# 101. The Smarter Way to Manage Invasive Weeds on Your Ranch with Ben Habig Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ranchonomics-6962812/101-the-smarter-way-to-manage-invasive-weeds-on-your-ranch-with-ben-habig Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ranchonomics-6962812/101-the-smarter-way-to-manage-invasive-weeds-on-your-ranch-with-ben-habig.md Podcast: [Ranchonomics](https://stenobird.com/podcast/ranchonomics-6962812) Published: 2026-06-09T09:00:00+00:00 Episode link: https://www.ranchrightllc.com/post/the-smarter-way-to-manage-invasive-weeds-on-your-ranch-with-ben-habig-episode-101 Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/5bfa3abb-4eaa-467e-a7b1-c48721686450.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/ranchonomics-6962812/episodes/101-the-smarter-way-to-manage-invasive-weeds-on-your-ranch-with-ben-habig Duration seconds: 1354 ## Resource Invasive weeds can quietly reduce carrying capacity and create long-term management challenges across a ranch. In this episode, John Haskell sits down with Ben Habig to discuss how prescribed grazing with goats and sheep can provide a biological alternative to chemical weed control. Using species like leafy spurge and houndstongue as examples, Ben explains how targeted grazing can reduce weed pressure, improve pasture utilization, and support healthier soils and riparian areas. The conversation also explores the realities of managing small ruminants, including fencing, predators, labor, and marketing challenges. Ben shares how his business partners with landowners across Montana to provide targeted grazing services that help ranches manage invasive species while improving long-term pasture health and resilience. Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode! In this episode, we cover: How goats and sheep can be used for targeted grazing and weed control Why species like leafy spurge reduce pasture utilization for cattle The difference between chemical control and biological land management approaches How prescribed grazing can improve soil health and nutrient cycling Why small ruminants require more intensive management and labor How targeted grazing can create long-term improvements in carrying capacity and pasture composition Connect with Ben: Check out his website Follow on Instagram @habiglivestock Follow on Facebook Subscribe on YouTube Connect with Ranch Right: Subscribe on YouTube   Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc   Follow on Facebook   Check out the website Check out all of our past webinars here Resources & Links: Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More   Ranching for Profit   Ranching.FYI   Wally Olson, O… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/ranchonomics-6962812/episodes/101-the-smarter-way-to-manage-invasive-weeds-on-your-ranch-with-ben-habig/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/ranchonomics-6962812/101-the-smarter-way-to-manage-invasive-weeds-on-your-ranch-with-ben-habig.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.