long term herbicide effects

[coh]

Really sorry to read about this. Hope you are able to get something out of it, though nothing can really replace what you've lost.

We live in an agricultural area and there are several hundred acres of fields right across the street where they grow a variety of crops. They occasionally spray...something...using crop dusters, which makes me nervous...but so far it has always been done during calm or very light wind conditions. It's probably mostly pesticides (which of course have their own risks) and not herbicides. At least we don't live on that side of the road, so we have a bit of a buffer.

A large chunk of that acreage has now been purchased by an organic farmer, which hopefully will lessen the chances for dangerous chemical encounters. We'll see.

 

[Steve Kudela]

Really sorry to read about this. Hope you are able to get something out of it, though nothing can really replace what you've lost.

We live in an agricultural area and there are several hundred acres of fields right across the street where they grow a variety of crops. They occasionally spray...something...using crop dusters, which makes me nervous...but so far it has always been done during calm or very light wind conditions. It's probably mostly pesticides (which of course have their own risks) and not herbicides. At least we don't live on that side of the road, so we have a bit of a buffer.

A large chunk of that acreage has now been purchased by an organic farmer, which hopefully will lessen the chances for dangerous chemical encounters. We'll see.

Thanks coh, you're absolutely right, I'd rather have the trees in good shape. Hopefully over the next several years, I'll be able to get them back in good shape. It's never been about money for me, I just love these little trees and wanted to be able to pass them on in the next 10 years or so. Based on EPA and manufacturer guidelines, 5 mph is maximum wind velocity that they can spray in. Hopefully you're organic farmer will help keep all that check. Just be watchful and call them on it if it does occur. Funny enough, in years past, a different bunch of farmers had this acreage, used crop dusters and never a bit of drift. Go figure.

 

[M. Frary]

s. In terms of penalties, there are none for 1st violation, a slap on the wrist......don't let it happen again or you will be in trouble

That's nuts! Here they will just about hang a guy. And you don't get a second offense. The DEQ pulls your license. Which is right.

 

[Steve Kudela]

That's nuts! Here they will just about hang a guy. And you don't get a second offense. The DEQ pulls your license. Which is right.

I agree, it is nuts. I would assume that it's because Georgia is the largest ag state in the nation............farmers have a lot of say here. During this ordeal, I spoke with one of our state senators about drift and additional laws to curtail it, his reply was to the affect of, you would have every farmer, his wife and kids and all of their critters seriously hating your guts over it if you did. Also, the state department of agriculture tried the year before last to get additional things done...................it was shot down. The only thing that I can see at this point to do, is if your property gets drifted, do not hesitate to call them on it. If enough people do, then maybe the insurance companies will clobber them over it. And as we all know, insurance companies just looooove their money and if they pay enough of it out maybe they will do something about it. Having said that, I don't mean these sentiments for folks such as yourself just these reckless industrial types that think they can do anything they want to with no penalties for stupidity.

 

[Carol 83]

I agree, it is nuts. I would assume that it's because Georgia is the largest ag state in the nation............farmers have a lot of say here. During this ordeal, I spoke with one of our state senators about drift and additional laws to curtail it, his reply was to the affect of, you would have every farmer, his wife and kids and all of their critters seriously hating your guts over it if you did. Also, the state department of agriculture tried the year before last to get additional things done...................it was shot down. The only thing that I can see at this point to do, is if your property gets drifted, do not hesitate to call them on it. If enough people do, then maybe the insurance companies will clobber them over it. And as we all know, insurance companies just looooove their money and if they pay enough of it out maybe they will do something about it. Having said that, I don't mean these sentiments for folks such as yourself just these reckless industrial types that think they can do anything they want to with no penalties for stupidity.

That is ridiculous. Like I said, we have very few farmers here who do their own spraying, most prefer to hire companies such as the one I work for to do it professionally. Have we had damage claims? Yes. And do we reimburse for damage, yes. I too live in a largely agricultural area, and can't believe that there are virtually no consequences for the damage these farmers cause.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

You said this herbicide drift happened May of 2015? If yes, you are at the end of the second growing season since the incident. Good news is you should have no new damage showing up. Hopefully for the third season new foliage will revert to normal. Depending on the tree, I would give the trees at least 3 or 4 growing seasons to see if foliage reverts to normal.

