UNM Branch Campus Los Alamos sample logo

The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE



Media contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821
scarr@unm.edu

November 28, 2007

UNM Survey to Help Measure Economics of Invasive Weeds

A randomly selected sample of New Mexico ranchers will soon receive a survey administered by the economics department at the University of New Mexico regarding the management of invasive weeds on ranchlands. The survey, funded through a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture, will aid in the prevention of invasive species and effective weed management.

This survey will focus on two weeds that pose a particular problem for New Mexico ranchers, Russian knapweed and yellow starthistle, and will ask how ranchers make weed management decisions.

A sampling of questions includes the type of ranch, weed management practices currently used, and reaction to hypothetical infestations on the respective ranch. The information gained will be extremely useful in shaping weed management programs and policies.

“We tried to make the survey educational, helpful and informative,” said Assistant Economics Professor Jennifer Thacher, who is coordinating the survey. “Ranchers should be able to use the color brochure that is included in the survey packet to identify whether either of these weeds are on their land. In addition, we’ve included lots of resource contacts, in case they do find these weeds and have questions about how to get rid of them.”

Participants are strongly encouraged to complete the survey, which should take about 15 minutes of their time. A high rate of response from ranchers who receive the survey is critical to the validity of the findings, said researchers.

“One of the problems facing invasive weed management in New Mexico has been the lack of economic data,” said Thacher. “Because ranches in different parts of the state differ so much in climate, economics, type of land ownership, and culturally, getting responses from a wide cross-section of ranchers is essential.”

The survey is part of a grant titled “Strategic Behavior, Incentives, Heterogeneity and Invasive Species” jointly written by Professors Janie Chermak, Kate Krause, Kristina Grimsrud and Jennifer Thacher. It will examine ranchers’ incentives for invasive species prevention and management, and will evaluate the potential effectiveness of public prevention and management strategies implemented before a critical level of establishment. Other UNM researchers involved include graduate students Frannie Miller, Jason Hansen, Justin Smith and Michael Milligan.

The annual economic impact of invasive species in the United States is estimated to be in the neighborhood of $137 million annually. Economic costs from invasive species can include increased cropping, grazing costs and recreational costs. Water quality and quantity, and soil quality can also be impacted negatively. Additional factors can also include watershed damage, displacement of native vegetation and increased livestock costs.

The two species’ being studied, Russian knapweed and yellow starthistle, can cause year-round problems for ranchers. Yellow starthistle is a winter annual and a member of the sunflower family. In its early stages (March-May), it resembles a dandelion or mustard rosette. During this time, its taproot grows to over five feet long.

Russian knapweed is a bushy perennial that is known to live more than 75 years. It typically starts to come up in May and June, and it produces pinkish, purple flowers in the early fall. The plant grows to about three feet tall and has silvery green leaves.

Both can alter the landscape considerably, physically crowd out other grasses that livestock and other animals eat, and produce chemicals that prevent other plants from growing, thus increasing cattle management costs. They are also toxic to horses and cause chewing disease.

Helpful resources…
• Your local cooperative extension agent. To find your local coop visit: http://cahe.nmsu.edu/county/
• Jim Wanstall - Noxious weed coordinator (505) 646-2642
http://www.idahoweedawareness.org/siteindex.html.
http://www.nmda.nmsu.edu/ (Click on Food, Animals & Plant Programs - Noxious weeds)
http://www.invasiveweeds.com/welcome.html
http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/russknapweed.shtml
http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/yellowstar.shtml
http://wric.ucdavis.edu/yst/

###


The University of New Mexico is the state's largest university, serving more than 32,000 students. UNM is home to the state's only schools of law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture and operates New Mexico's only academic health center. UNM is noted for comprehensive undergraduate programs and research that benefits the state and the nation.

www.unm.edu