Farmer sees benefits in partnership with Southwest Weed Management

    Fredrick Statz homesteaded the area near McGuire Slew west of Champion in 1888, coming in a covered wagon and living in it for several years until he could build a sod home. He then built a wooden two-story home on the farm which became the home for his family.
    The Statz family has retained the farm in the family and is now in the care of Louis “Bud” Statz. For the last few years, Statz looked across the property he grew up on along the Frenchman Creek and saw the Russian olive trees spreading across the creek bottom and into his pasture.
    Statz contacted Southwest Weed Management (SWM), headquartered in McCook, regarding a program offering a 50% cost share to remove Russian olive and eastern red cedar. After confirming that the property was eligible for the program, he contacted Roger Lewis in Wauneta to perform the work. Using a skid steer with a tree cutter, Lewis cut the trees at the base and piled them for future burning.
    Immediately after cutting, a herbicide was sprayed on the stump to kill the roots. Russian olive will regrow from the stump if not chemically treated after cutting, said Jim Bowen, SWM project coordinator.
    Funding was provided through the Upper Republican Natural Resources District (NRD) and a grant from Nebraska Department of Agriculture administered by Southwest Weed Management.
    Russian olive is a non-native, introduced woody species which, uncontrolled, can overtake native habitat in creek bottoms and rangelands reducing grazing potential. It can grow up to 20 feet tall and consumes groundwater with roots nine feet deep reducing water flow and water quality to local creeks and streams, Bowen said.
    Many states have placed Russian olive on their noxious weed list due to its fast growth and rapid spread.
    Many landowners are unfamiliar with Russian olive and do not realize the growth rate and how it can take over an area until it is a significant problem, he added.
    “The cost to remove large infestations can be high,” he added.
    SWM helps landowners control invasive species including Russian olive and eastern red cedar. Lands meeting the eligibility requirements qualify for a 50% cost share to remove these species.
    In addition, the agency also controls phragmites and salt cedar at no cost to the landowner.
    Statz sees the benefit in partnering with Southwest Weed Management in reclaiming his rangeland by removing Russian olive trees, Bowen said.
    “By doing so, he is managing his farm to sustain production, remove undesirable, invasive vegetation and helping future generations of his family to carry on the traditions and heritage of the family farm,” he said.
    For more information about Southwest Weed Management and its programs, contact at 308-920-2410 or email him at swwmjb@out look.com.