The team, however, will be posting signs in the sprayed areas to warn recreationists of the presence of herbicide. Spot spraying is one part of the forest service s overall weed management plan, which uses cultural, biological, and chemical treatments of weeds. Range managers will often use flea beetles to control large areas of these weeds. The beetle burrows into the root system, stresses the plant, and interrupts the nutrient cycle to weaken the plant. Seed Head weavils are used as a biological control for Musk Thistle, but Tucker said that herbicides are the best method of controlling smaller patches of weeds.
Grazing can help certain native species to survive.
Sheep can eat some noxious weeds, but for the most part grazing gives native species a better chance at survival. Entomologists and range managers agree that weeds are tough to eradicate without integrated pest management. Today marks the first day of Weed Awareness Week. Copyright 2000 the Cortez Journal. All rights reserved.