Especially hebicides that target grasses, they are often of the type that disrupt cell division by causing the chromosomes to not migrate properly to the new cells when cells divide. Mitosis inhibitors, or microtubulin disruptors. Where freaky, deformed growth continues, you may have the equivalent of a ''witches broom'', cell lines where chromosome count got screwed up, but not so screwed up that it wasn't fatal. If possible cut that section out, leaving only ''normal'' branches behind. this will screw up the shape of your trees, but not much you can do.

If a freaky stem might be attractive on its own roots, you could try to root the cuttings. If it is freaky enough that rare plant collectors might want the monstrosity, you could propagate a bunch and sell them for big money, re-coupe you losses a little. But probability of one of these monstrose witches brooms being worth propagating is low.

Essentially this is meant as encouragement, the worst is over, trees that are still alive should begin to recover.

 

[just.wing.it]

This is so terrible....
Sorry for you man.

 

[Steve Kudela]

You said this herbicide drift happened May of 2015? If yes, you are at the end of the second growing season since the incident. Good news is you should have no new damage showing up. Hopefully for the third season new foliage will revert to normal. Depending on the tree, I would give the trees at least 3 or 4 growing seasons to see if foliage reverts to normal.

Especially hebicides that target grasses, they are often of the type that disrupt cell division by causing the chromosomes to not migrate properly to the new cells when cells divide. Mitosis inhibitors, or microtubulin disruptors. Where freaky, deformed growth continues, you may have the equivalent of a ''witches broom'', cell lines where chromosome count got screwed up, but not so screwed up that it wasn't fatal. If possible cut that section out, leaving only ''normal'' branches behind. this will screw up the shape of your trees, but not much you can do.

If a freaky stem might be attractive on its own roots, you could try to root the cuttings. If it is freaky enough that rare plant collectors might want the monstrosity, you could propagate a bunch and sell them for big money, re-coupe you losses a little. But probability of one of these monstrose witches brooms being worth propagating is low.

Essentially this is meant as encouragement, the worst is over, trees that are still alive should begin to recover.

I can see it all now,..............the Kudela "mutants of the monster collection, bonsai that glow", maybe we can get Randy Quade and our own Sorce to be the official spokesmen for the collection. Maybe even secure a vendor spot at the Nationals !! My name in lights! Oughta make a million, I'll split it with you if it worksLOLOLOL. ..........Please forgive my sick attempt at humor, it's the first thing I thought of after seeing your post. Actually I do take it as encouragement. Correct May 1 2015, most everything had leafed out, right at the end of first flush. IMO couldn't have been a worst time in that the trees were going into energy gathering mode. their food factories were just screwed up. I've included a few pics of this season.........ever seen an azalea blossom with 8 petals? You have now, those are late season blooms from just a few weeks ago. The others are from this season as well. another thing that is showing up on different species, the leaves have heart shaped indentations on the leaf tips. I'm not a scientist, I hope that the genetics haven't been altered. Hey Leo and everyone else, thanks a million for the encouragement and well wishes, it means alot. Let's be careful out there......SK

 

[Steve Kudela]

This is so terrible....
Sorry for you man.

Thank you Sir

 

[Steve Kudela]

That is ridiculous. Like I said, we have very few farmers here who do their own spraying, most prefer to hire companies such as the one I work for to do it professionally. Have we had damage claims? Yes. And do we reimburse for damage, yes. I too live in a largely agricultural area, and can't believe that there are virtually no consequences for the damage these farmers cause.

The laws are definitely set up for them...........thanks Carol!

 

[Steve Kudela]

Please Sorce, my buddy don't be offended I'm only joking.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

If the mutant multi-petal azalea proved stable, there ARE people out there that would buy it, no mater how ugly. LOL.

That foliage looks sick. Hopefully less and less each season.