Invasive forbs and woody plant control with sheep and fire

Commodities

Practices

As the local Weed Control Officer, I hear more often that buckbrush is reducing stocking rate more than noxious weeds. Several thousand acres in the county are infested with buckbrush. Although it is a weed not on the noxious weed list, the economic loss for ranchers is very significant. In researching a potential cause of the invasion of buckbrush, one common hypothesis is that the land used to burn maybe more that once every ten years. Now the question is, what is more affective in controlling buckbrush, fire, mowing, multi-species grazing, chemical or maybe a combination of multiple means of control. Knowing that one means of control is not always possible on every parcel of land.

The project will be held on 320 acres of land on Section 21-143-82. There will be replicated plots of mowing, chemical control, burning and multi-species grazing throughout this acreage. The layout will be based on NDSU specialists recommendations related to location of water, fences and density of Buckbrush.

The local Extension office and the Oliver County SCD range specialist will work on data collection of plant species response to each of the protocols both pre and post treatments.

The burn sites will be determined by the Nature Conservancy, but will include approximately 160 acres. Burning will take place in late April or early May when conditions are ideal.

Plot will include previous management practices in replication as well. Some of the land had chemical applied, however most has not, which adds to the project practicality.