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Range and Pasture Weed Management Page 1 of 3 ,r°--,•: to IFbrJr $H /Youth I Agriculture I FamiNOtonsumer I Horticulture I Natural Resources I Nutrition Resources I Home no. 3.105 Range and Pasture Weed Management by K.G. Beck 1 Quick Facts... • Ail weed management must be applied and evaluated over an extended time to be successful. • Mapping weed infestations is the first step in rangeland and pasture weed management. • Integrate two or more control methods into a system of management. • Control small, scattered, or perimeter infestations before large, dense ones. • Keep accurate records of control procedures and evaluate for success or failure. Weeds are spreading rapidly on Colorado rangeland and pastures. Manage weeds during the current growing season to decrease or prevent future infestations. All too often, weed control during a growing season is evaluated in terms of financial return only for that season and not for future impact. All weed management must be applied and evaluated over an extended time to be successful. This is particularly important with rangeland or pasture weed management programs. A good manager develops a comprehensive weed management plan and incorporates that plan into along-term land management program. Be persistent in weed management, particularly with perennial weeds. Most successful weed management systems require input for several growing seasons. Weed infestations occur over time and seldom can be cured in a single growing season. Seed dormancy of most weeds and the extensive root systems of creeping perennials means that weed management systems in rangeland, pasture, and elsewhere need to be designed for input over extended time periods. Mapping A comprehensive weed management plan has several key features. First, develop an accurate map of weed infestations. Include information about infestation locations and weed species within those locations. Also, indicate the type of infestation: • scattered infestations less than 10 yards in diameter with just a few plants; • light infestations made up of small patches up to 0.5 to 1 acre in size; • moderate infestations from 1 to SO acres; or • large dense infestations greaterthan 10 acres. Additionally, include the productive value of land where infestations are located to help determine how much money to spend on weed management during any year and over time. Also, determine habitat, e.g. rangeland, irrigated pasture, around ponds or along streams and rivers, and associated desirable plant species, as these will help you choose appropriate control tools. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/natres/03105.htm1 6/22/2005