OK my hives are on a friends property. The next property over (about 1/4 mile away from my hives) the people want to spray their star thistles as they have a huge field of it. I know the bees are all over those flowers right now. I heard they want to use an herbicide.
Can anyone please give me any advice on what to do. I know these people and they are very nice and perhaps willing to try something else or maybe herbicides do not bother bees.
Thanks for any advice.
Sincerely
Annette
find out what they are using. most of the field herbicides are not going to kill the bees after the spray has dried. to bad they chose not to do it earlier. better to have sprayed before the bloom. or...after, since it's a good source for your bees.
i use weed master when i have to spray the fields. don't know if they can get it in CA since you all are so twitchy about stuff. it's a 0 days withdrawal spray made to be used on livestock fields.
I don't think they will abandon their plans to spray unless you work out a deal with them that involves you walking the property every couple of weeks pulling the noxious weeds. I know around here, cows will not eat it and the horses spread it around. I will ruin a pasture in a couple of years. Yellow starthistle is one of the most ecologically and economically damaging invasive plants in California. I don't think the bees will be affected much by it. The blossoms will close up in several hours after being sprayed with 2 - 4D. If they spray in the afternoon, by morning I don't think they will open up.
I live in farm country (nw Iowa) they will spray with 2-4d or stinger. Both products are absorbed by plants on contact. Once it dries it is a non issue for honeybees, they will not work the flowers once sprayed!