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Brush and Weed Control Education Program (Quay County)

Plan Goal

Participants will learn how to identify noxious weed and brush as well as the negative impact of such weeds on rangeland, farmland, and residential areas.

Situation Statement

Invasive weeds and brush continue to plague local rangelands and croplands. Weeds reduce yield potential, rob moisture from more desirable plants and invade watershed areas in the county. This fact is revealed by a survey of selected woody species which demonstrates 50.4 million acres or 65 percent of New Mexico rangelands to be infested with one or more noxious plants. About 24.8 million acres or 32 percent is so densely covered that grass production is seriously curtailed.
Research shows that increased weed and brush populations result in higher erosion rates, decrease in quality hay production, lower water efficiency and poor animal performance.
An increase in control and application effectiveness will result in increased awareness. Formation of a Cooperative Weed Managment Area (CWMA) will identify those species important to Quay County and make efforts in securing funds for education and effective control methods.

Target Audience and Actions

Local and area landowners, lessees, small farm owners, irrigation district members along with state and federal agencies are the primary audience. Educational programming will be a partnership of Agriculture Extension, NRCS, Canadian River Soil Water Conservation District, Southwest Quay Soil Water Conservation District, and Llano Estacado RC&D.
Participants will learn the benefits of establishing a CWM group by attending informational programs and workshops. Entities with weed management issues will learn the economic losses and potential damage invasive weed populations have if left untreated. Additionally, attendants will learn about the effectiveness CWMA can be to individuals in the county as well as local and state partnerships.
With over 60 miles of Canadian River frontage and Ute Lake, riparian areas are a critical area of importance. Equally is Arch Hurley's 173 mile irrigation delivery system in Quay county.

Short-Term Objectives

Participants will be informed on the benefits of a Cooperative Weed Management Area as well as weed identification, proper cultural, biological, chemical, and mechanical control. Highlights will be the organized groups focus on establishing an "early detection, rapid response" plan for invasive species. Additionally, organized group efforts will make special grants and funding available for invasive brush and weed control.

Medium-Term Objectives

Setting up field demonstrations and range monitoring sites across the county will help in identifying best control methods. Producers and agency personnel will be instrumental in evaluating such methods and summarizing an economic analysis. Field sites will also be evaluated in a percent kill analysis. Special emphasis will be concentrated on watershed and riparian areas.
Applications for grants for the control of invasive weeds through partnerships with Forest Service, SARE, NM Game & Fish, NMDA, and other agencies.

Long-Term Objectives

Range and cropland acreage in Quay County will improve on treated acres. Those areas most affected will be identified and will become priority in controlling such species. Rangeland managers, producers and irrigation districts will become proficient in “Early Detection, Rapid Response” methods. CWMA committee will play leading role in education and effective weed and brush control in the county. Secured funding for the program on a county wide basis will ensure a long term goal in control of noxious weed species.

Evaluation Plan

Result demonstrations will be evaluated for effectiveness, cost per acre and environmental impact. Areas of importance will be categorized through CWMA, NRCS and Soil, Water Conservation groups. Educational field days, tours, multi-media, and one on one contact will be the selected methods of publicizing results.
Long Term impact will be determined by treated acres, effectiveness of applications, funding secured by CWMA, and methods adopted by agencies and producers. Additionally, measurable impacts will be summarized by certain indicators such as, soil erosion, native plant population density, and water conservation.