Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.

Brush and Weed Control Education Program (Grant County)

Plan Goal

Private land ranchers, state and federal agency range conservationists are expected to learn the most efficacious, economical and ecologically sound means of managing noxious brush and weeds.

Situation Statement

Grant County has numerous noxious plants established in the County with Yellow Starthistle having colonized some 700 acres. Noxious plants are found in every county in the state and are a serious problem on New Mexico Rangelands. In Grant County, there are numerous noxious plants that contribute to the loss of forage production, 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 need 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. Environmentalists have traditionally been an obstacle to chemically treating roadsides managed by NMDOT. A need for an organized Cooperative Weed Management Association is recognized and was formed in 2007.

Target Audience and Actions

The target audiences are owners/manage of hundreds of acres of yellow starthistle infected acres of ranch land Grant County, government officials, and allied industry employees that service livestock producers. In order to service the educational needs of Grant County producers, county programs are planned and facilitated with direction of the Agriculture/Natural Resources committee of the Advisory Board. Land managers/hunters become better educated on management of deer to increase quality and increase price of hunts. In addition to approximately 60 beef cattle producers and 80 wildlife managers/hunters that attended extension programs, another approximately 120 made contact with the Grant County Extension Service through, office or field visits, telephone calls or e-mails. Questions and contacts were logged and shared with extension specialists, these contacts are used to develop programming needs for upcoming years.

Short-Term Objectives

The major programming goals are to conduct field demonstrations utilizing appropriate range improvement techniques established across the state according to clientele requests and land management agency needs. Also, to increase awareness of noxious plant species and their management those are specific to Southwestern New Mexico, specifically Grant County. Furthermore to increase the knowledge of noxious plant management to private landowners, land management agency personnel through educational programs and direct communications.

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 5% over life of POW and increase net ranch income on treated acreage by 5%.

Long-Term Objectives

Overall range condition on treated acreage will impove over pretreatment conditions. As the number of acres densely infested with noxious brush and weeds declines, forage production will increase, soil erosion will decline, water use efficiency will improve and animal handling costs will decline.

Evaluation Plan

All demonstrations will be evaluated for plant kill, brush and weed reduction, and increased forage production, depending on age of plots and nature of brush and weed species. Field days and tours will be held to show results to clientele. Impact of program will be determined by commerical measures of chemical sold, acres treated or money expended by species and practice. The estimated economic benefits accruing as a result of adopting recommendations from this POW is $75,000 to the ranching industry of Grant County.