Imagine you've planned a horse-camping adventure into a beautiful national park. You've made your reservations, planned your trail riding route, and packed up your horse gear. Of course, you've tossed in a few bales of horse hay to keep your horse fed during the trip. You reach the park entrance - and are turned away. Why? Those bales of horse hay could contain exotic-weed seeds.
Weeds are defined as noxious or invasive exotic (nonnative) plants. Such plants can be found throughout the 541.7 million acres of our nation's public lands. According to United States Forest Service, we're losing 40,000 acres of federal lands daily to weed spread.
This in mind, horse owners are being asked - and are sometimes required - to feed their horses what's known as Certified Weed Free or Certified Weed Seed Free forage while on public lands. Certified forage includes alfalfa/grass hay, forage pellets, cubes, alfalfa, grain hay, grass hay, and straw.
Horses' Contribution
Weeds and weed seeds are brought onto public lands by wildlife, birds, on hikers' equipment, bike tires, logging and mining equipment, highway repair crews, cattle, vehicles and trucks, people, even via the wind. They lurk on a hiker's boots, inside backpacker's rolled-up ground mat, and in a cyclist's tires.
As weeds spread, federal managers try to control them through mechanical, biological, and chemical means. But some attention has turned to preventing the arrival of weeds and control of weed seeds through what federal agencies call "weed contaminated feed and mulch."
Mulch is essentially chopped-up straw which can be blown or spread onto the ground as a cover to prevent water erosion and hold seed in place. Mulch is also included in waddles - those long, wrapped sausages strung along the side of a highway or road to control water flow.
But do horses spread a significant number of weed seeds specifically in their manure? In California (which has the largest number of equestrian trails on public lands of any state), USFS personnel note that "horses are the least contributors to weed spread. CalTrans [the California Department of Transportation], logging, mining, construction projects bring in more weed seeds than stock."
Dominican University in San Rafael, California, has completed a two-year study following a strict protocol to eliminate outside environmental contamination. The study found that some weeds "do grow from horse manure." However, the weeds that grow from manure aren't listed on the California Department of Agriculture Noxious/Invasive Weed List - the list used by agriculture commissioners when certifying baled forage as California Certified Weed Free Feed.
So it's understandable horse owners feel "picked on" when it comes to their continued presence on public lands. But note that, in general, trail riders wish to keep public lands weed-free. After all, equestrians are highly visible users dedicated to trail preservation, management, and use.
Finding Weed-Free Feed
It's typically not easy finding weed-free feed. In some states, you can call the state agricultural department to obtain a list of growers who certify their fields. But in other states, there's no centralized list of growers; instead, you must call the commissioner in each county you plan to visit.
Use these tips to locate weed-free feed and maintain its weed-free status.
Do your homework. Contact the public agency that manages the land on which you plan to camp and/or ride to find out individual restrictions. Some may require Certified Weed Free Feed in specific locations but not on all lands. Designated wilderness areas automatically require weed-free feed under the Wilderness Act, but outside the area, weed-free feed may not be required. (Read on for a feed-requirement update.) Don't believe what you hear or read online; false stories, bad rumors, and outdated e-mails have kept a lot of horsemen from using public lands.
Find a grower. Contact the state Agriculture Department and request a list of weed-free feed growers. Some states, such as Utah and Nevada, have a list. Ask if they issue certification papers or if the bales will be marked.
