Researchers are looking at prescribed livestock grazing as a method for reducing soybean aphid populations.

Katie Marchetto with the University of Minnesota tells Brownfield goats can target buckthorn, a common woody shrub aphids use to overwinter.

“We are both looking at how much the goats reduce the cover of the buckthorn, the abundance. And also things like survival or growth, for example.”

She says after compiling the results of multiple studies, they’ve concluded using livestock to control a specific undesirable plant tends to be successful.

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