Weed, Poisonous Plant, and Pest Resources for Small Farms

These publications are shared to teach farmers and agriculturalists how to properly control weeds and poisonous plants and pests. Handbooks and management fact-sheets are provided as well as a list of common pasture weeds, poisonous plants, and other pests that affect pastures.

Weed Management and Control

Don't wait to make a weed management plan

Pesky weeds often go undetected in pastures until summertime when they’re in full bloom. And by that time, the best that can be done is to limit the spread of seed and then prepare a management strategy for next season.

Melissa Fery | Mar 2007 | Article

Foxtail control in pastures and hayground

Foxtail is a problematic grass in pastures and hayground, and infestations need immediate attention. Small infestations of foxtail should be spot treated, while larger infestations require whole pasture renovation. This informational ...

Shelby Filley | Jul 2022 | Article

Management Guides for Common Pasture Weeds

Catchweed Bedstraw (in English)

This section contains information on identification of the different life stages of Catchweed Bedstraw.

Mar 2018 | Online resource

Integrated Management of Downy Brome in Winter Wheat

Downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.), also known as cheatgrass, is especially troublesome in low precipitation production areas where crop rotations are mostly limited to winter wheat followed by a year of summer ...

Drew J. Lyon, Andy Hulting, Don W. Morishita, Frank Young | Aug 2020 | Extension Catalog publication

Wild Carrot

An abundant seed producer, this weed grows in meadows, pastures, along roadsides, and in noncrop areas. Also known as Queen Anne's lace, wild carrot is listed as a Class B noxious weed in Washington. Counties ...

Jim P. Fitzsimmons, Larry C. Burrill, Jed B. Colquhoun | Jun 2020 | Extension Catalog publication

Western Bracken Fern (in English)

This article describes the various problems caused in livestock by the Western Bracken Fern in the Pacific North West.

Sep 2017 | Online resource

Yellow Starthistle: Ecology and Management on Pacific Northwest Rangelands

Covers the history of yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis L.) invasion of the Pacific Northwest and describes current infestation levels in Oregon and Washington. Provides basic information regarding yellow ...

Larry L. Larson, Roger Sheley, Michael McInnis, Gary Kiemnec | Jan 2008 | Extension Catalog publication

Poisonous Plants

Plants Poisonous to Livestock (in English)

Table of poisonous plants and the species it affects, including the scientific name, common name, poisonous parts of the plant, and the primary poisons.

Mar 2018 | Online resource

Plants Poisonous to Livestock in the Western States (in English)

Poisonous plants are a major cause of economic loss to the livestock industry. Each year these plants adversely affect 3 to 5 percent of the cattle, sheep, goats, and horses that graze western ranges. All too often the losses to individual livestock operations are large enough to threaten the viability of that ranch.

Apr 2011 | Online resource

Poisonous Plants Commonly Found in Pastures

Pastures often contain weeds that are potentially dangerous to livestock. The toxic compounds in plants are usually a defense mechanism against predation and have a distinct, unpleasant odor or a bitter taste and are not ...

Mylen Bohle, David Hannaway, Andy Hulting, Karin Neff | Apr 2018 | Collection