1. Noxious Weed Control and Seeding Establishment
on Goshute Tribal Lands
Linden K. Greenhalgh Extension Associate Professor, Utah State University, Tooele County
Jerry Caldwell, Tooele County Weed Supervisor
Abstract Objectives Results
The Tooele County Weed Board has taken an education and assist •Improve tribal land through noxious weed control and successful seeding establishment
Before (2010) After (2011)
approach to noxious weed control. Instead of investigation and •Train personnel in weed control and seeding establishment
enforcement, weed workers conduct regular education and assistance No. of (5X5) round bales 48 110
programs to help land owners in control efforts. With grants from ~1300 lbs.
Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education and Utah
Department of Agriculture and Food an education and restoration Tonnage 31 72
project was carried out on the Confederated Tribe of the Goshute
Reservation in Ibapah, Utah. Project objectives were to: 1) Educate Price/ton* $99 $151
personnel in weed control and successful seeding establishment, and
Total Value $3,069 $10,872
2) Improve tribal land through noxious weed control and desirable
species establishment. Two weed workshops, weed identification and
Difference $7,803
weed control methods and a weed sprayer calibration clinic were
conducted. Eighty acres of irrigated land were selected for restoration Total Project Cost $12,400
based on infestation with problem weeds including “”Carduus nutans””
L, “”Cirsium vulgare””, “”Cirsium arvense”” and “”Cardaria draba””.
Herbicide spray treatments took place in 2009, and 2010 followed by
seeding with “”Festuca ovina”” and “”Dactylis glomerata”” in October Contributors
2010. Production of grass hay was 31 and 72 tons before and after
restoration, respectively. With grass hay in Utah valued at $99/ton in Project Contributors Labor & Equipment Value
2010 and $151 in 2011, hay produced on project acres before and after
restoration was worth $3,069 and $10,872, respectively, an increase of SARE-FRTEP Grant $2,550
$7,803. Total project cost was $12,400. Project impact was not only a
significant increase in forage production and value but restoration of Tooele County Weed Division $3,630
land previously unusable.
Goshute Tribe $210
BLM $2070
Methods
Weed Control UDAF $440
•Summer 2009 Chaparral Treatment Producer $3,500
•Mowed between 1st & 2nd Spray
•Summer 2010 Milestone, 2-4D & Escort Treatment Total $12,400
•Fall Cut 48 5X5 Round Bales in 20 acres
•Summer 2011 Milestone, 2-4D & Escort Treatment
•Fall Cut 110 5X5 Round Bales in same 20 acres
Conclusion
Soil Preparation
Phase 2 was mowed & triple disced Noxious weed control and seeding establishment on Goshute Tribal
Lands was a huge success when considering weed control and forage
Seeding production increases. The initial SARE grant of $2,550 drew in nearly
Seed mix was 17 lbs of orchard fescue grass mix with oats as a cover crop $10,000 of additional contributions from partnering agencies. A previously
Dactylis glomerata (Orchard grass) weed infested field was brought back in to production with
Avena sativa (Oats) as cover crop significant returns for the producer.
Festuca arundinacea (Tall fescue)
Introduction
Noxious weed control presents a constant battle on western rangelands
and in irrigated cropland. A $2,550.00 Western Sustainable Agriculture
Research & Education grant was applied for and received in 2008 for
work on federally recognized tribal land in Tooele County, Utah. Two
tribes reside in Tooele County, the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute
Reservation in Ibapah on the Utah-Nevada line and the Skull Valley Band
of the Goshutes 50 miles west of Salt Lake City. A project proposal was
made to the tribe in Ibapah for weed control and reseeding on 80 acres
of irrigated ground.