BrushManagement—Code 314

MassachusettsBrushManagement Job Sheet
Client: / Farm #: / Tract #:
Planned By: / Date:

DEFINITION

Brushmanagementistheremoval,reduction,ormanipulationofwoodyplants.

CONDITIONS WHEREPRACTICE APPLIES

Thispracticemay beusedonpasture,forestland,orwildlifelandwhereremovalorreductionofwoodyvegetationisdesired.

SPECIFICATIONS

Beforestartingabrushcontroltreatment,itisimportanttoidentifytheplantstargetedforcontrolandanynon-targetplantsthatyouwanttomaintainandenhance.Itisimportanttounderstandthelifecyclesofbothtypesofplantsandtotimethetreatmentofthetargetedplantswhentheyaremostvulnerable.Whenpossible,trytoavoidtreatmentswhennon-targetplantscouldbeimpacted.Thereferencessectionofthisjobsheetcontainsreferencesthatcanbeusedtoidentifyinvasiveplantsandprovidestreatmentrecommendations.

MANAGEMENTMETHODS

Methods used to accomplish control of the target species willinclude mechanical,chemical,biological ora combination of these methods.

Chemical

Whenusingchemicalcontrol,spottreatmentmethodsshouldbeusedwheneverfeasibletoapplyherbicides.Successdependsonapplyingtherightherbicideatthecorrectratewhenweatherconditionsarefavorableandwhenthespeciestobecontrolledisweakest.Someexamplesofchemicaltreatmentsarestumptreatment,foliarapplication,andbasalbarktreatment. Chemicals for the control of invasive species, approved by MA Dept. of Agricultural Resources, can be found here: Obtain the names of chemicals to be used so that WIN-PST analysis can be completed.

Mechanical

Manually or mechanically removing brush species can be successfulifdone repeatedly overthegrowingseasonandovermultipleyears.Brushyspeciestendtore-sprout,andfollow-uptreatmentswillbenecessary.Someexamplesofmanual/mechanicalmethodsarehandpulling,repeated cutting,andgirdling.Properlydisposeofinvasivespeciesmaterials after treatment to prevent reseeding or spread to new areas.

Biological

Biologicalcontrolreferstotheuseofanimals,fungiordiseasestocontrolinvasivepopulations.Controlorganismsusuallycomefromthenativerangeofthetargetspecies,andrequireaperiodofstudytoensurethattheywillremainspecifictothetargetpopulation,andwillnotharmnativespecies,crops,orotherornamentalspecies.Theyrequire both federal and state permits for their use.

Grazinganimalscanalsobeutilizedasbiologicalcontrolagents.Becausegrazingwillonlyimpact above groundvegetation,it will likely take multiple treatmentsto fully manage unwantedspecies.Agrazingplanthatincludesstockingrates,residencyperiod,andthegrazingspecies will be required.

OPERATIONANDMAINTENANCE

  • Brush management practices shall be applied usingapproved materials andprocedures.Operations will complywith all local,state,and federallaws andordinances.
  • Ifusingherbicides,keeprecordsofallapplicationsincludingplants/areastreated,amountsandtypesofherbicidesused,anddatesofapplication.Thisinformationwillbeimportantinevaluatingtheproject’ssuccess,improvingmethodology,andidentifyingmistakes.
  • Followingtheinitialapplication,someregrowth,re-sprouting,orre-occurrenceofbrush shouldbeexpected. Evaluate the level of regrowth after sufficient time has passed to monitor the situation and gather reliable data. Length of the evaluation period will depend on the woody species present. Spottreatmentof individualplantsorareasshouldbecompletedasneededwhilewoodyvegetationissmallandmostvulnerabletodesiredtreatmentprocedures.

Invasive PlantDisposalGuidesare available onthe websiteoftheConnecticut Invasive Plant Working Group

›UniversityofConnecticut

InvasivePlantList(listofevaluatedspecies,includingdefinitionsandcriteriaforevaluation)forMassachusetts:

WeedSciencepublications|IntegratedPestandCropManagementfromtheUniversityofWisconsin,providecontrolrecommendations fora varietyof invasive species.

MassachusettsBrushManagement Job Sheet
Purpose:(checkallthatapply)
Restore/createthedesiredplantcommunity / Maintain,modifyorenhancefishandwildlifehabitat
Managefuelloadstoachievedesiredconditions / Improveforageaccessibility,qualityandquantityforlivestock
Restoredesiredvegetativecovertoprotectsoils,controlerosion,reducesediment,improvewaterqualityandenhancestreamflow / Pervasive plant species are controlled to a desired level of treatment that will ultimately contribute to creation or maintenance of an ecological site description “steady state,” addressing the need for forage, wildlife habitat, and/or water quality.
First Treatment - Targeted Woody Species, Densities, Treatment Method
Tract, Field / Acres / Targeted Species / Current density (%) / Planned post- treat-ment density (%) / Method, (e.g., mechanical, chemical or biological) / Scenario (if contractible)
MechanicalTreatmentMethodsandPlan
Typesofequipmenttobeused:
Plannedtreatmentperiod:
Instructions/precautions:
Treatmenttechniquesorprocedurestobefollowed:
ChemicalTreatmentMethodsandPlans–Applyproductsperlabelinstructionsandrates
Plannedherbicide(s):
WINPSThazardratings: / Groundwater: / SurfaceWater:
MitigationTechniques(whereWIN-PSTratings“extrahigh”,“high”,or“intermediate”:
Plannedtreatmentperiod:
Applicationtechniquesorprocedurestobefollowed:
BiologicalTreatmentMethodsandPlan
Biologicalagentorgrazinganimaltobeused:
Timing,frequencyanddurationofgrazing:
Instructions/precautions:
Second Treatment Needed to Meet the Intent of the Practice (only if needed)
Tract, Field / Acres / Targeted Species / Expected Pre- density(%) * / Planned post- treat-ment density (%) / Method, (e.g., mechanical, chemical or biological) / Scenario (if contractible)
*Provide additional details on the method, such as timing, foliar vs cut-stump, WIN-PST rating, etc…Also, use this section to describe the status of the invasive plant population in the second treatment year, prior to the second treatment.
Third Treatment Needed to Meet the Intent of the Practice (only if needed)
Tract, Field / Acres / Targeted Species / Expected Pre- density (%) * / Planned post- treat-ment density (%) / Method, (e.g., mechanical, chemical or biological) / Scenario (if contractible)
*Provide additional details on the method, such as timing, foliar vs cut-stump, WIN-PST rating, etc…Also, use this section to describe the status of the invasive plant population prior to the third treatment.
MonitoringPlan
PlannedMonitoringPeriod:
Proceduretobefollowed:
Frequencyofmonitoring:

MAP: Attach a map showingthe locationofthe proposed practice and practicecomponents.

RECORDOFCOMPLETION FOR ALL APPLICABLE YEARSANDCHECKOUTCERTIFICATION (as-built notes can be made on the planned sections above):

Tract, Field / Acres / Date Completed by Client / Date Inspected / Inspector / Notes

Attach implementation map and photos.

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