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Impact Report

For plan Brush and Weed Control Education Program (Union County)
Date October 20, 2007, 3:37 pm
For Objective Medium-term Show medium-term objectives
Impact Report Brush and Weed Control Education Program (Union County) Situation Statement Noxious,and invasive brush and weeds are found in Union county and the surrounding area and present a serious problem rangeland. Union county to date has very few noxious plants, but about 65% or the rangelands are home to invasive Pinon/Juniper or, salt cedar,or snakeweed and locoweed. About 25% percent is so densly covered that grass production is seriously curtailed. In addition to the loss of forage production, invasive and noxious plants result in soil erosion, reduced water use efficiency and increased animal handling costs. These in turn lower animal production and cause loss of income to the ranching community. Land managers want to know the most efficacious and economic means of managing noxious brush and weeds. Chemical, mechanical and biological tools can be used to help reduce the detrimental effects of noxious brush and weeds. Locoweed research is needed to adequately understand the locoweed plant, livestock activity with the plants, and to develop management practices that reduce the economic loss due to loco intoxication and rangeland losses due to invasions. Medium-Term Objectives To increase the knowledge of brush and weed management programs by private land ranchers and state and federal agency range conservationists. To increase the adoption of brush and weed management strategies by 15% over life of POW and decrease the losses in rangeland, livestock and wildlife enterprises by 5%. NARRATIVE SNAKEWEED: A major demonstration area was set up in Union County where we used a ground sprayer and fogger method to control snake broom weed was set up where in October we sprayed a 640 acre area heavily infested with broom weed, using Tordon 22K as the spray which is recommended by Dr. McDaniel for control on snake broom weed. The producer supplied the chemical and the extension agent supplied the sprayer and labor. Evaluations showed a 95% control and the area was used as a “show place” visited by 42 producers individually, and shown 3 times as a tour stop. As a result of this effort, 12 producers have plans to use this method in November 2007 to control snake broom weed. LOCOWEED: Locoweed research involving the USDA/PPL and New Mexico State University researchers was still ongoing with work being done on the endophytes, the loco weevil, chemical control, and animal nutrition. Grazing studies were conducted by Dr. Encinias and Dr. Panter to study the role of nutritional stress and loco eating, effects on the fetus, and study of a swainsonine blood marker in known eaters. Loco Up-Date presentations were made (4 in New Mexico, 4 in Texas, 6 in Colorado, 2 in Texas, and 2 in Kansas). Six Demonstrations on using fogger spraying were conducted with 3 in Union County, 2 in Colfax County and 1 in Harding County. Sprayer construction and set up was done involving 23 producers. Loco programs were attended by some 800 people with all using some of the information for their production unit loco problems. Eleven producers were worked with in setting up a Piñon / Juniper control program using the EQIP program, Five producers set up control projects using only private funding. Twelve producers started a cholla cacti control project, with another 20 producers being involved in various brush programs such as catclaw, wolfberry, and sumac.