S|>r« i j I K a r m Secléoa. W r d n r » d a v , M m h Í
Johnson Creek Elk study
nearing completion
plants within the hoop were clipped
and separated into one of five
categories Hluebunch wheatgrass
Idaho fescue. Sandbergs hluegrass
annual and forbs The various plants
collected were lh»n taken to the
Cnion lab and dried and weighed to
determine production and use After
drying and weighing the plant
materials were subjected to lab tests
to determine protein content and
digestibility
To determine the diets of the
various animals using the study
area fecal collections were made
during If) d ifferent collection
periods A total of 1.000 fecal groups
were collected and analyzed to
determine the actual diets Also 7
stomach samples were taken from
elk during the spring of 198.1
Additional information regarding
the animals use of the study area
was collected through the use of 8
time lapse cameras and several
hours of visual observations by field
personnel
According to Dennis Sheehey pro
ject leader, the final report for the
study was scheduled for com pot ion
by June 198.6 However, due to other
schedule rjc ; nges the final report
will not be completed until later this
summer
4 « I W ee d sp ec lallsl
t impel atice 4 «ten sio n S e r v i c e
Idaho st a te I nive rsit v
A recent WSSA publication entit
led "Crop laisses Due to Weeds in
Canada and the I'nited States"
provides estimates of average yield
losses caused by weeds in 10 geo
graphic areas of the I'nited States
Values represent loss from potential
production under current cropping
and weed control practices, and are
based on numerous studies and
observations made by university
research and extension personnel
during the period of 1975 through
1979 The following are lows esti
mates for selected crops in the
mountain states
Crop
potatoes
wheat
barley
beans
com
sugartiecls
Percent
laws from
Potential
Production
7
13
12
14
13
20
I'sing these WSSA yield loss esti
mates and crop production figures
from the 1983 Idaho Agricultural
Statistics Keport the following losses
can be calculated for Idaho
Crop
Dollar
laws in
Idaho
polatues
• M
124.180. 161
11,19
barley
beam
loss to weeds in Idaho exceeds 9500
m illion dollars annually
That
amount is evjuivalmt to approxi
matrix 96JO dollars per Idaho citi
zen
Weeds affect everyone, not just
the farmer and rancher Weeds
increase production costs, which
results in higher food prices In
creased production coats means a
narrower profit margin for agricul
tural producers, which in turn
means less state tax revenue gener
atrd and available for essential
services such as education and law
enforcement Weeds decrease prop
B Bl M
com
2,913.793
sugarbeets 22.122.856
The total estimated annual loss in
Idaho from just these six crops total
9131.851 kst isi The W SSA report did
not provide estimates of losses in
hay. pasture nr rangeland, but 1980
university estimates of these weed
related losses in Idaho exceeded l.xxi
million dollars When losses to live
stock, seed and minor crops are
added as well as weed control coats
for waterways, highways and right
of ways, the total estimatrd dollar
erty values, and m aty dollars are
spent each year coping with medical
problems caused by weeds aller
gies. skin rashes, poisoning Weeds
are invading many of Idaho s scenic
recreation areas and may eventual
ly be responsible for substantial
economic losses in this major Idaho
industry
t'nlil the nonagncultuarl com
munity rralizes that weeds seriously
impact their lives, ai.d recognizes
the importance of supporting weed
control efforts in the slate weeds
will continue to rob them of millions
and millions of dollars every year
CONSERVATION
IS OUR BUSINESS
We Build:
TERRACES — DIVERSION DITCHES —
RESERVOIRS — LEVELING — EARTH WORK
asSrX
We specialise in erosion and water control.
O J. KEMMERER,
CONTRACTOR
NK\HN
C rop losses caused by weeds in Idaho
Hy 8 T E V K D K H F V
The Johnson Creek rlk stud)
twgan in March of 11*2 The project
«a s designed to answer some of the
questions regarding cattle elk for
jg e utilization and competition The
problem. as identified by ranchers
throughout most of Kastern Oregon,
was that elk and to some extent
deer, were utilizing too much of the
forage available in the areas used by
ranchers for their early spring graz
ing
Initially three stud) areas were
proposed for the project, one each in
Wallowa County I n ion County and
Morrow County After reviewing all
three areas, the Morrow County
area, located between Johnson
Creek and butter Creek on the
Hughes anil French ranches, was
selected as (he study area
After the identification of plant
types and communities was made.
27 sites were located throughout the
study area to sample 9 different
plant communities At each site ho
plots were sampled to determine
forage availability and productivity
By using wire cages, each site was
divided into four different grazing
patterns l> no grazing 21 caged
after the elk left the study area. 3i
caged until the cattle were turned
onto the study area and 4 1 contin
nous grazing Sampling of each plot
was accomplished by the use of
standard I meter range hoops All
l*»i
»*• 1 *«
1 5684592
Cove, OR 97824