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Brush and Weed Control Education Program (Union County)

Plan Goal

Union County Private land ranchers and land managers are expected to learn,and use the most efficacious, economical and ecologically sound means of managing noxious and invasive brush and weeds.

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.

Target Audience and Actions

Private land ranchers and state and federal range conservationists are the primary target audience. Demonstration and education programs will be arranged and conducted through extension specialists, NMSU Agricultural research and USDA/ARS PPL investigators.

Short-Term Objectives

Field demonstrations utilizing appropriate range improvement techniques will be established in the county according to local and individual needs. 20% of private land ranchers, land managers will become aware of and adept at using the various range improvement tools.

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%.

Long-Term Objectives

Overall range condition on treated acreage will impove over pretreatment conditions by 25%. As the number of acres densely infested with invasive and noxious brush and weeds declines, forage production will increase, soil erosion will decline, water use efficiency will improve and animal handling costs will decline. The need for destocking infested rangeland and over utilization of un-infested acres will be non exixtent.

Evaluation Plan

One on One observation and area rangeland surveys, as well as changes in producers management plans will be used to evaluate the success of the programs.