Cheatgrass 101: The Invasive Grass Fueling Problems Out West

The Land Bulletin · Feb 19, 2026 · 28m

Cheatgrass has quietly become one of the biggest threats to western rangelands, crowding out native forage, increasing wildfire risk, and costing ranchers valuable time, grass, and money. But there’s reason for hope.

This week, Haley sits down with Jaycie Arndt of IMAGINE (Institute for Managing Annual Grasses Invading Natural Ecosystems) to unpack the good, the bad, and the ugly of this fast-spreading invasive. From its origins and aggressive growth habits to practical management strategies and emerging research, Jaycie shares real-world solutions landowners can put to work today.

If you…