Must Haves For Managing Bot Fly Season

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Bot Fly Season

We’ve received feedback from our equestrian clients indicating that bot flies appear to be more prevalent this year. Here are some strategies to help address this issue.

The Problem

Bot fly eggs are typically observed in late summer and early fall when adult female flies are actively laying their eggs. The warm weather and extended daylight create ideal conditions for flies, making horses in pastures easy targets. During this period, adult females deposit tiny yellow eggs onto the horse’s coat, which the horse inadvertently ingests. The bot’s life cycle is adapted to overwinter within the horse. By laying eggs in late summer and early fall, the larvae can hatch, move into the mouth and digestive system, and then spend the winter attached to the stomach or intestinal tissues. This ensures their survival until they are excreted in manure and pupate the following spring. As summer progresses, more adults emerge from soil pupae, leading to a surge in populations, particularly from August to October, which marks their most active egg-laying period.

The Treatment

To combat this issue, utilize a deworming product that targets bot fly larvae after the first hard frost, when adults die off but larvae remain inside the horse. This timing disrupts the life cycle before the larvae can pupate in the soil. Ivermectin dewormer, which often contains a boticide, is the most popular option. Additionally, during this time, bot knives or abrasive grooming blocks can be used to remove the tiny yellow eggs from the legs and body. Remember to wear gloves or wash your hands thoroughly after egg removal.

The Source

Burns Feed Store stocks Ivermectin Paste Dewormer, as well as bot knives and grooming blocks in the grooming section.

In Summary

  • Bot flies lay hundreds of eggs each summer, and their larvae migrate into the horse’s gastrointestinal tract.
  • Bot fly activity peaks in late summer and fall, driven by warm weather and increasing populations, prompting females to lay numerous eggs on horses.
  • Effective control involves removing eggs in the summer and deworming in the fall.
  • A bot knife is a useful grooming tool for managing infestations.

Proactive grooming and parasite management can disrupt the bot fly cycle and ensure your horse remains comfortable throughout the season.

Certified Weed Free Orchard Grass & Straw at Burns Feed Store

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Why Weed Free Forage?

Using weed free forage is a proactive method of preventing our natural and working lands from invasion by noxious weeds. Our natural and working lands are especially vulnerable following catastrophic events like wildfire and flooding and using weed free forage can help mitigate the risk of invasion during recovery. Using weed free forage also ensures that you are providing the most nutritious and palatable version of a product to your livestock, free of undesirable and sometimes toxic weeds. For producers, ODA’s Weed Free Forage and Gravel Program provides an opportunity to add value to your products while contributing to overall ecosystem resilience.

Certified weed free hay and straw are in high demand in Oregon and throughout the western states. The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) Weed Free Forage & Gravel Program, as part of an integrated weed management approach, helps limit the spread of noxious weeds and protect Oregon agriculture. The ODA follows the standards set by the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA; www.naisma.org). Additionally, inspections include Oregon’s listed ‘A’ and ‘B’ listed noxious weeds which can be found at www.oda.direct/NoxiousWeedProfiles

In Oregon, individuals utilizing livestock, horses, or pack animals on U.S. Forest Service land, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, and designated Wilderness Areas are required to use certified weed-free forage. This regulation aims to prevent the spread of invasive plant species. Additionally, this requirement extends to contractors engaged in public projects, recreational outfitters, and anyone transporting hay or forage across public lands for any purpose.

 

Planning Your Straw Bale Garden for Next Spring

Gardeners, are you already preparing for next spring’s Straw Bale Garden? Here’s something to consider: it’s crucial to use weed-free straw bales for your garden. Weeds are one of the main issues this gardening method aims to combat. Conventional straw bales can contain unwanted seeds that may germinate once the conditioning process begins.

Benefits of Straw Bale Gardening

By selecting the right bales and conditioning them correctly, you can fully enjoy the benefits of straw bale gardening:

  • Fewer weeds:The most significant advantage is a substantial reduction in weeds, as you’re not working with traditional soil.
  • Less soil trouble: This method is ideal for areas with poor or rocky soil.
  • Reduced pest and disease issues: Planting above ground can help minimize problems associated with soil-borne diseases.
  • Improved accessibility: The elevated height of the bales makes gardening easier on your back.

 

At Burns Feed Store, we currently have in stock Certified Weed Free Orchard Grass as well as a Certified Weed Free Straw.

