Tree Damage From Crop Spraying

[pdqdl]

You calling me a ninny?


I don't have enough garden hose to reach those trees - and @ about $60/ea @ Wallyworld I'm not going to any time soon.
I saw those photos yesterday.
I'll go take a few close ups of the leaves and post them.

Actually, I thought I was referring to others, but if the shoe fits...

BTW, my original statement was this:

Whether the observed damage was caused by heat or herbicides, water those trees!

 

[Bill G]

I wish they'd go back to plain old tilling.
Can't find any arrowheads with no-till.

That may be true but with plain ole tilling you have to look for your topsoil in the Mississippi, Atlantic or Pacific

 

[pdqdl]

You should find out if your farmer used a combination spray of dicamba and glyphosate, apparently a fairly common practice.
https://brownfieldagnews.com/news/s...icamba-volatility-when-mixed-with-glyphosate/

 

[TNTreeHugger]

BTW, my original statement was this:

The man from DoA said don't touch them, so watering them would go against his directive, I would think.
Going to take more photos - I thought it was just these trees, but I just noticed the leaves on my maples, paulownia, and buckeyes are looking funky, too.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Burning bush, spicebush, redbuds - looks like every fricking thing in my yard has been affected.
I'm so mad I could spit nails.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

You should find out if your farmer used a combination spray of dicamba and glyphosate, apparently a fairly common practice.
https://brownfieldagnews.com/news/s...icamba-volatility-when-mixed-with-glyphosate/

That information would be useless to me. I'm sure the guy from the DoA will find that out when he does his inspection.

PLUS, if he is being negligent I don't want to do anything to alert him so he can try to cover his tracks - that is, IF the damage is from the spraying.
If it's not then my trees are none of his concern.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Ivy, pokeweed, walnuts, and pecans.
I think it's time to do a physical inventory.


Wish I knew for sure what the heck is going on here.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Some close-ups

I had been looking only at the trees close to the property line, but the trees in the front yard are affected also.
Not an expert, but my guess is the shiny surface is a dead giveaway for some kind of -icide/surfactant.

 

[old CB]

From your photos it's almost certain that the trees and other plants on your place have been adversely affected by herbicide. That's lousy. The inspector should be able to confirm it.

 

[pdqdl]

Yep. That looks like broadleaf herbicide damage to me. Almost classic examples, especially the last picture and this one:

Those are much better pictures, by the way.

Find some grapevines in the area. They are particularly sensitive to Dicamba. Redbud are more sensitive than most trees, or so I have read.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

From your photos it's almost certain that the trees and other plants on your place have been adversely affected by herbicide. That's lousy. The inspector should be able to confirm it.

Do you think it's fatal?

 

[pdqdl]

Some years back, I observed a community college do a broadleaf spray on their fields, and cause similar herbicide damage to the trees across the street. None of them died, but they had a lot of curly leaves for quite some time.

 

[old CB]

Do you think it's fatal?

I'm no expert. I had many years of farming experience, and also have used herbicide quite a bit (though I'm not a fan anymore).

The inspector should be able to tell you more.

 

[pdqdl]

Remember my suggestion of chlorosis treatments?


While researching your topic I also found a reference that said new growth following a dicamba exposure was often observed to be chlorotic. At this point, I'd almost say it was a definite diagnosis. Funny thing is, I don't see the herbicide damage in this picture, as it is only displaying the new growth.

I'm going to guess that your trees will be ok. You probably got a good dose of volatile exposure, which is more damaging to the foliage than to the entire tree. It all boils down to the total amount of herbicide delivered to each plant. The fact that you have new growth is very encouraging. The fact that some of your plants were defoliated nearly completely isn't too good at all.

I've never done an overspray of this type, so I lack experience at predicting the outcome for your trees.

 

[Raintree]

Better pictures, agree herbicide injury.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Find some grapevines in the area. They are particularly sensitive to Dicamba. Redbud are more sensitive than most trees, or so I have read.

I just so happen to have grape vines - or I should say HAD grapevines.
Althea, sassafras, grapevines, cedar, blueberries, looks like nearly everything in the yard has been decimated - including the fencerow and beyond.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Remember my suggestion of chlorosis treatments?
View attachment 988232

While researching your topic I also found a reference that said new growth following a dicamba exposure was often observed to be chlorotic. At this point, I'd almost say it was a definite diagnosis. Funny thing is, I don't see the herbicide damage in this picture, as it is only displaying the new growth.

I'm going to guess that your trees will be ok. You probably got a good dose of volatile exposure, which is more damaging to the foliage than to the entire tree. It all boils down to the total amount of herbicide delivered to each plant. The fact that you have new growth is very encouraging. The fact that some of your plants were defoliated nearly completely isn't too good at all.

I've never done an overspray of this type, so I lack experience at predicting the outcome for your trees.

I noticed that, too, but the new growth leaves on the oaks are turning a pale sickly yellow/green as they mature, rather limp also. I thought the new pink was encouraging, but not so much now.

 

[pdqdl]

That information would be useless to me. I'm sure the guy from the DoA will find that out when he does his inspection.

PLUS, if he is being negligent I don't want to do anything to alert him so he can try to cover his tracks - that is, IF the damage is from the spraying.
If it's not then my trees are none of his concern.

You may wish to check this out also.
https://investigatemidwest.org/2020...-dicamba-no-longer-legal-federal-court-rules/
This story is a couple years old. I haven't found out yet what the current status of the ruling is.

EDIT: Nope. Not banned, and too early in the season to be considered a violation.
https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/epa-...trict-use-over-top-dicamba-minnesota-and-iowa

 

[pdqdl]

Chlorosis is another word for your "sickly yellow color".

 

[TNTreeHugger]

You may wish to check this out also.
https://investigatemidwest.org/2020...-dicamba-no-longer-legal-federal-court-rules/
This story is a couple years old. I haven't found out yet what the current status of the ruling is.

That was in 2020. Wonder if it's back on the market?
Nevermind, I just saw your other comment on the status.

Have you come across anything about the health (humans and wildlife) effects of drifting spray?