SDSU Extension recently received a $1 million contribution agreement from the NRCS for efforts to help control the spread of woody plants across the state, specifically the eastern redcedar tree.
“We have planted it pretty much everywhere as a really nice candidate species for shelterbelts because it is very hearty and fast growing, so it was a tree of choice that you could get from conservation districts throughout the Great Plains, as we homesteaded, and they became more and more popular” said Sandy Smart, SDSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Senior Program Leader.
But now there are too many of these trees on the grasslands .
“The states to our south have had this problem before we have,” Smart said. “That’s why it’s been kind of given that nickname a green glacier and it’s slowly moving north. So other states have done lots of research as of the causes and the impacts that it’s having.”
The problem began along the Missouri River, but now it has spread to most of the major rivers on the eastern side of the state and it can cause some major problems, including decreased forage production and it can create a home for predators.
“The main point that’s problematic especially for ranchers who make their livelihood on grass from their pastures is that the cedar trees shade out the forage that’s directly underneath the canopy and as those trees grow and the canopy area increases, then you’re losing more and more forage,” Smart said.
There are many ways to combat cedars, including controlled grazing, cutting down the trees or performing controlled burns.
“Fire obviously consumes the tree, and it scorches and kills the outer bark, it’s not a very thick bark at all, and can consume the leaves, so that can kill the trees,” Smart said.
The goal with this funding is to get the communities involved in reducing the spread of these invasive trees.
“The approach that we take is that it is community based, community lead, it’s producers that are recognizing the problem and then we come alongside and help them find resources to be able to start doing this,” Smart said.
They have partnered with the Prescribed Burn Association , which is a rancher lead organization, to perform organized burns and provide education to those looking to have controlled burns. They are hoping to start more burn associations across the state of South Dakota.
“Our job is to come up and provide the training and provide the leadership and kind of help guide people,” Smart said. “We need to find those people that are willing to step up and provide leadership through that, so this is a grassroots effort.”
This effort isn’t going to be quick or easy. Their goal is to burn at least 1,000 acres per year.
“We know this is going to take some time, so our goal is really investing in people so what we are doing is trying to hold two to three prescribed burn schools a year and those we would love to reach at least 10 producers at each school,” Smart said. “We also like to work with professionals that are kind of technical service providers, so those could be NRCS staff, they could be people with Game, Fish and Parks, etc, but just helping people to understand how the process works.”
Source: agweek.com
Photo Credit: gettyimages-skyf
Categories: South Dakota, Education, Government & Policy