Spurge and loosestrife came to the United States from Europe, where there are some natural enemies in the environment. Farmers and ranchers have been encouraged to plant cedars in windbreaks since about 1903. The tree has gradually spread across much of the pastureland in the state, in sufficient numbers to cover pastureland. Permanent growth was pretty much confined to rough country that fire couldn't get to. Deliberate burns can kill the trees if they're under 4 feet tall, he said.
Taller trees can and do survive.
Fire and shears only work on small trees, though. Larger trees must be cut with a chainsaw, and the trunks can be harvested to use for fenceposts, pet bedding or cedar chipboard. But the labor is intense and the demand is limited, Wilson said. The trees spread slowly and are often ignored by landowners until they create problems, such as cattle running off into them at roundup time. Copyright 1999 North Platte Telegraph Online and The Associated Press.