• Hackelia virginiana (Virginia stickseed): A native biennial in eastern North American woodlands, with small white flowers in summer and burs that form on brittle stems. It's often considered a nuisance in forests due to its abundant, hard-to-remove seeds.
• Bidens frondosa (devil's beggarticks or sticktights): An annual in the aster family, widespread in North America (and invasive elsewhere), with yellow disc flowers and flat, barbed cypselas (seeds) up to 1 cm long. It thrives in moist, disturbed areas like streambanks and can grow 0.5–4 feet tall.
• Other relatives like Lappula squarrosa (European sticktight) or Lappula occidentalis (western sticktight), which have spiny fruits and are sometimes introduced or weedy.

These plants are typically found in pastures, fields, woodlands, or edges of grazed areas, especially in moist or shaded spots. Their seeds hitchhike on livestock, facilitating spread across landscapes.
Relation to Rotational Grazing
Rotational grazing is a sustainable livestock management system where animals (e.g., cattle, sheep) are moved between subdivided paddocks to mimic natural herd movements. This allows grazed areas to rest and regrow, promoting soil health, forage quality, biodiversity, and preventing overgrazing. Benefits include deeper plant roots, reduced erosion, and better nutrient cycling via manure.
Sticktight plants intersect with rotational grazing in several ways, often as opportunistic "weeds" that exploit the system's dynamics:

1. Weed Management and Control:
   • Rotational grazing can suppress sticktights by encouraging dense, competitive forage growth during rest periods. Healthy grasses and legumes outcompete weedy species like Bidens or Hackelia, reducing their establishment. Grazing before weeds set seed (e.g., mid-summer for flowering) prevents burr formation and spread.
   • However, if paddocks are understocked or rested too long, sticktights may proliferate in disturbed or nutrient-rich spots (e.g., near gates or water sources). Intensive rotations (short graze periods of 1–7 days) target young, tender weeds before they mature.

1. Seed Dispersal Challenges:

1. • Livestock act as vectors for sticktight seeds, which stick to fur and are transported between paddocks. This is more pronounced in rotational systems with frequent moves, potentially spreading invasives like Bidens frondosa across farms.
   • Mitigation: Use temporary electric fencing to minimize contact with weedy edges, or time rotations to avoid peak seed-set (late summer/fall). Some farmers rogue (hand-pull) plants or mow borders.

1. Ecological and Biodiversity Role:

1. • In diverse pastures, sticktights can enhance habitat heterogeneity—a strength of rotational grazing. Their late-season flowers provide pollen/nectar for pollinators (e.g., bees, butterflies), supporting biodiversity.
   • On the flip side, dense stands reduce palatable forage, leading to selective grazing where animals avoid sticktights but overgraze preferred plants, weakening the sward.

Overall, rotational grazing offers tools to keep sticktights in check while leveraging their role in a balanced ecosystem.

​Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) offers several benefits for cattle farming, particularly in terms of fencing, shade, and forage potential, though it also comes with considerations due to its thorns and potential toxicity. Below is a detailed breakdown of its benefits and uses in a cattle setting, compared to Osage Orange where relevant:

​

1. Fencing (Hedge Rows):
   • Natural Barrier: Like Osage Orange, Honey Locust can be used to create dense, thorny hedgerows that serve as effective natural fences for containing cattle. The thorns, especially on wild or non-thornless varieties, deter livestock from crossing, providing a low-maintenance fencing option.
   • Durability: Honey Locust wood is hard, strong, and rot-resistant, making it suitable for long-lasting fence posts. While not as durable as Osage Orange, it is still a reliable choice for cattle enclosures.
   • Cost-Effective: Once established, Honey Locust hedges require minimal upkeep, similar to Osage Orange, reducing fencing costs over time.

1. Shade and Shelter:

1. • Windbreak and Shade: Honey Locust trees provide excellent shade due to their open, feathery canopy, which allows filtered sunlight while offering cattle relief from heat. They also serve as windbreaks, protecting cattle from harsh weather, which can reduce stress and improve health and productivity.
   • Erosion Control: The root system of Honey Locust helps stabilize soil, preventing erosion in pastures, which maintains grazing land quality for cattle.

