In today’s Beef Buzz, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Abe Smith, pasture specialist with Corteva Agriscience, about why weed management is a critical part of pasture success for cattle producers. Smith says managing weeds is not just about appearance, but about protecting the productivity and long-term value of pasture acres at a time when cattle are some of a producer’s most valuable assets.
Smith explains that with today’s cattle prices, the focus is on maximizing returns from every acre. “We can really talk about the value of the assets they have on that pasture, and calves or cows they have on that pasture,” Smith said. “We want to maximize that production, because their return on these things are as high as they will be in quite some time.” He adds that strong weed control helps pastures perform not just this season, but well into the future.
According to Smith, effective weed management leads to healthier, more evenly used pastures. “If we focus on doing that well and doing that on these pastures consistently, we get better utilization of whole pastures,” he said. “We don’t see cows and calves just focusing on one segment of pasture—we see them robustly using a whole pasture, and that actually is really good for the health and utility of that pasture long term.”
Smith notes that removing weeds delivers both immediate and lasting benefits. “By removing those competing weeds, you stop them from taking away your water, your sunlight, the nutrients that it’s using out there,” Smith explained. “But we also stop them from propagating. We stop them from adding weed seed into the seed bank that will impact your production going forward.” He says trading “a pound of weeds out and putting a pound of grass back in” pays dividends now and in future years.
When it comes to building a successful approach, Smith stresses the importance of having a plan tailored to local conditions. “I don’t care what your weed management strategy is or your grazing strategy is, but you should have one,” Smith said, recalling advice from a veteran weed scientist. He adds that Corteva representatives and local retailers can help producers customize strategies based on weed pressure, forage types, and regional differences. Smith says consistent, well-planned weed management can ultimately mean more pounds of grass, heavier calves, and a stronger bottom line.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
