Invasive grasses pose major challenges for western Nebraska producers and land managers across rangeland and the Pine Ridge. More than 20%, or approximately 2.3 million acres, of the Nebraska Panhandle is infested with invasive grasses — predominantly cheatgrass. In addition to impacting the environment and production of native forbs and grasses for livestock forage, cheatgrass poses an extreme fire hazard when mature.
Nebraska Extension educators and specialists, in cooperation with industry, provide training and education to keep producers and land managers apprised of the latest technology available to help manage cheatgrass. Utilizing information from workshops, test plot strips, and plot tours, producers can make sound economic decisions regarding their livestock production operations, and land managers can make environmentally sound recommendations in fire-prone areas.
For more than four years, Nebraska Extension helped establish numerous test plot strips with the herbicide combination of Indaziflam (Rejuvra®) and Imazapic (Plateau®) across the Nebraska Panhandle (Figure 1). Industry-provided data illustrated the economic benefit to ranchers from this herbicide application.
These test plot strips provided graphic results, both short- and long-term, of the effectiveness of the herbicide application. The plots also provided Nebraska Extension specialists with a basis for research programs to determine the benefits of increased native grass production, soil health and overall long-term environmental benefits.
Although the herbicide combination is costly, it is one of the most effective tools for managing cheatgrass and provides multiple years of control. Nebraska Extension research showed that native perennial grass biomass production was 2.5 times greater in treated areas than in untreated areas.
Ranchers and land managers treated small areas to determine whether they would see similar economic and environmental benefits on their land. In subsequent years, the same individuals increased the number of treated acres as they found that herbicide treatment increased native forage production and quality, resulting in higher weaning weights and better cattle conditioning. Land managers were able to obtain grants to help offset the cost of the herbicide treatment and to apply it to fire-prone areas and areas affected by fire to prevent reinfestation by cheatgrass.
Producers and landowners should contact their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office for available programs to mitigate invasive grasses.