1. Forage Potential:

1. • Edible Pods: Unlike Osage Orange, Honey Locust produces sweet, edible seed pods that cattle often find palatable. These pods are high in sugar and protein, providing a supplemental feed source, especially in late summer or fall when pods drop. In some regions, the pods are considered a valuable natural forage resource for cattle.
   • Nutritional Value: The pods contain 10-20% protein and are energy-rich, potentially supporting weight gain. However, they should be a supplemental feed, not a primary one, as overconsumption may lead to digestive issues.
   • Leaves: In limited quantities, cattle may graze on Honey Locust leaves, which are generally non-toxic, though they are not a primary forage source.

1. Insect and Pest Considerations:

1. • Limited Repellent Properties: Unlike Osage Orange, Honey Locust is not widely recognized for insect-repellent properties. However, its open canopy can improve air circulation in pastures, potentially reducing fly populations indirectly by creating less favorable conditions for pests.
   • Thornless Varieties: Modern thornless cultivars of Honey Locust are often preferred in cattle settings to reduce injury risks to livestock and handlers, unlike the thorny wild types or Osage Orange.

1. Wood for Farm Infrastructure:

1. • Versatile Wood: Honey Locust wood is strong and durable, suitable for fence posts, corral construction, or other farm structures, similar to Osage Orange. Its wood is slightly less rot-resistant but still functional for long-term use in cattle operations.

Important Considerations:

• Thorns: Wild Honey Locust varieties have large, sharp thorns that can injure cattle, especially if they attempt to push through hedges or graze too closely. Thornless cultivars are recommended for safer integration into cattle pastures.
• Toxicity Risks: While the pods are generally safe in moderation, overconsumption can cause digestive upset or bloat in cattle. The seeds within the pods may also pose a risk if consumed in large quantities, as they are harder to digest.
• Invasive Potential: Honey Locust can spread aggressively in some environments, requiring management to prevent it from overtaking pastures, similar to concerns with Osage Orange.
• Management: Strategic planting and pruning are necessary to maximize benefits (e.g., pod production, shade) while minimizing risks like thorn injuries or overgrowth.

Comparison to Osage Orange:

• Fencing: Both trees are effective for natural fencing, but Osage Orange is denser and more thorny, making it a stronger barrier. Honey Locust, especially thornless varieties, is less intimidating but still functional.
• Forage: Honey Locust has a clear advantage with its edible pods, while Osage Orange fruit is toxic and unsuitable for cattle consumption.
• Shade/Windbreak: Both provide shade and wind protection, but Honey Locust’s open canopy allows more light penetration, which may benefit pasture grasses.
• Insect Repellence: Osage Orange may have an edge with potential insect-repellent properties, while Honey Locust offers no significant advantage here.

Conclusion:
Honey Locust is highly beneficial for cattle farming due to its edible pods, shade provision, and durable wood for fencing or infrastructure. Its thornless varieties make it safer and more versatile than Osage Orange in some contexts, though it requires careful management to avoid overconsumption of pods or issues with thorny varieties. Ranchers should monitor cattle grazing near Honey Locust and consider local conditions when integrating it into pastures. Consulting with agricultural extension services can help optimize its use in specific environments.

Natural Control with Regenerative Grazing
Regenerative grazing, a form of managed rotational grazing, can effectively control lanceleaf ragweed by leveraging livestock to enhance ecosystem health, improve soil, and reduce weed pressure. Below are key strategies for controlling lanceleaf ragweed naturally using regenerative grazing, based on available information and principles applicable to similar ragweed species like western and common ragweed:

1. Maintain Dense Grass Canopy:
   • A dense grass canopy shades out lanceleaf ragweed, limiting its access to sunlight, which is critical for its growth. Regenerative grazing involves moving livestock frequently to prevent overgrazing, allowing grasses to recover and maintain a competitive leaf canopy. This reduces ragweed establishment, as it requires light to germinate and thrive.
   • Implementation: Divide pastures into smaller paddocks and rotate livestock every 1–3 days, depending on grass recovery rates. Ensure rest periods of 60–90 days between grazing events to allow grasses to regrow and develop deeper roots, which outcompete ragweed.

1. Rest and Recovery Periods:

1. • Resting pastures during the latter half or the entire growing season allows grasses to build strong root reserves, which compete with ragweed for resources. Resting has been shown to reduce western ragweed by 50–60%, and similar results are expected for lanceleaf ragweed due to its annual nature and reliance on open soil.
   • Implementation: Plan grazing schedules to allow full plant recovery (e.g., 60–90 days) before reintroducing livestock. Avoid grazing the same pasture the same way each year to disrupt ragweed’s life cycle.

