
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur. It is produced by Byron Love and edited by Maria Carter and Lisa Rodriguez. Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin.

Martin breaks down what the data means on Up To Date with Steve Kraske.Ĭontact the show at Follow KCUR on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news. bluestem had increased in the pasture significantly over the course of. Distinguishing between the species can be difficult, but it’s easy to learn some basics about the group. Grass Overseeding, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol.

However, unreliable data collection and severe underreporting mean the real figures are likely even higher. Description Missouri has about 276 species in the grass family, including well-known crop plants and our native prairie grasses. Recent FBI data showed that hate crimes in 2020 increased significantly across the United States, and Kansas and Missouri were no exception. For Kansas News Service, reporter David Condos talked to some of the landowners and researchers trying to prevent Old World bluestem from changing the Kansas prairie forever. At least 142 million acres of grass covered the territory from Ohio to Kansas, southern Texas to Canadanearly a third of what became the United States. As it spreads across the state, the time and money required to eliminate it goes up.

It is a hardy grass that grows up to 8-feet tall, with thick roots that grow 6- to 10-feet deep. USDA hardiness zones 4-9 are ideal for big bluestem. Old world bluestem is a plant that is becoming increasingly prevalent in native grasslands commonly used for cattle grazing, particularly in drier regions. It grows well in temperate, arid climates with warm summers and cool winters. An invasive grass called Old World bluestem is crowding out native plant species and remaking Kansas grasslands and pastures. Big bluestem ( Andropogon gerardi) is a warm-season, perennial bunchgrass that is native to North America.
