- Author: Elise S Gornish
Many researchers have attempted to identify the magic combination of elements needed to control the cover and spread of Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), an invasive winter annual grass. Individually, these attempts have yielded a variety of outcomes that sometimes suggest opposing strategies for effective weed control. Recently, researchers at UC Cooperative Extension and UC Davis attempted to leverage the collective value of these disparate investigations. They conducted a systematic review in order to understand if any broad conclusions could be drawn to highlight effective techniques for weed management. The authors found that short-term control of Medusahead can be achieved by using most combinations of burning,...
- Author: Guy B Kyser
Joe DiTomaso and I, with several other coauthors, have almost finished the “Medusahead Management Guide for the Western States.” This project is supported by a grant from Western IPM. In requesting funding for this project, we noted that
- Medusahead is a problem both on low-elevation foothill rangeland and in Great Basin ecosystems, and management is very different in these two regions. As a result, there is often confusion about the best management strategies for different areas.
- Each of the coauthors is asked to give several talks per year on medusahead control to growers' meetings in and out of state.
- There hasn't been a comprehensive, multi-state guide for growers recently, if ever, and...
- Author: Carl E. Bell
- Re-posted by: Gale Perez
From the Invasive Plants in Southern California blog :: Nov. 22, 2013
Hi All. In my last blog the subject was about what I had learned regarding the use herbicides as a tool for effective passive restoration of CSS and native grassland habitats. As an Extension Advisor my job is to not only develop new information, but to also try to move it forward into practice.
In this case that means educating land managers and related professionals on how to efficiently and accurately apply herbicides to large areas. That's what the Cooperative Mule is all about, so sit back, I hope...
- Author: Carl E. Bell
- Posted by: Gale Perez
Some tips on grazing for invasive plant control
Using livestock for controlling invasive plants has a lot of appeal; the animals seem like a natural, green method; they're cute; and at times they can be a very inexpensive way to do some weed control. But there are also various difficulties and issues with using livestock that should be understood before you jump into a grazing program, I've discussed some below.
Livestock have different eating preferences and needs; Cattle (photo of cattle courtesy of Jack Kelly Clark, UCANR) like grass, sheep like grass and forbs, goats like browse (foliage on stems of woody shrubs, young stems and bark, like photo), and horses like grass.
They eat...
- Author: Guy B Kyser
This Slate article talks about the Death Cap mushroom - which is adapting to new hosts and expanding its range - and how to treat cases of Death Cap poisoning: eat milk thistle (Silybum marianum) and drink lots of water.