Goats: Hungry to Help You Control Weeds!

This summer, 40 goats ate their way through a mountain of English ivy on OSU’s campus in about a week. Their efforts effectively reduced the ivy infestation so that Facilities Services can finish the job with fewer herbicide applications than they would have used otherwise. Some of the plants they can help manage include blackberry, poison ivy, poison oak, English ivy, and thistles. Goats will also eat desirable vegetation, so make sure to fence off any plants you want to keep. Goats are a good option when the infestation is so dense or the terrain so steep that it would be challenging for humans to navigate. And now that goats are gaining popularity, you don’t have to own your own herd to benefit from their weed-munching prowess! Goats can be rented from several companies in the Pacific Northwest. OSU hired Goat Power, LLC for their recent project. You might consider goats for your next weed management effort. They are a welcome addition to the IPM toolbox!

Just for fun: Calculate the number of animals (goats, cows, chickens, guinea pigs?!?) needed to mow your lawn!