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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Burns, Oregon » Range and Meadow Forage Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #256549

Title: A Working Ranch with an Effective Medusahead Management Program

Author
item Smith, Brenda

Submitted to: Oregon Beef Producer
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2010
Publication Date: 6/1/2010
Citation: Smith, B.S. 2010. A Working Ranch with an Effective Medusahead Management Program. Oregon Beef Producer. p.11-13

Interpretive Summary: Since 2005, rancher Ben McGough, owner of the Circle Bar Ranch in Mitchell, Oregon, has been working with USDA-ARS rangeland ecologist Roger Sheley to implement EBIPM on the ranch. More than 600 acres were infested with medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) when they began working together. We describe the management plan developed on the ranch to provide ranchers a perspective on the actual treatments and level of commitment to restoring medusahead-infested land and to encourage developing prevention strategies. The objective is to demonstrate that successful management is possible through persistent, integrated treatments using the EBIPM approach.

Technical Abstract: Since 2005, rancher Ben McGough, owner of the Circle Bar Ranch in Mitchell, Oregon, has been working with USDA-ARS rangeland ecologist Roger Sheley to implement EBIPM on the ranch. More than 600 acres were infested with medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) when they began working together. We describe the management plan developed on the ranch to provide ranchers a perspective on the actual treatments and level of commitment to restoring medusahead-infested land and to encourage developing prevention strategies. The objective is to demonstrate that successful management is possible through persistent, integrated treatments using the EBIPM approach.