Weeds-will anything eat these?

[equinecpa]

I am trying to improve my pastures. There is a lot of Artemisia ludoviciana (Sagewort, Wormwood) and Artemisia frigida (Sagewort) out there and I fear it may choke out good grass.

Here are pics of the plants:


Artemisia Frigida


Artemesia Ludoviciana

Does anyone know if goats will eat this? I have hair sheep they won't touch it either in the pasture or if I throw it to them on a dry lot. Even the ducks and chickens don't care for it.

It is easy to pull up but I'd prefer to have something that will eat it to keep it at bay if there is such a creature.

[Oswego]

Pull some up and throw them over a fence that has goats, let the goats tell you if they like them.

[BarbadosSheep]

Oswego, that's really a bad idea. Many weeds are toxic to animals and I know that I'd be pretty upset if some random person fed toxic weeds (or anything else, really) to my goats.

[equinecpa]

[QUOTE=Oswego;6726321]Pull some up and throw them over a fence that has goats, let the goats tell you if they like them.[/QUOTE

LOL I'd do that if I had goats...I'm not sure if I'd make friends with anyone in this area if I pulled some up and threw some over their fence either...

[sisterpine]

The folks at your local feed store or university extention should be able to tell you.

[wannabechef]

24d will eat them right up leaving your wanted grass and clover.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

[equinecpa]

Originally Posted by wannabechef

24d will eat them right up leaving your wanted grass and clover.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

I should have mentioned I don't want to put any chemicals on this. Straight downhill from this area is a pond/creek and I don't want to poison anything. I don't like messing with chemicals-if push comes to shove I can just pull them out. I'd like to put something out perhaps in the spring that will chew them down.

Anyone know if these are more edible in the Spring? I read an article where they are actually fairly nutritious in the Spring-if the animal will eat it.

[rambler]

A brush hog. Now them down a few times a year for sure before it goes to seed, let the grass regrow and drown them out.

Was amazing how this helped my pastures when I did it.

I realize I'm not answering with info you were asking for, but it is an option. That looks like one of those troubling weeds, where not much touches it, but I don't actually know.

Paul

[HerseyMI]

Well, yes there is... a WEED EATER!

[Paumon]

Originally Posted by equinecpa

I am trying to improve my pastures. There is a lot of Artemisia ludoviciana (Sagewort, Wormwood) and Artemisia frigida (Sagewort) out there and I fear it may choke out good grass.

Not many animals would eat that stuff but both of those sages have other important uses and are worth a lot of money to some people, especially the Artemisia ludoviciana which is also known as silver sage and sacred white sage. They are in high demand as dried smudge bundles for ceremonial and spiritual purposes with the alternative crowd and with Native Americans, and also in demand for their medicinal properties and uses. A small bundle of dried white sage 6 inches long by 1.5 inches thick will sell for around $6 or more, and a bag of loose dried white sage sells in America for around $20 a pound. Here in Canada it can sell for up to $40 a pound. I wish it grew here where I am because I like to make herbal medicinal preparations from it.

If you have a lot of it and you want to just get rid of the plants put an advertisement online for white sage pickers/sellers to come and cut it for free under your supervision. Or cut and hang-dry it yourself then go online and sell it loose in 1 pound bags as smudging sage. If you want to do some research about the uses and selling of those sages look up "smudging sage".

[equinecpa]

Originally Posted by Paumon

Not many animals would eat that stuff but both of those sages have other important uses and are worth a lot of money to some people, especially the Artemisia ludoviciana which is also known as silver sage and sacred white sage. They are in high demand as dried smudge bundles for ceremonial and spiritual purposes with the alternative crowd and with Native Americans, and also in demand for their medicinal properties and uses. A small bundle of dried white sage 6 inches long by 1.5 inches thick will sell for around $6 or more, and a bag of loose dried white sage sells in America for around $20 a pound. Here in Canada it can sell for up to $40 a pound. I wish it grew here where I am because I like to make herbal medicinal preparations from it.

If you have a lot of it and you want to just get rid of the plants put an advertisement online for white sage pickers/sellers to come and cut it for free under your supervision. Or cut and hang-dry it yourself then go online and sell it loose in 1 pound bags as smudging sage. If you want to do some research about the uses and selling of those sages look up "smudging sage".

Wow who would have thought? I like this solution as I just hate to waste any vegetation here when it is is so hard to grow. At least this way I can put plants I pull to good use!

[wannabechef]

This is a reply to member driftwood his pm box is full

Positive it will not kill clover, only yellow it.

And this backs me up, you could always reduce the rate by 1/2-1/4 oz per 1000 sq ft.

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7490.html

Scroll to last paragraph.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

[bluefish]

My goats won't touch the stuff in their pastures. Even with them eating all the competition, though, it's not taking over. Course you look like you get more water than us. That may make a difference.

[o&itw]

Artemisia is "supposed" to prevent/eradicate worms in goats in small amounts.....It is also "supposed" that it will kill them in large amounts.

[Shrek]

I mulch mow weeds as that routinely for worm hay and they compost it into topsoil.

[o&itw]

Originally Posted by Shrek

I mulch mow weeds as that routinely for worm hay and they compost it into topsoil.

I think you are confusing the phylum Nematoda with the phylum Annelida.

Perhaps in jest?

[Shrek]

Originally Posted by o&itw

I think you are confusing the phylum Nematoda with the phylum Annelida.

Perhaps in jest?

After mulching even organic worming compounds become worm feed after initial precomp of 60 to 90 days by microorganisms as earthworms do not actually thrive off of organic matter, rather the microbes, yeasts and molds that develop during precomposting.

Generally within 10 months after mulching most any organic matter, a worm population will exist 6 to 18 inches below the surface.

That is why wormer treated livestock manure is suitable for worm feed after initial anerobic heating and precompost to establish adequate mold and yeast.

[motdaugrnds]

I'ld do a controlled burn!

[Tabitha]

Artemisia is a perennial, burning would not get rid of it.
It is not so much food as it is medicine. Critters will eat some of it if they feel the need for it, like to get rid of worms. Sepp Holzer never wormed his animals, but he kept poisonous plants growing for them to self medicate, It worked for him. But what is too much is too much. Burn it, then plow it under and seed it in good grasses. That would be my advice.

[Oldcountryboy]

A billion grasshoppers might do the trick! They took care of all the weeds regardless of what kind, last summer. But I bought a bunch of chicks this year and let them free range all summer to get rid of the grasshoppers.