Vanessa Corriher-Olson, AgriLife Extension forage specialist from Overton, discusses brush control at the O.D. Butler Forage Field Day at Camp Cooley Ranch.
Yaupon Presents Problems for Range Pasture Management
Butler Forage Field Day includes yaupon clearing demonstration.
Yaupon, yaupon and more yaupon. The war for ranchers against this perennial seems to never be over, but there are viable control measures, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts speaking at the recent O.D. Butler Forage Field Day at Camp Cooley Ranch.
“It’s a perennial and comes back even when controlling it at the shallow level,” said Vanessa Corriher-Olson, AgriLife Extension forage specialist from Overton. “Perennials can come back even from live root material. Yaupon is very invasive. You might have an area cleared and think you are done. However, that’s only temporary. It will come back.”
Even after using mechanical clearing methods, the battle is far from over.
Mechanical demonstration shows using a mulching machine to clear away large swaths of yaupon at the ranch.
There are several herbicide products on the market that can be used. Corriher-Olson said a 15% mix of Remedy Ultra®, triclopyr, with 85% diesel can be applied to yaupon that has been cut, less than an hour after it’s been cut down.
“That allows the herbicide to penetrate the remaining green plant cells inside the yaupon, preventing it from sprouting new growth,” she said.
For stem-spray treatments, producers can try a mix of 25% Remedy Ultra and 75% diesel. This can be applied any time of year, but may work best when growing.
Corriher-Olson told attendees to avoid applying herbicide during times of high temperatures and heat.
“High temperatures will lead to volatilization of herbicide (triclopyr ester) into the canopy of desirable trees that the yaupon is growing under,” she said. “Mechanical removal is an option, but you will have resprouting, which will require herbicide applications.”
She said spray painting or flagging yaupon stems following herbicide treatment will help mark treated areas.
Charles Fuchs with CF Mulching Services of Easterly provided a mechanical demonstration using a mulching machine to clear away large swaths of yaupon at the ranch.
Editor’s Note: Blair Fannin is a media relationship specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Communications.