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market-farming - Re: market-farming digest: December 30, 2000 fire ant control

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Chronological Thread  
  • From: marc AT aculink.net
  • To: market farming <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: market-farming digest: December 30, 2000 fire ant control
  • Date: Sun, 31 Dec 2000 10:08:39 -0700


> We do pastured poultry here. One morning during cage moves we noticed that
> we had placed a cage over an ant hill. Big ants. We started to get the cage
> out of there as we were worried about the hens getting bit but stopped when
> we noticed the hens were eating the ants like M&M's and digging down into
> the ant pile to get at them.

The ant pile was a hole that evening and those ants were completely
eradicated by the hens. (Rhode Island Reds.)

I don't know if they were "fire" ants.

>

> 3. "organic" fire ant control
>
> Subject: "organic" fire ant control
> From: "nan and stewart" <stewart AT watervalley.net>
> Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2000 15:17:40 -0000
> X-Message-Number: 3
>
> As a result of many friendly conversations with my local, family owned =
> hardware store (where they will order organic supplies from the back of =
> their catalog and then THEY pay the shipping!) the owner is much more =
> aware of garden poisons.
>
> He recently showed me a brochure about a pyrethrin based fire ant =
> control (powder) with the word organic in title, from a Louisiana =
> company. I knew the usual warnings about use of pyrethrins in terms of =
> contamination of waterways and death to fish, so I showed him that part =
> on the label. =20
>
> But we were both wondering if the conventional fire ant poisons are ALSO =
> harmful to fish PLUS humans, earthworms, etc. so that one would still be =
> better off using the "organic" control (which, by the way, the =
> accompanying endorsement pointed out that there are some "non-organic" =
> ingredients) even around farm ponds, than using the ortho type =
> poisons??? So, it would be the lesser of two evils, even though it =
> would kill fish......
>
> I guess that alot of fire ant mounds are around folks' ponds?? I have =
> fire ant mounds in my garden that I can scoop up with shovel and move to =
> another area, rather than use any kind of poison. I have alot of =
> children visit, so it is of some concern that they not exist in the =
> garden area.
>
> Is there a product out there you have used that is non-toxic, so to =
> speak, to fish, earthworms, etc. and could be used around a pond? I =
> would suspect one could use a pyrethrin product in a non-watery area? I =
> haven't used any myself yet on my vegetables (though heaven knows i have =
> felt desperate enough last summer!!!)
>
> I am tickled that the local store is considering stocking and displaying =
> prominently any "organic" products that I give my endorsement to (they =
> really trust me, plus I literally never shop at Walmart and they know I =
> patronize local businesses only, unless ordering from organic type =
> catalogs!) I told the owner I would consult y'all.
>
> thanks, nan in mississippi
>




  • Re: market-farming digest: December 30, 2000 fire ant control, marc, 12/31/2000

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