1. Improve Soil Health:

1. • Regenerative grazing enhances soil organic matter and microbial activity through even manure distribution and trampling, which supports healthier grass growth and reduces conditions favorable to ragweed. For example, regenerative grazing has increased soil organic matter from 2–4% to 4–6%, improving nutrient availability and water retention, which benefits grasses over weeds.
   • Implementation: Use livestock to naturally fertilize pastures by rotating them strategically. Avoid overgrazing, which compacts soil and favors ragweed establishment in disturbed areas.

1. Mechanical and Manual Support:

1. • While regenerative grazing is the primary strategy, mowing or hand-pulling lanceleaf ragweed before it flowers can prevent seed production. Mowing when plants are 4–6 inches tall can significantly reduce populations, especially in dry seasons. Hand-pulling is effective for small infestations in gardens or pastures, as lanceleaf ragweed’s shallow taproot makes it easy to remove before seed set.
   • Implementation: Mow in mid-June if ragweed is present, and pull plants in small areas before they produce seeds (potentially 30,000–60,000 per plant). Combine with grazing to ensure grasses remain competitive.

1. Enhance Biodiversity:

1. • Sowing native seeds after ragweed control can increase pasture diversity and resistance to reinvasion. For example, studies on giant ragweed show that sowing native annual, perennial, and woody species after eradication accelerates native plant recovery, which can outcompete ragweed.
   • Implementation: After grazing or mowing, sow native grasses or forbs like yellow-rattle (Rhinanthus minor) to weaken aggressive species and create space for desirable plants. This can be done on bare soil patches to enhance competition.

Additional Considerations

• Timing: Focus control efforts in mid-spring to early summer when lanceleaf ragweed is small (2–4 inches tall) and most vulnerable to grazing or mechanical removal. This prevents seed production, which is critical for long-term control.
• Grazing Management: Avoid continuous grazing, which allows livestock to overgraze preferred grasses, opening space for ragweed. Regenerative grazing’s planned rotations ensure even grazing pressure and minimize soil disturbance.
• Challenges: Lanceleaf ragweed’s ability to thrive in poor soils and its high seed production (up to 60,000 seeds per plant) make it persistent. Consistent management over multiple seasons is necessary to deplete the seed bank.

Limitations
Regenerative grazing is effective but may not completely eliminate lanceleaf ragweed, especially in heavily infested areas or where grazing distribution is uneven. Combining grazing with occasional mowing or hand-pulling may be necessary for severe infestations. By implementing regenerative grazing with strategic planning, you can naturally suppress lanceleaf ragweed while improving pasture health and biodiversity.
​

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) offers several benefits for cows when incorporated into their diet or pasture. Here are some key advantages based on available research:

1. Improved Nutrition: Chicory is rich in minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium, and it contains high levels of digestible energy and protein, which support cow growth and milk production. Its deep taproot allows it to access nutrients from deeper soil layers, making it a nutrient-dense forage.
2. Enhanced Milk Production: Studies indicate that chicory can improve milk yield in dairy cows due to its high palatability and digestibility. It provides a consistent source of energy and nutrients, which can lead to increased milk fat and protein content.
3. Parasite Control: Chicory contains sesquiterpene lactones, which have antiparasitic properties. These compounds can reduce the burden of internal parasites like gastrointestinal worms in cows, potentially decreasing the need for chemical dewormers.
4. Drought Tolerance and Forage Availability: Chicory’s deep root system makes it drought-resistant, ensuring forage availability during dry periods when other grasses may fail. This can provide cows with a reliable food source in challenging climates.
5. Improved Rumen Health: The high fiber content and favorable carbohydrate profile of chicory can promote a healthy rumen environment, supporting better digestion and nutrient absorption.
6. Palatability and Grazing Preference: Cows find chicory highly palatable, encouraging consistent intake, which can improve overall feed efficiency and reduce selective grazing issues.

For optimal benefits, chicory is often used in mixed pastures with grasses and legumes, as it complements other forages. However, it should be managed carefully to avoid overgrazing, and its high protein content may require balancing with energy-rich feeds to prevent digestive issues.

This page will provide information, and insights about Grass, Forbes, and general information found on Forest valley Farms.