If you walk through a West Texas pasture in August, the grass will usually show you what is really happening, even if it is not what you want to see. Maybe the old bluestem is thin near the water lot. Maybe broomweed has popped up in a pasture that looked good back in the spring. Maybe ragweed is filling in bare spots, or silverleaf nightshade keeps returning, no matter how many times you thought you had it under control. Most ranchers see these plants and immediately ask, “What do I need to spray?” That is a reasonable question, but it should not be the first one. A better question is, “Why is this weed showing up here?”Weeds in your pasture do not appear by chance. They show up because something in the pasture allowed them to take hold. It could be overgrazing, drought, bare ground, soil compaction near water, not enough recovery time, or weak forage. Some weeds are just annoying, but others are like warning lights on a dashboard. If you learn to read these signs, you can make better choices about grazing pressure, when to rotate cattle, when to control weeds, and whether your pasture needs rest more than another round of chemicals.
In June, a pasture might look good from the road, but it could still be hiding problems.
