"Bison Ridge Ranch has been chemical free for 10+ years. We do a rotational grazing system for our 300+ bison. The soil differs in some areas but, we have sand and clay primarily. The fields are a mix of some native prairie grasses, warm and cool season grasses, some alfalfa, some canary. Currently weed control is pulling by hand and/or mowing. Our most troublesome weeds are Canada Thistle, Bull Thistle and Burdock. It not only affects the good grasses but, also gets entangled in the bison’s fur. Currently we are pulling by hand and/or mowing."



The Bison Ridge Ranch is a livestock, agritourism operation

Production approach: Natural (chemical free)
Rotations: 100% pasture
Cover crops: None
IPM used: None
Tillage: None
Soil amendment program: Manure
Soil tests: Click HERE.

Field was visited 5/14/09. Soils were wet in low areas, but overall fine. Three types of thistle were observed in two areas of the farm. Canada and bull thistles were actively growing in the Spring pasture, along with burdock. A different variety (could be Musk Thistle) was observed in a difference pasture, far-removed from the Canada and bull. Though the patch of Canada thistle was fairly small, the Turney's will use it for the project. They will also be watching the impact of the practices on the burdock, which in some ways is a bigger nusance due to the burrs that get stuck to the bison fur. The following plan was developed with Drew and Jessie:

1. Till multiple times. A disk will be used 2-3x before planting sudangrass.

2. Plant sudangrass. Seed will be located and sudan grass will be planted in early June at a recommended rate of 55 lbs/acres in area tilled.

3. Mow and graze (probably graze) sudan at 4-6'. Sudangrass grazed just as thistles are starting to flower. Sudan should be at least 4' tall.

4. Sudan will be mowed again. A second mowing will prevent any thistle from flowering and help build up a thick layer of biomass to smother thistle.

5. Sudan will be tilled under in Fall or following Spring.