U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials are hoping farmers will volunteer their cattle, sheep, or goats to help control invasive plants along the Mississippi River.
Invasive plants, like reed canary grass and Japanese hops, have been creating huge problems in the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge by choking out native species like oak trees.
McGregor District manager Richard King said they can control the invasives with burning and herbicides, but first want to see if livestock can suppress the plants.
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“With grazing, we can potentially create a win-win scenario,” said Kind. “We’re getting the mission accomplished with restoration and control of invasive species and a local grazer’s getting forage for free.”
Producers would be responsible for transporting the livestock, fencing in the animals, and providing fresh water.
King said if it’s successful in the first two pilot areas, they hope to expand the grazing to elsewhere in the refuge’s McGregor District, which runs from Genoa to Dubuque, Iowa.
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