N RANCHING
atural Resources
ceived should provide excellent conditions for weedy growth in pastures. Heavier, clayey soils will be affected to a greater degree than lighter, sandier soils. This might be a year when weed control really pays off, as lower- cost herbicides with less persistence on the landscape may be used the earlier the weeds are treated. I would advise ranchers in our area to take a look at
your pastures, looking straight down into the ground (not from across the pasture), to check your situation. We are set up for a spring growing season unlike any we have seen since 2007.
Cross Timbers Kevin Derzapf, rangeland management specialist, USDA- NRCS For the months of January and February, most of
North Central Texas received a fair amount of rainfall, varying from 2 to 6 inches depending on your location. This is normal for this time of year, and I hope it
has set us up with good ground moisture for spring- time. Most stock tanks closer to the I-35 corridor have fi lled, but lakes remain at lower-than-normal levels. To the west, stock tanks and lakes are far from full. All of the area is listed under drought conditions,
varying from moderate to exceptional by the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Farmer’s Almanac is calling for April and May to be warmer and rainier than normal, followed by a hotter and drier summer. Things are looking good for those who are plant-
ing permanent perennial forages this spring. Keep in mind to plant early enough to get some decent top growth and root growth before the July heat hits. A deep root system will keep the plant watered and fed longer through these dry times. The more leaf area there is, the healthier the plant will stay and the cooler the ground will stay. You’ll have less evaporation, and plants will be set up to catch and hold more rainfall when it does come. The same is true for all rangeland. Keeping the ground covered and some height on the plants will pay dividends! Eastern counties often have a fl ush of annual rye-
grass in the spring, especially with the wet winters we have had. Keep in mind that this ryegrass can be extremely competitive for sunlight and moisture. It may set back the bermudagrass or native grasses with which it may be growing. Removal by grazing this month is the best way to control it, followed by shred- ding or baling.
56 The Cattleman April 2015
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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