When I first taught cows to eat weeds back in 2004 at Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, I thought, “Wow! Farmers and Ranchers will love this! Instead of weeds, now they have forage!” So I put together a little video, wrote articles in two beef-producer magazines, was interviewed by several more, and I thought “There, now everyone knows about this, my work is done, and I’ll go on to the next thing.”

The result wasn’t the overnight change I expected. “Of course!” I thought, “I need to provide more and better examples.” So every year since then, I’ve been in somebody’s pasture, somewhere, pretty much all summer long. I’ve trained cows to eat many of our most problematic weeds, I’ve trained in lush green pastures, on arid rangelands, adapted the process for as few as 5 cows and as many as 110 pairs, and worked with all kinds of really great people.

I know a lot now about teaching cows to eat weeds, but what I really need to know is more about you and what you really need when it comes to your operation, your cows and your weeds. So I’ve put together a few questions that might help me do a better job. You can find my little survey by clicking here, or you can just send me your thoughts via this blog.Here are the questions I need a hand with:

What is your single biggest frustration when it comes to weeds in your pastures or allotments?

What is happening in your area or to your operation as a result of weeds?

What have you tried so far that hasn’t worked?

If you had a magic wand, what would the ideal solution be for you?

What is the single biggest fear you have when it comes to getting started teaching cows to eat weeds?

Are you a farmer, rancher, Extension, NRCS, BLM or USFS staff or other?

What do you like most about what you do for a living?

Thanks for your thoughts and your time!  I appreciate you trying to help me do better!