Weeds can also be introduced when you plant grass seeds that are contaminated with weed seeds. Many weeds are spread by seeds that are dispersed by hay bales, plants that reach maturity, livestock movements, mowing equipment, wind, water, and wildlife.

Prevention is any activity that keeps weeds from getting into your pasture. Some weeds may take a few years to get under control. This will help you determine whether your control program is working. Keep a record of the weeds you have in each field and when you start seeing them. A good time to assess your fields is between seasons and about 1 week after cutting or grazing. Identify all the plants and seedlings at each site. Take time to walk through your fields and scout at least 10 to 15 sites in a field. The first step in weed control is identifying the weed or weeds you have, which will allow you to determine whether they need to be controlled. For these reasons, weed control is very important. Weeds can reduce hay yield and quality, and they can interfere with hay drying. Weeds also have the potential to cause injury or death to livestock if the weed plants are toxic. New volunteer species can mean more and better pasture forage, or it can mean losses of forage quality and yield. In pastures and hayfields, it is impossible to have a “pure” stand of grass there will always be plants that volunteer from the seedbank or from neighboring fields. Why Identify Weeds? Skip to Why Identify Weeds?Ī weed is a plant growing in a place where you do not want it to grow.

Weeds with purple flowers