SARE-funded research at Montana State University has demonstrated that using sheep to graze crop residue and summer fallow can address many challenges faced by wheat and alfalfa growers in the Northern Plains. Researchers found that sheep were effective in controlling alfalfa weevil, provided an environmentally friendly alternative to herbicides and pesticides and allowed the grower to manage erosion by controlling the amount of remaining residue.
Want more information? See the related SARE grants:
- Evaluation of Alfalfa Weevil (Coleoptera Curculionidae) Densities, Weed Abundance, and Regrowth Characteristics of Alfalfa Grazed by Sheep. (SW07-013)
- An Alternative to Traditional Wheat Stubble Management Using Sheep to Control Pests and Improve Soil Nutrient Cycling (SW00-015)
- Developing a free on-line excel based enterprise budget decision support program to evaluate the incorporation of sheep into farm systems as an alternative to presticide and mechanical methods of weed and insect control (SW07-603)