed. But excess nutrients above what is needed will not help improve foal growth but will instead go to the mare. Carrying this additional weight can be detrimental for the mare resulting in conditions like laminitis. Excess fat stored around the pelvis can narrow the birthing canal which can make the foaling process more difficult. Try to keep your mare’s BCS around a 5 or 6 during pregnancy. Your vet can help you assess your mare’s body condition score and help with nutrition recommendations.

Consult with your vet for help with preventatives like dewormers and vaccines. Most dewormers are safe for pregnant mares but check the label carefully. During this time, you can vaccinate for EHV-1, which is Equine Herpes Virus-1. Both the first and second shot should be given during the second trimester. Fetal sexing can be done at this time to determine the foal’s sex.

The second trimester is fairly simple in terms of management. Changing up her exercise or feeding routines likely isn’t necessary unless there are extenuating circumstances. Taking care of your mare now helps set her up for a successful third trimester and foaling.