Sometimes you have to go back to square one in thinking about a
problem, you know? And so: any of you have any use for giant
ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)?
The stuff is wacked out in our neck o Wisconsin. Nothing to sneeze
at. (Sorry.) We got lots of rain here in Dane County as the small
grains were maturing. The SC Wis. rye field I left two weeks ago
(about 5-6 feet high) was beautifully shaded by it; gave it all a
wonderful Edgar Rice Burroughs appearance, small comfort. I was
talking to a SE Wis. small grain farmer today who said that in his
part of the world, it's 15 feet tall and they are talking about
forming a Giant Ragweed Support Group. In support of the farmers,
that is; the critters shoreazhell don't need any help.
Has anybody explored uses for the pre-flowering plant?--fiber?
(Isn't it a forb? no woody tissue?) biomass? stomp out the juices
and ferment it? If anybody has thoughts, shoot em my way.
I personally look at the Latin name and remember that old British
S.F. movie, /Night of the Triffids/. The Ambrosia part I can't say
I understand, though I know quail and ring-necked pheasant like it.
Hm. Plant rye, harvest quail.
Hm.
Yours in the service of the open mind.
peace
michele
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Michele Gale-Sinex, communications manager
Center for Integrated Ag Systems
UW-Madison College of Ag and Life Sciences
Voice: (608) 262-8018 FAX: (608) 265-3020
http://www.wisc.edu/cias/
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If you knew what life was worth, you
would look for yours on earth. --Bob Marley