S Use and

332.6 calibration of the
3232 cyclone seeder for
A3ib7 control of the
1984 Klchardson ground

squirrel on

rangelandt pasture

IKFORJ-IATIO?-' BULLETIN IIO. 7

MOFTANA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

ENVIRONMENTAL tlAI.JAGEMENT DIVISION

TECHNICi.L SERVICED HUREAU

HELENA, MONTANA 5 9 620

1904

8tatf documents collection
DECg 1988

MONTANA STATE LlbhJARY

1515 E. 6th AVE.
HELENA, MONTANA 59620

USE AND CALIBRATION OF THE CYCLONE SEEDER FOR CONTROL OF
THE RICHARDSON CROUND SQUIRREL ON RANCELAND , PAST[JRE AND

HARVESTED FIELDS

Cyclone Seeder Application

To calibrate the cyclone seeder for Richardson ground squirrel
control utilizing ntrychnire grain bait, you will need the
following equipment and neiterials:

-- cyclone seeder (electric fan rrodel)

-- wood or metal frame v/ith inside measurement of one

square foot
-- scale (2C lbs or greater capacity)

— 5 gallon bucket or plastic tub

— measuring tape

-- untreated whole oats (20 to 30 lbs)
-- strychnine treated whole oats (i.e,
0.44% strychnine)

Sebesta brand

First, securely mount the cyclone seeder onto your vehicle,
either on the front or rear. Once fastened, determine what
vehicle speed you wish to maintain while applying bait. For most
terrains, five miles per hour has been satisfactory — you may want
a hand throttle to maintain a steady speed. A variation of only
one mile per hour in speed will increase or decrease the
application rate by 20 percent. Throughout remainder of the
calibration, be sure to use the sam.e vehicle speed.

Using a small amount of untreated oats (5 lbs) , adjust the fan
speed while driving to get a swath of approximately 20 feet
(Figure 1). This should be done where there is no vegetation
(driveway, around farm buildings, etc) so you can observe the
oats on the ground. Once a uniform swath has been fixed, record
the fan setting for future use.

Now, by adjusting the gate opening, determine the number of
kernels being applied per square foot. Across the 20 foot sv;ath,
randomly place the square foot frame 10-20 times and count the
kernels in each frame. Average these frame counts. Adjust the
gate opening and record gate settings for the following rates per
Ewath-acre.

PLEASE RETURN

DEC 12 wo

1.2 kernclb per square -Foot = 3 Ibr; per acre
2.4 kernels per pquare foot = 6 lbs per acre
4.0 kernels per square foot = 10 Ibn per acre

After calibrating the cyclone seeder by this method, one final
calibration is necessary to confirm your application rate.
First, divide the nur*er of square feet in an acre (43,560 square
feet) by the swath width you have selected. For n 20 foot swath,
this would amount to 2,178 feet. This ir eaual to one swath-acre
(43,560 feet divided by 20 ^eet equals 2,178 feet). VJith the
measuring tape, measure out this distance in an area which is to
be treated with strychnine oats. Weigh ]5 to 20 pounds of bait
into the seeder. Apply the bait along the line you have
m.easured. VJeigh the bait remaining in the seeder. The
difference will be the pounds of bait actually applied per swath-
acre. If this differs from results obtained by counting the
kernels per square foot, readjust your machine.

Ground squirrel control using the cyclone seeder is generally
most effective where the density of ground cover vegetation is
light to moderate. As density of ground cover increases the rate
of bait application must be increased. Economic costs and
environm.ental concerns limif. the maximum amount of bait applied.
Applications greater than 6 pounds per acre are not recomm.ended.
Broadcast application of bait need not be continuous over the
treated area. Where grouna cover is light to moderate unbaited
intervals of 20 to 100 feet between baited swaths can be left
(Figure 2) . The follov;ing table gives various application rates
and swath intervals depending on vegetation cover.

CYCLONE SEEDFP APPLICATION RATE5^

Net Pound Fait

Vegetation

Bait Application Rate

Swath Interval

Per Acre

Cover

6 pounds per acre

None

6 pounds

Heavy

10 pounds per swath-acre

20 feet

5 pounds

Heavy

3 pounds per acre

None

3 pounds

Medium

6 pounds per swath-acre

20 feet

3 pounds

Medium

10 pounds per sv/ath-acre

100 feet

1 . 7 pounds

Light

6 pounds per swath-acre

100 feet

1 pound

None

Application Precautions

Broadcast baiting takes advantage of the natural search and find
foraging behavior displayed by around squirrels. Care must be
taken to apply bait when the squirrels are readily searching for
and accepting grain. Bait application at other times will result
in poor control. Application of treated or untreated bait to a
small area to test bait acceptance is always advisable before any
general bait application.

Do not broadcast stry
Strychnine baits comp
seeder's gate opening
the recommended 20 fo
of flaggers is recomr.
Avoid application of
other concentrations
frequent. Consider a
techniques to keep no

chnine grain baits over qrov/ing crops,
csed of rolled or crimped oats may plug the

Difficulty may be encountered obtaining
ot swath width v;hen using these baits. Use
ended to m.aintain uniform swath intervals,
strychnine grain baits where waterfowl or
of seed-eating birds are known to be
Iternative control methods or use scare
ntargets from the treated area.

Before using any pesticide product read and understand the
pesticide label. When not in use store pesticides in locked
storage. Alv.'ays keep pesticides in the original, labeled
container.

For more information contact the Montana Department of
Agriculture, Capitol Station, Helena, Montana 596?.0.

In Helena Phone:

(406) 444-2944
Daniel Sullivan

In Lewistown Fhone: (406) 538-2182

Monty Sullins

Figure 1. Swath Width

-/

/ / / / ^ \\\ \ \ \ \ N \

SWATH WIDTH
20 ft

Figure 2. Cyclone Seeder Application with Untreated Intervals

UNTREATED
SWATH

INTERVAL

iiiiiillliiillilHi

g-

^'^V-

F-

TREATED
SWATH

x:x:::::::::::::::::::::::::;::::;v:::x:::v;:::::::;x:::J

2 0 ft

20 ft