07/10/08 Weed dogs

Weeds can be a big problem in grazing pastures, but new help is on the way. I'm Jeff Keane. I'll be right back to tell you about a new weed control animal. Keeping weeds in check has always been a challenge for farmers and ranchers. Herbicides have been used for years, but lately biological controls have been tried more and more. Insects that feed on weeds at certain stages of their lives are beneficial as weed regulators. Goats and sheep have proven to be a viable option for weed containment. Cattle can even be taught to eat a certain amount of different weed varieties. An animal that I had never thought about as a weed control specialist is a dog. Yeah a dog! An article in Western Farmer-Stockman by Carol Flaherty explains just how they work. You know, I don't think there are enough B.S. sessions past, present or future to tell all the stories of the great work dogs do, but I just never thought about them sniffing out nasty, noxious weeds. Well, that's exactly what they do. Tests prove how effective they can be. In a 2006 trial three dogs averaged finding 92% of knapweed present in a test plot while humans only found 76 percent. With multiple dogs working as a team the success rate rose to 100 percent. This is why the dogs are so valuable in eradication efforts  they can find plants humans don't even see. Just another reason to call dogs man's best friend. I'm Jeff Keane. Western Farmer-Stockman June 2008