Snakeroot

[sassafras manor]

What do those of you in the midwest know about snake root? I hear horror stories from some farmers with wooded pastures while others have not had any concerns with it. I have walked my woods and have not seen any signs so far but who's to say it is not there. I have been stockpiling two areas closer to the hosue that have no woods or evdince of the Snakeroot. I may move our heifers into those areas for teh rest of the summer and allow the pasture areas with woods to grow and stockplie them for late-fall/winter grazing. Will those of you in Illinois and Indiana please let me know if you have had any experience with it?

Thanks - Matt

[linn]

I don't know anything about snakeroot, but you can spray your pasture with 2,4-D.

[ksfarmer]

Although I am not familiar with snake root, I will say that nearly all poisonous plants are very unpalatable for various reasons and cattle will not eat them unless they are starved to it. Thus, the mere presence of the plant will not pose a problem. An old professor once told me "any critter that will eat these poisonous plants are probably so starved they are commiting suicide".

[springvalley]

Lived here my whole life, don`t know anything about it. Maybe we call it something else, A picture would help? >Thanks marc

[sassafras manor]

Marc - the latin name before the more recent name change was Eupatorium rugosum, very similar to Joe Pye weed which is also a Eupatorium but a different species. The plant is found on creek banks and edges of moist woodlands. It stands 3-4' tall with serated and opposite leafs and has a flat-topped cluster of white flowers. I myself am under the assumption that most livestock will steer clear of poisonus plants and assuming they have an adequate supply of quality forage they will not mess with it. However a neighbor down the lane was talking about loosing 2 mature cows late last summer across the county on his rented pasture. Also another farmer i spoke with at the county fair last week said he lost 1cow 2 years ago when it was a drier year. I am planning to move the 3 fat heifers in that area anyways to a stockpiled pasture in order to let their existing pasture stockplie for late fall after they graze our corn stubble.

[CCCJerseys]

Which kind of Snake root? There are a few different plants that people call Snake Root.
I have never worried about it the cattle don't bother it. I am guessing you mean the white flowered plant that only grows in Akaline areas?? Or do you mean ConeFlower also called Snake Root.
The Coneflower won't hurt anything.
I worry about Loco Weed and Cocklebur and really haven't had problems with them either.
However have lost cattle to Larks Spur. Fortunatly they are only poisonous for about 10 days a year.
Shirla

[sassafras manor]

The Snakeroot that cattle folks are concerned with around here is a member of the Eupatorium genus and has a cluster of small white flowers held on the tip of each stem. It is found in shady most woodlands, mostly along creek banks etc. Our largest open pasture has a seasonal creek that flows thru it into an abandoned pond basin and i have walked the area and not seen any at this point. Those that have cautioned me about it mentioned that they are most concerned about it when we have drier conditions late in summer. This summer has been rather moist with another 2 inches of rain falling this psat Friday night. We will just have to wait to see if i do come across any in the next few weeks of summer. Thanks - Matt

[CCCJerseys]

I wish you could post a picture. In the mean time I will look that name up. I am not familar with this unless we call it something else.
I am in NW kansas and am very interested in all native plants. I started learning while I lived in NewEngland.
Shirla

[CCCJerseys]

HUMM? We do have something similar Now I am going to do more research on what we have here.
Thank you for starting this thread I learned something new.
I don't know how to get rid of it but it looks like that there are some medicinal uses for it if you can find the right buyer.