Cedar, more accurately known as juniper, can be a very difficult plant to control. It is a very aggressive woody plant that grows here in Texas. It is often viewed as invasive because if left unchecked it can quickly take over a pasture chocking out any grass growth.
Along with quickly taking over a pasture it has been shown to be a very thirsty plant. I knew a rancher near here that when he started removing cedars on his place he had a spring start producing water again.
While getting control of cedar is possible it is not a one-and-done type of thing. It will take many applications to get this little pest under control.
A grazing system, when done correctly, can assist rangeland managers in achieving management objectives. They can both boost production as well as reduce their overhead costs.
Pasture thistles are a group of plants that are considered a serious threat to rangelands. Like most weeds they propagate very quickly and choke out any grasses that are growing there.
Mesquite trees, everyone’s favorite “trash” tree. It can provide us with some really good firewood but it does pose some problems for range managers.
Doing a soil test can be a very effective tool in a producer’s toolbox. It can tell you the kind of nutrients available as well as the amounts that are present.
Prescribed burning, also known as controlled burning, is basically a fire set intentionally. Despite the word “fire” generally brings to mind very negative images a prescribed burn can be a good thing. It is a management tool used by land managers and landowners to improve diversity of their vegetation. It can also be used to control any invasive plants that are present in your pasture.
Distaff thistle as well as the other species of thistle are considered the most serious threat to range and pasture. Thick stands can completely crowd out other vegetation reducing grazing. The sharp spines can prevent access to both livestock and people. It is not able to be grazed due to the fact that it is unpalatable to livestock and wildlife. Once it is established it is very hard to get rid of because the seeds can survive for a very long time, some up to 8 years.
Prickly pear as well as with other species of cactus are a common problem in pastures. They can interfere with the movement of livestock and cause serious health problems. Along with this they can overtake a pasture very quickly and strangle out more desirable forages. Because of this they pose a very serious problem for livestock producers wherever they show up.
The mesquite tree is one of the toughest and most invasive species of brush there is. It has come to populate several million acres in Texas alone. As any rancher will tell you, if left unchecked it will quickly take over a pasture. Though it is a bit of a nuisance, it does have some value to both livestock and wildlife. Here are some ways that you can use to control the mesquite that is in your pasture.
Do you know what your stocking rate is? Let me rephrase that: Do you know what your real stocking rate is? Many people follow just a general rule of thumb that was developed years ago. The truth is that cattle will not always graze on every acre that is available. You could have the scenario where certain areas are being overgrazed while others are not being used at all. This is where determining your grazeable acreage will help.
