Indiscriminate Herbicide Application in Rural Northwestern Oklahoma

Agriculture in northwest Oklahoma mostly consists of winter wheat and cattle. Many farmers and ranchers have moved off their land and now live in cities and towns; sometimes several miles from their operations. Often farmland is leased and many times individuals manage several large parcels.

Lately, the practice of herbicide application to trees along watercourses and small unnamed creeks and streams has become widespread. As a trained Conservation Biologist and land manager myself, I need someone to explain the purpose of this practice! After all, it seems to me that not only is this a waste of money, but counterproductive for cattle ranchers and wheat farmers. Don't trees provide shade for livestock during the hot summer months and protection from wind, rain, and snow in winter? My college training in forestry, agriculture, and hydrology and my personal field observations leave no doubt in my mind that trees, shrubs, and various ground cover reduce erosion along waterways and in flood prone areas.

I have frequently witnessed both ground and aerial spraying being conducted on days when the wind is blowing steadily in excess of 20 mph. Under these conditions, vegetation far from the target area is harmed or killed. Often, residents nearby these inconsiderate spraying operations loose ornamental plantings, orchard trees, and garden crops.

Another common practice is the indiscriminate spraying of roadside ditches along county roads. Target species include Johnson Grass, (Sorghum halepense), Japanese Brome or Cheat Grass (Bromus japonicus), Giant Ragweed, (Ambrosia trifida), and several other less noxious species. These species do cause problems and are invasive, however there are other methods of controlling them such as mowing, prescribed burning, and more careful application of herbicide. The main ingredients required for a land stewardship are some common sense, a land ethic, and above all farm managers can't be lazy! One prerequisite is that managers/farmers must take the time to learn how to identify noxious/invasive species. Not every non-crop species is bad. The "kill em all" mentality is ignorant if not stupid. Ignorance is just not knowing better; stupidity is knowing better, but not caring enough to act responsibly.

Photos: Top- Overspray kills a variety of trees and shrubs around a stock pond in eastern Major County, Oklahoma; Bottom- Trees effected by aerial herbicide along a natural watershed.