Noxious Weed Management 

This was before I started following you but just to let you know this is why I am such an expert with a scythe. Starting at age 10 I had to go around 10 acres with a scythe every full moon and cut all the bracken ferns. In projects where we dug up a large area I observed that most of the ferns were all one plant growing from a web of horizontal roots at the level where the soil remained moist during the dry season, usually 12 to 16 inches down. So even plowing often did not disturb them. They do bleed when cut in the fiddlehead stage which is the most damaging to their food reserve. Cultures where they are eaten only harvest them in the fiddlehead stage so perhaps if the chickens will eat them at that stage you my be able to make some progress.

Fascinating, thank you. I was rooting for goats to be the solution, but I knew better. My best guess would have been fire, but it makes sense the bracken ferns would survive that. Man, that's a problem. Continuously cutting it and starving the roots, which the grass won't mind as much, looks like the best way to go. Good luck, I'll enjoy seeing the progress. I would have tried the same in the spring with seeds. Even though it didn't do much, I'd consider doing it again next spring in the problem areas. Give the ferns/weeds more competition, in theory anyway. I still wonder about using some giant tarps, like for baseball infields, and trying to start fresh, but that's mostly because those things are great slip 'n slides when it rains. The little internetting I've done on pasture management and weeds almost always involves what chemicals to use and when to use them. It is refreshing to see you trying to overcome this with wholesome, natural strategies. I look forward to learning more from you about "grass farming".

I was just reading about the tansy, and it's good for expelling worms

Fence area,plow area, de rock area, rack loose grasses, pile then burn . Then plant...

+The Grass-fed Homestead In addition to researching these issues online, have you considered contacting your county or state extension services? Most parts of the U.S. have top-notch extension support, including through many agricultural and land-grant universities. Getting locally informed, locally appropriate expertise can make a real difference. Many also provide free or low-cost services and can alert you things like potential pests and diseases. (Otherwise, you'll only learn about many of these issues after the problem has manifested.)

Tansy repels ants and the roots systems are so tightly packed it is hard to dig out or get other seeds to penetrate the root mat.

is it toxic to turkeys? I ask because turkeys will definitely graze on it. I know chickens dont graze to much but turkeys definitely do. Just a thought.

I found on some horse sites that bracken grows best in depleted soils. They got rid of their bracken fern by manuring the area. forum.cyberhorse.com.au/forums/showthread.php?11926-Bracken-fern-how-to-get-rid-of

Dan, do you still have any Tansy on the land? I'd really love to have seeds from them. For herbals. Hope you manage to control the issue so you can have animals in the field. 🌾Be Blessed ღ 🌿

ah somehow I missed this video too. o.o Be sure to give us an update when you finally conquer that bracken nightmare Dan. It's a good tip to those out there shopping for land for homesteading...to consider what is already growing...although most people keep short grasses to "sell" the property...good reminder to find out. I know you'll problem solve this eventually :)

I'm confused...if you knew these weeds where on the land and you knew they were bad for the livestock you plan to raise...then...why purchase the land. I know I sound like a Monday morning quarterback, but I don't care how beautiful the view is...you can't eat the view. Sorry, if I sound too critical.

Needs to plow area, then one thing after another.

i saw another video where a woman had to have her husband cut the weeds non stop...basically what you are saying in the video now.

OH maybe you can pick and sell it. Asian Cultures eat it when prepared properly its not poisonous! See www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/06/the-bracken-fern-a-natural-born-killer/241271/

I thought of you and your noxious weeds as I am watching a video on this itinerant herd of browsing goats based out of Wyoming: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jJBtmSR7Nnc.html. Maybe goats can eat your weeds? Wouldn't hurt to ask.

lol, that is child slavery!!!

Glyphosate it period.