Bayer Range and Pasture

RANCHERS CAN REJUVENATE THEIR RANGELAND FOR THE LONG-HAUL WITH BAYER’S REJUVRA

More than 10 years ago, BAYER RANGE AND PASTURE, part of Bayer AG, set out for a solution to combat devastating invasive plant species like cheatgrass. These parasitic invasive annual grasses result in reduced forage quantity and quality, cutting significantly into the bottom line for ranchers in the western United States.

The result? Rejuvra, a restoration herbicide designed for the long haul. It features a unique mode of action that provides long-lasting control of invasive annual grasses and broadleaf weed species including cheatgrass, medusahead, ventenata and Japanese brome.

“With this new tool you can get up to four years of cheatgrass control with just one application, allowing you to deplete the invasive grass soil seed bank and increase long-term restoration success,” said Dr. Derek Sebastian, Bayer Range and Pasture field territory manager covering Colorado and Wyoming.

Over 100 unbiased research trials for Rejuvra took place at more than eight universities in the west, including Colorado State University and University of Wyoming, said Sebastian, who has been involved in the research and development of Rejuvra beginning as a doctoral student at CSU.

Launched in 2020, Rejuvra not only controls cheatgrass — which covers 50 million acres in the western U.S — but other invasive winter annual grass and broadleaf weeds as well. All with one application.

“The issue in the past was that a lot of ranchers and agencies were giving up hope in preventing cheatgrass because other products available for control were inconsistent and often provided only a single year of control,” Sebastian said. “There was no tool that gave longevity.”

Until Rejuvra that is.

“Restoration activities such as reseeding are expensive and difficult. The best time to control invasive annual grasses is when viable populations of desirable perennials are present. This tool provides the first opportunity to target the invasive grass seed bank and take back your rangeland.”

What are the benefits of rangeland restoration with Rejuvra?

• Improved utilization of natural resources: Every year, cheatgrass and other invasive annual grasses grow rapidly in late winter, stealing precious water and nutrients while the perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs are still dormant. Rejuvra removes these grasses, freeing up resources for the more desirable perennial plants.

• Increased forage quality and quantity: Areas treated with Rejuvra have demonstrated on average a 3.5x increase* in perennial plant production compared to nontreated areas.

• Increased forage quality: Removal of cheatgrass with Rejuvra results in improved forage quality. With improved quality, less forage is consumed per pound of gain. This greatly reduces the grazing pressure on the entire ecosystem and increases overall rangeland health.

• Increased ranch efficiency: Improved forage production and quality promotes better livestock distribution, extends the grazing season and reduces supplemental feed costs. With the removal of moisture-robbing annual grasses, cattle can now increase their water consumption by two to three gallons per day through the perennial forage they consume.

• Decreased wildfire risk: Every year, cheatgrass dies in late spring into summer, adding fine fuel at the same time that wildfire threatens. Rejuvra stops the cycle by targeting the annual grass seed bank. This greatly reduces the threat of wildfire.

• Forage response is variable and dependent on individual site conditions. Individual investment results may vary.

---