Ralph Waldo Emerson said that a weed is "a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered". Tip's guest, Karen Launchbaugh, says that some "plants out of place" present serious ecological and ecological challenges to land managers but that some unwanted plants have redeeming qualities, particularly for domestic grazing animals. They discuss exotic species, various control strategies for weeds, success stories, integrated pest management principles, and, of course, using specific grazing timing and intensity and class of animal to suppress weed populations.

SURVEY

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TRANSCRIPT

The full transcript of this episode is available at: https://www.dropbox.com/home/Art%20of%20Range%20transcripts

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

USEFUL WEBSITES

https://targetedgrazing.org

University of Idaho targeted grazing research papers: https://targetedgrazing.org/research/

The same site has grazing prescriptions for many individual species: knapweed, leafy spurge, starthistle, canada thistle, etc.

https://targetedgrazing.org/prescriptions/

Targeted Grazing Handbook. This landowner-oriented reference guide has individual chapters for various grazing goals, such as controlling brush, enhancing wildlife habitat, limiting wildfire, orchard understory management, and more. https://targetedgrazing.org/other-resources/targeted-grazing/

Rangeland journal article from 2012: "Targeted Grazing: Applying the Research to the Land". https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/rangelands/article/download/19480/19120

BEHAVE project (Behavioral Education for Human, Animal, Vegetation, and Ecosystem Management)

http://behave.net/

SUCCESS STORIES

Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission article, "Ray Holes--The Goat King".

https://idrange.org/range-stories/north-central-idaho/ray-holes-the-goat-king-using-goats-to-combat-noxious-weeds/

BEEF Magazine article, "Use target grazing to take aim at invasive weeds"

https://www.beefmagazine.com/americancowman/pasture-and-range/target-grazing

Leafy spurge control in Alberta, Jan 2019 article at The Western Producer: https://www.producer.com/2019/01/alberta-sheep-ranch-focuses-on-grazing/

CONTRACT VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PRACTITIONERS

Livestock for Landscapes Network. http://www.livestockforlandscapes.com/network.htm

This site lists, by state, livestock businesses who have their shingle out to conduct contract weed control work.

Businesses in the PNW:

Craig Madsen, Healing Hooves: https://www.healinghooves.com/

Ray Holes. Ray Holes, [email protected], 208-740-9264

Nicole Bellows & Larry Davis, NW Goat Grazers. https://www.northwestgoatgrazers.com/