<P style="MARGIN: 0px">I have noticed that the farmers have been spraying anhydrous ammonia on their fields lately and I was wondering if it has any effect on the turkeys. i.e. Will it kill the turkeys if they consume it accidentally? I have noticed that once the weeds are killed in the fields, the birds move elsewhere.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Thanks</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Bryan</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">I don't want to come off as a smartass, but NH3 (anhydrous amonia) is not sprayed on fields but is injected or knifed into the soil. Anhydrous means "without water" so the nitrogen immediately goes for any moisture. Once in the soil it is very stable, and you could dig into later and not suffer any ill effects. The same goes for wildlife. If you were to come in contact with NH3 directly, you would suffer severe burns and if it gets into your eyes you will have irreversible eye damage or permanent blindness. In spite of these dangers, it is still an excellent source of nitrogen.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">As for spraying fields. Most are receiving burndown and residual herbicides along with 28% liguid nitrogen. None of these compounds will cause any health effects to wildlife. It may also work to your advantage that fields are getting sprayed. It will concentrate the birds into the hay fields and winter wheat fields where the insects and other good feed are.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">Thanks for the Info.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">I always assumed that the foam and liquid I sometimes see in the fields was from the anhydrous ammonia portable tanks in the front of the fields. I just usually never see any birds in my aggricultural fields after they have been sprayed with an herbicide. </P>
<P>The foam is a marker for a sprayer. As stated Anhydrous is injected, not sprayed but you will see alot of pre-emergent chemical application around the same time farmers are knifeing anhydrous.</P>
