Regardless of what kind of brush or overgrowth producers must manage, it has to be done properly to achieve desired results.
Brush and trees are beneficial as shade for livestock and cover for wildlife, but dense infestations from fence to fence erode ranch profits due to limited forage production. Brush control is an expense against income in a changing economy, so its potential impact on ranch profits needs to be carefully and thoroughly analyzed.
Source: Progressive Forage, May 29, 2018. Link.
“The objective of brush control in a livestock operation is to increase forage production and carrying capacity. Increased forage production usually results in increased conception rates and weaning weights, which have a monetary value,” Ryan Rhoades said. “Two major questions to answer are: Should I invest in brush control and, if so, which control practice will yield the best economic returns? Answers to the questions are obtained by subtracting costs of various brush control methods from the amount of revenue that can result from the practice.”
INSIGHTS: Share this article on social media or in targeted campaigns with producers and landowners. Brush and undergrowth control has been a hallmark of wildlife habitat management for decades. While the goals are dissimilar at times, a systems approach is most comprehensive. If you need a topic to get a group of producers talking, this one works well. Tee it up. See what falls out!