Common use of HERBICIDES Clause in Contracts

HERBICIDES. Herbicides should be used sparingly and primarily as a tool to maintain cover and food producing plants such as shrubs and forbs, and the insects that require them. Herbicides should be used only when habitat goals cannot be achieved by other means. Where grazing management (i.e., stocking rate) is appropriate for the productive capabilities of the land and fire is periodically used to direct grazing and balance shrub canopy and height, herbicides should only be necessary to control invasive nonnative plants. Invasive, non-native plants, such as Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass), Bothriochloa spp. (Old World bluestems), Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian olive), E. umbellata (autumn olive), and other exotic species are of no value to the LEPC, and as their density increases on the landscape, the value of the habitat for LEPC diminishes. Additionally chemical control of native brush species, like Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust) and Maclura pomifera (Osage orange), which did not historically occur in native prairies used by LEPC may be recommended (see also section on brush management below). If necessary to use herbicides on shinnery oak, the goal should be to temporarily reduce shinnery oak competition with grasses. Herbicides should be used only at dosages that would defoliate shinnery oak and not kill it. Application should follow natural landscape patterns and large block and linear applications should be avoided. When herbicide use is deemed appropriate, spot treatment of target plants (rather than broadcast application) is preferred.