The cost to take a forage stand out of production will change depending on which termination strategies are employed. However, what is cost effective for one producer may not be for another. Table 1 outlines the expenses associated with terminating a stand. The cost of any given termination strategy will change with the cost of fuel, equipment and herbicides. Producers must consider geography, environmental conditions, stand composition, efficiency of termination and re-cropping options when determining the economics of forage stand termination.
Table 1. Expenses associated with terminating forage stands.
| Termination Strategy | Cost per acre*** | Your Cost per acre |
| Tillage alone | ||
| Four tillage operations | $8.79 x 4 = $35.14 | |
| One harrow operation | = $4.56 | |
| Total | $39.70 | |
| Tillage + Herbicides | ||
| Spray glyphosate* at 1.34 litres per acre pre-harvest (late June-early July) and cut hay |
$5.53 + $9.514 = $15.04 | |
| Two tillage operations | $8.79 X 2 = $17.58 | |
| Pre-seed glyphosate burn-off at 0.67 litres per acre | $5.53 + 4.76 = $10.29 | |
| Total | $42.91 | |
| Herbicides alone | ||
| Spray glyphosate at 1.34 litres per acre + 0.5 L per acre 2,4-D** on regrowth (late August-early September) |
$5.53 + $9.51 +$5.20 = $20.25 | |
| Pre-seed glyphosate burn-off at 0.67 litres per acre | $6.00 + 4.76 = $10.76 | |
| Total | $31.00 |
Assumptions:
*540 gram active ingredient per litre glyphosate formulation
**2,4-D 700 Ester
***Herbicide costs based on February , 2019 retail price ($7.10 per litre and $10.40 per litre for glyphosate and 2,4-D respectively). Custom rates were based on values in the Ministry's 2018-19 Farm Machinery Custom and Rental Rate Guide
Refer to the latest version of the Guide to Crop Protection for grazing, haying and re-cropping restrictions and lists of registered tank mixes.