N RANCHING
atural Resources
to recover from past dry years and increasing forage production going into the dormant season. Let’s not forget the next drought could start today.
Concho Valley Grant Teplicek, rangeland management specialist, USDA- NRCS In June, pastures were in good shape from the May
rains with good underground moisture. June and July rains were needed to keep things from drying up with the hot days of summer on the way. Mesquite spray- ing may be postponed for a year, due to all of the new growth of leaves on the trees from the rainfall.
Edwards Region Kason Haby, rangeland management specialist, USDA- NRCS Abundant rainfall in the early part of 2015 blessed
us with green pastures. Despite some weed problems, warm-season grasses rebounded and drought-stricken ground began healing. In the coming months, good rotational grazing will be important to allow grasses to seed out and replenish the soil’s seed bank. Excess forage will lend several opportunities, de-
pending on your management objectives. These may include leaving standing grass to improve soil health; harvesting for hay; providing grazing for additional livestock; or implementing prescribed burns. Ensure that you have enough standing forage to
support your cattle herd through the winter before adding stock, harvesting hay, or burning. By leaving standing forage in the pasture, you
can reduce supplemental hay and feed cost. Be sure to harvest no more than 50 percent and leave 6 to 8 inches of stubble on native bunch grasses. This will allow enough cover and litter to protect the soil and help rebuild the organic matter lost from the drought.
Prescribed fi re can enhance a livestock forage base and be a tool to help mitigate and prevent wildfi res.
MORE
44 The Cattleman August 2015
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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