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Multi-Species Grazing as an Alternative to Pasture Spraying
Broadacre spraying of pastures is intended to reduce undesirable plants and increase grasses for livestock. This practice often results in unintended consequences, including damage and reduction of native forbs and reduced profitability. One approach to managing perceived “weedy” plants is incorporating different species of livestock into a grazing operation.
![A group of mixed cattle grazing in a pasture with several Canada Thistle plants spreading throughout.](/sites/default/files/2020-03/W-00494-00-cattle-pasture-weeds-range-thistle-noxious.jpg)
Alternative Pasture Weed Control
The term ‘weed’ can be broadly applied to any plant that is undesirable at any given time and place based on certain criteria. It is important to understand that the word ‘weed’ has become a general term with no universal definition, and many plants are considered to be weeds, depending on location.
![Two side-by-side fields. The left field is planted with perennial grass. The right field is bare with salty soil exposed.](/sites/default/files/2020-03/W-00513-00-salty-soils-vs-perennial-grass.jpg)
Managing Weeds While Transforming Marginal Land Into Perennial Forages Production
There are currently millions acres across South Dakota impacted by saline and sodic conditions. Research has shown that salt-tolerant perennial grasses are a possible way to bring land back into production.
![grass with field bindweed, a viny green weed with white flowers](/sites/default/files/2018-11/03-06-02-teaser-WeedInvasivePlants.jpg)
Weed Control: Noxious Weeds
Noxious Weed Recommendations: Herbicides for pasture, range, and non-crop areas, including roadside and other right-of-way that may be harvested for hay or grazed, are given a priority.
![A herd of cattle gather around a stock pond on a vast, lush grassland. Courtesy: USDA [CC BY 2.0]](/sites/default/files/2019-05/W-00231-00-cattle-grazing-grassland-pasture-range.jpg)
Weed Control: Pasture and Range
There are 24 million acres of native and tame pasture and range as well as 1.4 million acres of grass hayland in South Dakota.
![a leafey green plant with bright pink stems](/sites/default/files/2018-12/W-00049-01-Rhubarb-plant-early-spring.jpg)
Two Favorite Spring Vegetables
After a long winter with no fresh homegrown vegetables, many gardeners really look forward to that first spring harvest of asparagus and rhubarb.
![A yearling heifer grazes on Canada thistle after a mid-October snowfall.](/sites/default/files/2020-11/W-00825-00-Pasture-Weeds-Management-Grazing.jpg)
Plan Now to Control Weeds With Grazing Next Season
Livestock will graze Canada goldenrod, Canada thistle and perennial sow thistle. At certain times of the year, these plants have crude protein, total digestible nutrients, and invitro dry matter digestibility concentrations similar to alfalfa and other common forages.
![A farmer watching the sun rise in a bare, unplanted field.](/sites/default/files/2020-04/W-00560-00-crops-business-economics-outlook-agriculture-planting-corn-market.jpg)
Crop Tolerance to Soil Herbicide Residual
Some herbicides can persist in soil, especially dry soil. Herbicide carryover could be an issue in 2021 across the state depending upon last year’s moisture levels and field conditions.
![99-Field-Peas Field with field peas and blue sky with fluffy white clouds](/sites/default/files/2018-12/99-Field-Peas.png)
Weed Control: Pulse Crops
Weed competition can cause significant yield reduction in pulse crops. Pulse crops are weak competitors with weeds, therefore planning an effective weed control program is one of the keys to profitable production.
![Prickly Russian thistle A close up of prickly Russian thistle](/sites/default/files/2022-05/P-00237-01.jpeg)
Prickly Russian Thistle
Publications that provide introductory and expanded information on the notorious invasive plant, prickly Russian thistle.