Controlling Brush with Herbicides to Increase Ranch Profits

species using herbicides can improve forage availability and enhance ranch profitability by increasing the livestock carrying capacity of native pastures. However, deciding how and when to control noxious plants is crucial, and is generally more profitable on more productive soils with less brush. Factors that contribute to brush encroachment on rangelands include: • Fewer fires because of human development • Livestock overgrazing • Advancements in transportation that increase the spread of noxious plant species • Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide which enhances woody species growth Controlling brush can be expensive. The cost must be weighed against the potential increase in livestock forage and carrying Megan Clayton, Mac Young, Robert Lyons and Steven Klose* E-629 1/13