Controlling Goatsrue For More Information

According to Jack Evans of Utah State Cache County Weed Department

University, in Logan Utah, mowing, (435) 716-8342
clipping, cutting, and shallow cultivation cacheweed@yoda.state.ut.us
are poor means of control. Alternate www.cachecounty.org/offices/weed.html
cropping and row crops will effectively
interrupt the goatsrue life cycle. No Utah State University
biocontrol is available at this time. Jack Evans
(435)797-2242
As for herbicide, 2,4-D + Dicamba has
been the standard for controlling goatsrue USDA-APHIS
for many years and offers good results. www.usda-aphis.gov
However, *tests conducted by the Cache
County Weed Department have
discovered that either 1.5 oz/Acre Dupont
Escort ® or 1 oz.
Escort ® plus 2 qt/
Acre 2,4-D Amine is
far more effective. In
tests conducted in
May 2001, Escort®
and Escort® + 2,4-D
were applied one
time and this one
application area is
100% controlled
through year-end
2003. Other less
favorable sites have
shown from 75 -
100% control.
In 2002, when this ditch was sprayed with 2,4-D + Escort, both
banks had similar infestations of goatsrue. This 2003 photo
Dupont Telar® also shows very little goatsrue remaining on the left bank.
is showing excellent
preliminary results on goatsrue.

*These tests are not scientifically accredited. Produced by Utah-Idaho CWMA 2004
Goatsrue - From Coast to Coast
Service) received funding to eradicate
Goatsrue in the U.S. goatsrue nationwide and it was placed on the About Goatsrue
Federal Noxious Weed List. By 1999 funding
Goatsrue is a perennial legume, for the eradication program had been Generated by seed, goatsrue actively
originally found only in central and terminated. grows from mid spring until fall frost. It
southern Europe and develops a deep taproot and grows
in western Asia. In The primary infestation in the U.S. is from two to four feet tall, but may grow
1891, goatsrue was in Cache County, Utah, but other as tall as six feet. Mature leaves have
intentionally brought to small infestations of goatsrue have six to ten pairs of odd-pinnate leaflets.
Utah to be tested as a been discovered in Colorado, Flowers are bluish to purple, pea-like
livestock forage and Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, and grow along terminal or axillary
green manure. After Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, racemes from early summer until frost.
three years of study, Pennsylvania, Each blossom produces a single
scientists at Utah Washington, and seedpod that produces from one to
State University Washington D.C. nine bean-shaped seeds. Each plant
determined it to be These infestations is capable of producing 10 to 15
unpalatable and toxic are probably from thousand pods. Seed may remain
to livestock. nursuries selling viable in soil for five to perhaps ten
goatsrue as an years.
Goatsrue escaped captivity and ornamental or herb.
spread through the network of Goatsrue thrives in areas
irrigation canals and into streams, where soil moisture is high
rivers of the Bear River drainage in such as along waterways,
central Cache County, ditch banks, roadsides,
Utah. By 1974 irrigated cropland, pastures
goatsrue had spread and marshy areas. Seeds
over nearly 38,000 are distributed primarily by
acres, and was water movement but
placed on the Cache excavation activities also
County Noxious distribute goatsrue to new
Weed List. In 1981 the areas.
USDA and APHIS
(Animal and Plant
Health Inspection