WEED MANAGEMENT IN PASTURESMeasures to Improve Yield and Quality

Nancy GlazierNWNY Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops Team

The problem with weeds

• Competition with desirable pasture plants

• Lower feed quality

• Toxicity

• Palatability

• No threshold recommendations

A little educationLife cycles

• Annuals• Summer• Winter

• Biennials

• Perennials

Reproduction

• Seeds• Bulbs• Tubers• Roots

• Rhizomes

• Stolons

Control - Cultural• Good management is key

to prevention

• Fertility • Based on soil tests• Fertilize, lime as needed• Keep pasture plants healthy

• Mowing/Clipping• Remove flower heads prior to seed set• May take several clippings per year,

several years• Use hand removal for small areas

Control - Cultural• Good management is key to prevention

• Overseeding, frostseeding • Fill in thin spots• Legumes - provide nitrogen

for grasses• Desirable species fill in

the gaps

• Rotation• Provides rest period• Reduces risk of overgrazing

Control - Biological• Host-specific insects

• Host-specific diseases

• Alternative livestock

Control - Chemical• Follow label – check grazing

restrictions • Broadleaf control in grasses• Grass control in broadleaves

• Check with your local coop. extension for recommendations

• http://ipmguidelines.org/FieldCrops/• http://extension.psu.edu/agronomy-g

uide• Timing is critical for control

• Growing conditions

• Weather conditions

Control – integrated approach• Put all the pieces together

• Good pasture management• Rotation• Fertility to improve pastures• Mowing/Clipping

• Reduce weeds; keep vegetative

• Frostseeding legumes• Chemical control if needed• Spot treatments