Garlic Has Arrived At Burns Feed Store

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Clove is in the air at BFS! Who doesn’t adore garlic, am I right? It’s not just a superstar in the kitchen; garlic has been the go-to buddy for health perks too! From kicking colds to giving blood pressure and cholesterol a run for their money, this little bulb is on a mission. Packed with vitamins C and B6, manganese, and selenium, garlic’s secret weapon is allicin, the antioxidant that brings the magic! Spanish Roja garlic is a certified early-season variety renowned for its exceptional flavor, making it a gourmet favorite among home gardeners. Each bulb typically contains 8 to 12 cloves. The outer wrapper of Spanish Roja garlic exhibits a beautiful range of colors, from a rich cream to deep purple stripes, enhancing its visual appeal.

Silver Rose Garlic is distinguished by its milder flavor and enhanced taste profile compared to other varieties, allowing it to enrich dishes without overwhelming them. The cloves can be consumed raw, offering a gentler alternative to the typical sharpness associated with garlic. This variety is also straightforward to cultivate in sunny gardens or containers, with a harvest period extending from late spring to early summer. Elephant garlic possesses a flavor profile that lies between leeks and mild garlic, with a hint of onion when cooked. It complements white fish and poultry exceptionally well, and its flavor is more pronounced when consumed raw. For optimal growth, elephant garlic thrives in cold weather; spring planting often yields cloveless “rounds,” whereas planting in the fall or allowing the bulbs to remain in the ground will result in standard bulbs by spring.

 

DIY Fall Decor Fun At Burns Feed Store

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Snuggle up to Fall with DIY finds at Burns Feed Store! Who needs those big-box stores when your local feed store is bursting with hidden gems for Fall decor? Picture hay bales, corn stalks, and galvanized buckets—all the rustic charm you need to conjure that perfect Autumn ambiance.

 

Check out these fun and crafty ideas:

Hay & Straw Bales

  • Porch Goals: Stack ’em high, toss in some pumpkins and mums, and—voila! —instant Fall magic!
  • Rustic Bench: Drape a plaid blanket over two bales for the coziest outdoor seating.
  • DIY Coffee Table: Just slap a wooden board on top—cute and functional!
  • Photo Booth Backdrop: Combine scarecrows, hay bales, and props for an Instagram-worthy scene!

For Extra Fun:

  • Scarecrow Body: Use a small bale as the perfect base!
  • Hay Bale Maze: Create backyard fun that’s a hit with kids (and those young at heart!).
  • Entryway Frame: Tie cornstalks to your porch posts with twine or ribbon for a charming entrance.
  • So many delightful ideas! What are your go-to Autumn Vibe decor tricks? 🍂

 

Don’t miss out on our fabulous indoor Fall Décor, tantalizing Fall Scents, festive Fall & Holiday Juniper Louise Earrings, and a whole lot more! At Burns Feed Store, we say it’s never too soon to dive into that seasonal and holiday groove!

Rat and Mouse Problem Remedies At Burns Feed Store

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RAT & MOUSE PROBLEMS INCREASE DURING THE FALL MONTHS

Rodents are a nuisance year round in the Portland, metro area, but fall is a particularly active season. As temperatures drop, rats and mice search for food, like seed around bird feeders or leftover chicken feed, and for warm, dry shelter. Unfortunately, that often means they end up in garages, homes, barns, sheds, and animal shelters.

When rodents move in, they can cause significant damage to walls, insulation, stored goods, animal feed, and bedding. Even worse, they can carry fleas and disease. That’s why it’s important to address rodent activity as soon as it starts.

Burns Feed Store has the tools and products you need to protect your property.

We stock a wide selection of traps like snap traps, glue traps, EZ-set traps, and more. We also carry rodent repellents, which, when used correctly, can help keep mice and rats away for weeks or months at a time. Prevention is often easier than elimination, but if an infestation does occur, we have you covered.

At Burns Feed Store, you’ll find trusted rodent control brands such as Tomcat, Just One Bite, Ramik, and others. Baits are available in a variety of forms to fit your needs:

  • Pre-filled, ready-to-use bait stations
  • Pelletized, chunk, or bar bait
  • Effective liquid bait
  • Packaged, portioned baits with refillable stations
  • Large 4–5 lb. buckets of pellets, chunks, or place packs for multiple placements or bigger infestations

Rodent infestations can be tough to tackle, but with the right traps or bait, solid advice, and a little persistence, you can get rid of them.

