Yaupon presents problems for range pasture management

Butler forage field day includes yaupon clearing demonstration

Writer: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, b-fannin@tamu.edu

FRANKLIN – Yaupon, yaupon and more yaupon. The war for ranchers against this perennial seems to never be over, but there are viable control measures, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts, speaking at the recent O.D. Butler Forage Field Day and Camp Cooley Ranch.

“It’s a perennial and comes back even when controlling it at the shallow level,” said Dr. Vanessa Corriher-Olson, AgriLife Extension forage specialist from Overton. “Perennials can come back even from live root material. Yaupon is very invasive. You might have an area cleared and think you are done. However, that’s only temporary. It will come back.”

Even after using mechanical clearing methods, the battle is far from over.

There are several herbicide products on the market that can be used. Corriher-Olson said a 15 percent mix of Remedy Ultra, triclopyr, with 85 percent diesel can be applied to yaupon that has been cut less than an hour after cutting down.

“That allows the herbicide to penetrate the remaining green plant cells inside the yaupon preventing it from sprouting new growth,” she said.

For stem spray treatments, producers can try a mix of 25 percent

Remedy Ultra and 75 percent diesel. This can be applied any time of year but may work best when growing.

Corriher-Olson told attendees to avoid applying herbicide during times of high temperatures and heat.

“High temperatures will lead to volatilization of herbicide (triclopyr ester) into the canopy of desirable trees that the yaupon is growing under,” she said. “Mechanical removal is an option, but you will have resprouting, which will require herbicide applications.”

She said spray painting or flagging yaupon stems following herbicide treatment will help mark treated areas.

Charles Fuchs with CF Mulching Services of Easterly provided a mechanical demonstration using a mulching machine to clear away large swaths of yaupon at the ranch.