Developing a Handbook for Utilizing Livestock as a Tool in Noxious Weed Control in Nine Western States

Developing a Handbook for Utilizing Livestock as a Tool in Noxious Weed Control in Nine Western States

Summary

The handbook has been published and more than 1650 copies have been distributed to individuals in 14 states. It was presented in a poster format at the 60th Annual Society for Range Management meeting in Reno, Nevada. The United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) selected the publication to be included in their Integrated Pest Management (IPM) course curriculum. The handbook is available on the web at http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/ag/2006/eb0605.pdf a scientific paper is being written, and an evaluation survey is being developed with the first evaluation effort scheduled for spring 2008.

Objectives/Performance Targets

The objectives of this project are as follows: 1) Develop a list of plants that occur on noxious weed lists for at least two of the following states, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, 2) Collect, review, and summarize current knowledge about livestock grazing as a control method for the targeted weeds, 3) present the information in a handbook and CD and distribute to Cooperative Extension (CE) and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) offices, 4) Develop a web site in support of the handbook 5) publish a scientific paper summarizing the knowledge base, and 6) evaluate the project.

The investigators requested and received a one-year, no cost extension for the project in 2007. The extension was needed due to administrative delays and allowed the investigators time to complete and exceed a majority of the stated goals.

Accomplishments/Milestones

The handbook has been published and more than 1650 copies have been distributed to individuals in 14 states. Additional requests for the manual are received weekly. The manual was positively reviewed in AGRI-News and “Noxious Times”, which is published by the IPM branch of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The reviewer Noxious Times, Dan Mitchell, wrote the manual was “an excellent resource for landowners and weed managers that are considering using livestock as a tool in the fight to control noxious weeds.” The handbook was presented in poster format at the 60th Annual Society for Range Management meeting in Reno, Nevada. This conference
attracted nearly 2000 individuals from around the world. It was also presented as an invited paper at the annual Nevada Weed Management Association meeting in Las Vegas, NV during October 2007. The United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) selected the publication to be included in their Integrated Pest Management (IPM) course curriculum. The IPM course is required of all BLM field employees who apply pest management chemicals on Federal Lands under BLM management. The handbook was presented as part of the BLM IPM course in Albuquerque, NM (January 24, 2007), Billings, MT (February 28th, 2007), and Lakewood CO (April 4, 2007) to approximately 120 BLM field staff. It is slated for additional presentations at BLM IPM courses in 2008. The senior author was 1 of approximately 25 speakers selected from nearly 700 potential speakers to present the results of their SARE project at the national Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education 2008 New American Farm Conference in Kansas City, Kansas on March 26, 2008. The web site is currently being developed following publication of the handbook. A scientific paper summarizing the results of the literature review and survey results is being prepared by the authors with completion anticipated in the spring of 2008. A survey instrument to evaluate the handbook at 6 months and 1 year following distribution is also being developed. The initial evaluation is scheduled for the spring of 2008.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

The handbook benefits everyone interested in expanding the number of tools available to manage noxious weeds in the western United States. It provides the most up to date information concerning the use of livestock to control noxious weeds. It combines rigorous science based information with information from individuals experienced in the actual use of livestock to control weeds in an easy to use package. Individuals using this handbook are able to quickly evaluate if livestock grazing is an appropriate tool for the selected weed. If the use of livestock is a viable option, the handbook provides valuable recommendations concerning successful noxious weeds management programs using livestock grazing as a tool.

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