Stop by Burns Feed Store today and we’ll help you choose the best products and share proven strategies for keeping rodents under control.

 

Gate Maintenance

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Gate and System Maintenance

These guidelines are meant to be general in nature and specific needs will vary based on your environment.

Getting Started:

  • Adjust the gate hinges to make sure the gate swings level, plumb and freely throughout the full opening and closing range of motion. Level is horizontal and plumb vertical. Plumb refers to something being straight up and down. The gate post(s) needs to be plumb and hinges need to be aligned vertically. When a gate/post is not plumb it may surge/hesitate in a particular direction of its travel and possibly not function.
  • Clean your gate with a mild cleaner, a rag, a soft brush, and a water hose to remove dirt and dust.
  • Do any rust removal and touch up painting, that you might deem necessary.

The Gate:

Keeping your gates swinging easily and freely is very important so that your gate opener system continues to work correctly. If your ball-bearing/bearing type gate hinges are binding, out of grease, or have become difficult to move, your gate opener system may treat this as an obstruction. If it seems to be associated in some way with the temperature the problem can likely be resolved by lubricating your gate hinges. If the hinges are worn or damaged replace them.

We suggest removing the pin from the front of the operator and working the grease into the gate hinges as much as possible. Use a grease suited for the temperature range in your location. Lithium-based grease tends to work well in many applications. Don’t forget to put the front clevis pin back into the front of the operator when you have finished greasing the hinges.

 

Lubricate The Operator Arm

Using a silicone spray, you can maintain/clean the silver aluminum push-pull tube (with the operator arm extended and the system turned off) , spray a clean cloth with the silicone and wipe the extended push-pull of the operator arm. Cleaning this part of the arm helps remove any dirt and debris that has accumulated over time and can help reduce premature wear and noise on the internal parts of the operator arm.

Check The System Batteries

As a battery ages its ability to work becomes reduced. A good rule of thumb would be to inspect the battery(s) each fall.

  • Clean any corrosion from the battery terminals and connectors. A wire brush the size of a toothbrush is a handy tool for this job. Brush it lightly until any corrosion is removed. Most automotive part stores also have some type of anti-corrosion product that can be added to your system for additional protection.
  • Check all battery and battery harness connections to ensure none of the connections are loose.
  • The batteries can be loaded tested as well
    • Disconnect the charging source. (solar panel or transformer connections)
    • Measure battery voltage.
      • a. If you have two batteries, check them individually.
      • b. If the voltage(s) is above 12 Vdc, proceed with the load test.
      • c. If the voltage(s) is below 12 Vdc, charge the batteries externally before proceeding. At no greater than 2 amps.
    • The load test will only be conducted on one battery at a time. Measure the voltage prior to operation. Activate the unit while continuing to monitor the voltage. The voltage should drop less than .5 volt during the cycle.
    • Repeat for 4 more half cycles (open or close) pausing for approximately 10 seconds in between activations. The voltage should drop less than .5 volt during these movements.
    • If the voltage drops are greater than .5 a volt the battery/batteries should be replaced.

Solar Installations

  • Use glass cleaner: Clean the glass on your solar panel to remove any algae, mold, mildew, or dirt that may have accumulated throughout the year. Keeping your solar panel glass clean helps to maximize the potential charging ability of the panel which is more important during the winter months as the number of hours of unobstructed sunlight hitting the panel decreases. Move/relocate panel if needed.
  • Using the screwdriver provided with your kit, tighten any of the wiring terminal connections that are loose.

E-Z Haul Carts

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The perfect balance of an E-Z Haul Cart will get the job done with less effort.

These carts are built to last! They are made with the most durable components to handle big loads, regardless of cart size.

The E-Z Haul Cart is available in three sizes with load ratings from 250 to 600 pounds.

Sizes available at Burns Feed Store are:
5 1/2Cu.Ft. Garden Cart
8Cu.Ft. Utility Cart
11 1/2Cu.Ft. Jumbo Cart

Since 1986, the E-Z Haul cart has been manufactured in the United States, to provide cost effective service for new products and replacement parts. We carry a full line of replacement parts if you need to spruce up your old cart!

E-Z Haul Carts are Affordable, Durable and Versatile!