Working Ranch Magazine - Index

Working Ranch Magazine - magazine - Index

here’s a war being waged on American soil, and as a rancher you are a combatant.
The enemy is an insidious foe, the lowly weed, patiently waiting for the chance to
rise up and claim any undefended ground. Just ask rancher Verl Hendrix of the
Smith Creek Ranch in Nevada. He’s been a rancher for most of his 85 years, and he
can’t remember when weeds were as bad as they are now on his 3,000-acre spread.
(Here) When a noxious weed like Leafy Spurge moves in and takes over cow country,
it’s real easy to see how a cattleman can become agitated. This photo’s enough
to drive a cowboy to head into town and start fillin’ out an application to become a
part-time spray plane pilot. (Top) Up close, Leafy Spurge doesn’t look all that
threatening. In fact, there’s probably been a fistful or two of it brought back to the
house by some ranch kid wanting to surprise his mom. But turn it loose to run wild
over the grasslands and you better watch out. This is one aggressive weed.
82 |WORKING RANCH | JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2008