1. Brush and Weed Control using Goats
By Ashley Soto

2. Who’s Currently Using Goats
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
The National Park Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/State of Maryland
Summit County, CO

3. Benefits Manages high levels of brush and weeds/invasive plants
In steep areas where people and machines can’t reach
Reduction of forest fires
Reduction of erosion
No harmful chemicals are used
They produce their own organic fertilizer that helps make the soil fertile
Air pollution reduced
NO chemicals are used and NO machinery that release CO2
A lawn mower can produce .08 tons or 160 lbs of CO2 per acre per year
Lawn chemicals can produce around 184 lbs of C2 depending on the size the area

4. Before
After

5. How does it work? A fence is put around the area that needs tending to
Keep predators out and to keep away from poisonous garden plants
Goats move throughout the fence/paddock system and eat the brush and weeds

6. Proof of Benefits
To calculate how many goats are needed in an initial stocking rate, determine your total acres of brush, multiplied by 8-12 (number recommended per acre by USDA NRCS for brush removal) and then divided by the number of grazing weeks.
Example: 25 acres of brushy timber x 10 goats per acre divided by 12 weeks of grazing time from May 1 to July 31 = 21 goats initial stocking rate.
In one study, the goats reduced an area with 45% brush to 15%

7. Personal Impacts
Clears area of brush and weeds without causing damage to the soil
Because of the organic fertilizers goats produce, the fertility of the soil can be improved
Maintenance costs for chemicals and machinery can be reduced

8. Global Impacts
If most people were to use to goats instead of chemicals or machinery, the amount of CO2 emissions would decrease as there would be little to no use of those alternatives
By clearing the buildup of brush goats can reduce the amount of forest fires

9. Works Cited
City Grazing. "How It Works." City Grazing. City Grazing. Web. 06 June 2016.
Goats On The Go. "Why Goats?" Goats On The Go: Sustainable Vegetation Management. Goats On The Go. Web. 04 June 2016.
Hartsook, Christa. "Utilizing Goats for Brush Control." Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Jan Web. 05 June 2016.
McGuire, Virginia C. "How to Get a Goat to Weed Your Garden." Modern Farmer. Modern Farmer Media, 17 Sept Web. 04 June 2016.
Mitchell, Elise R. Brush Control with Goats. Poteau, OK: Kerr Center. Kerr Center. Kerr Center, Web. 05 June 2016.
Nolden, Cherry. "Using Goats to Control Invasive Plants." Southwest Badger Whole Farm Planning Workshop for Landowners. 07 Feb Web. 06 June 2016.
NRCS. "Brush Management with Goats." Iowa Conservation Practice 314 (2013). Natural Resources Conservation Service Iowa. United States Department of Agriculture, May Web. 2 June 2016.