“It’s not what you know but what you do with what you know that makes the difference.”  

 I heard this quoted on New Year’s Day and it seemed a fitting beginning to embark on the 2009 season for the Area-wide project.   Doesn’t this quote sum up exactly what will be either the thumbs up or thumbs down for the Area-wide project?   There is a lot we do know about invasive annual grasses and there is a whole lot more we don’t know and are hoping to find out.  What seems most important though is ‘what’ we do with the knowledge and the findings of the research over the course of the next few years.   I am convinced that we do with this knowledge will determine the sustainability of invasive annual grass management using EBIPM methodology.    

 I know I don’t wish to spend the next 4 years developing materials that are going to sit on a shelf.  I want to make sure what we put into motion is put into action.  To get EBIPM knowledge out on the ground is going to take all of the great minds that have been assembled for the project working as a team.   As we get started on a New Year I plan to pay particular attention to ‘what I do with what I know’ so that we can make a difference on our rangelands.  I am always grateful to anyone when you are inclined to share your ideas to make the Area-wide project as helpful and useful to as many people as possible.