The War on Cheatgrass
Agricultural experts introduce a new strategy to save Benton County’s alfalfa crops from invasive weeds.
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County Agriculturalist Lee M. Lampson, with the cooperation of a number of farmers, has worked out methods for successfully controlling cheat in alfalfa fields. So successful has Mr. Lampson been that his experiments have been embodied in a bulletin issued by the State College. Although many farmers are following the methods, others are struggling against the cheat menace. Lampson advises seeding fall grain directly into the alfalfa to fill the gaps between plants, effectively crowding out the cheat. This method keeps the hay from falling down, increases the yield, and provides a better-balanced ration for livestock. The solution is now moving beyond the experiment stage and into general use across Benton County.
“Something is needed to fill up the space between the alfalfa plants.”
Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) remains a major agricultural and fire-hazard concern in the semi-arid lands of the Tri-Cities today. While modern farmers use different herbicides, the struggle to balance monoculture crops against resilient, invasive invasive species remains a perennial challenge in the Columbia Basin.
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