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                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Poisonous Plant Research: Logan, UT
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ARS Home Pacific West Area Logan, Utah Poisonous Plant Research Docs





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- Kip Panter, Research Leader
- James Pfister
- Daniel Cook
- T. Zane Davis
- Dale Gardner
- Benedict Green
- Stephen Lee
- Michael Ralphs
- Bryan Stegelmeier
- Kevin Welch
- Projects and Publications

Michael Ralphs, Rangeland Scientistheadline bar    **Poisonous Plant Research Lab**                                                     1150 E 1400 N N Logan, UT 84341 (435)752-2941  **** ****    **Education** PhD    1983   Range Science (Grazing Management); Texas A&M UniversityMS     1977    Range Economics; Utah State UniversityBS     1973    Range Science; Utah State UniversitySheep grazing cattle before larkspurSampling locoweed for population studiesCrooked calf grazing lupineCattle grazing broom snakeweed as a biological control**** **** **Research Projects:** **** Evaluate grazing behavior of cattle with respect to poisonous plants: larkspur, locoweed, lupine, broom snakeweedTarget livestock grazing to control poisonous and noxious weedsEvaluate herbicide and biological controls of poisonous plantsAssess ecology and population cycles of poisonous plantsDetermine environmental influences on toxin concentrations in plantsProvide management recommendation to reduce risk of poisoning and enhance sufficient use of rangelands. **** **Significant Accomplishments:**  ••Developed herbicide control recommendations for larkspur, locoweed, and lupine. ••Developed management recommendations to reduce risk of locoweed poisoning. ••Developed biological tools to reduce risk of poisoning: ••Larkspur mired to deter grazing of larkspur ••Sheep grazing larkspur before cattle ••Conditioned food aversion ••Seed cool-season grasses to prevent reinvasion of loco and snakeweed and provide alternative feed. ••Described snakeweed seedling ecology that drives its population outbreaks.


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