Wattle and Invasive Weed Eradication with Horses and Herbicide in South Africa
Channel: Piet Bosman
Date: 2012-12-07

Contact: Clinton Whitehead for more Info
Saddle Light: Sprayers of Wattle and other invasive species
eastgtrading@gmail.com
Cell phone# +27 (0)603 905414
Address: Franklin -- East Griqualand - Kwa-Zulu Natal - South Africa

Each horse team now has 2 handlers. One operating the sprayer and the other holding the horse at least 5-10m away up wind.

Treatment using one two horse team:-
Average rate of application, 400lts/Ha of mix.
Average quantity sprayed, 750lts per day.
Average area treated, 1.875 ha per day.
Charge per ha. is now R1753 per ha.
Note: These performance figures show what we achieved during the start up phase of our operation. Using horses in the field to spray wattle in difficult terrain has not been tried before- to my knowledge. However, spraying noxious weeds in mountainous terrain has been carried out in other parts of the world very effectively using horses and more popularly mules.

I have no doubt that in a very short period of time we will show significant increases in all aspects of our performance figures whiles spraying on my land.

As at May 2010 operating costs were R2716 per two horse team per day. Today (October 2012) the cost is calculated at R3286 after adding for inflation at 10% per year. This includes a fair profit of 33% on basic costs.

Basis of charge levied:-
One ha. Includes wattle up to one meter tall. For each meter, or part thereof above one meter a further charge is added at the same rate as the first meter. So, it is important that land owners cut their tall wattle down a year ahead of the proposed treatment. This allows time for some re-growth to provide enough foliage for the herbicide to take effect and keeps costs to a minimum.
Burning around forests of mature Wattle to germinate dormant seeds a year in advance is also advised.
Existing re growth and new germination plants must be sprayed immediately to avoid unnecessary further growth and there for additional cost to the landlord.

The above quote is for one team of 2 horses, one spraying the other resupply to the one spraying. Each additional horse will be charged at a rate of R1643 per day.
In the case of an additional horse being needed it would be if the resupply rate exceeds the rate of application. This would mean an application rate of 1500lts per day and 3.75ha sprayed reducing the cost per Ha sprayed to R1314 per day.

The cost of application as detailed above is R4.38 per liter of mix.

Conditions:-
1. A 25% discount will apply for payment made in advance. 

2. Any wattle sprayed inadequately, resulting in having to be re sprayed, would be done free of charge providing it is agreed it was the sprayer at fault. This can happen and part of a plant is missed. We don't know at this point whether a partially sprayed plant will die or not. Some say we need only spray the top part of the plant to kill it. That is where spraying is done on plants not taller than shoulder height, say one meter. We have done sample spraying using this method and should be able to see results in a months time. 

3. Only foliage which can be accessed by the horse without causing damage to the equipment and/or injury to the horse and handler will be sprayed. The selection of appropriate target trees will be for the handler and no other person.

4. Spraying will not be carried out unless weather conditions prevailing or forecast are acceptable to the service provider.

5. In the case of either the horse and/or the handler, or the equipment being considered incapacitated the service provider will have the right to cease operations until repairs can be made or replacements commissioned.

6. Public and Private Liability Insurance to be provided by the land owner.

Method of operation:-

Generally eradication will be carried out in stages. Each area of Wattle will be spayed up to 6 meters tall and only that which is safely accessible. Once that foliage has died (after 6 weeks or so) a follow spray takes place on live plants and sop on until the entire forest is eradicated.

Charges and payment in advance will be based on the entire task area agreed between the landlord and service provider.

The service provider will be responsible for the team of horses and handlers in respect of logistics, accommodation, feeding, transport, medical and veterinary services, communications and protective clothing.

The landlord is required to give full access during operations to the service provider's horses, handlers, support personnel, vehicles and make available an adequate supply of clean fresh water on site.

The landlord agrees to supply the appropriate Herbicide in adequate quantities to sustain the operation at all times.