Cowgirl
Well-Known Member
I got this email from Elmer Dengler, NRCS State Grazing Specialist. I thought I'd forward his comments to you all. Just a note-he sent along some publications geared towards beef cattle, so some of his comments are referring to beef as well.
I see lots of folks still trying to graze pastures. Until we have 30 days of recovery including several good rains we need to advise folks to get off the pasture and feed hay off the pastures and keep animals out of the pastures. Valuable food reserves for Fall regrowth are being destroyed. Folks need to stop it now !
A lot of damage is being done to pasture where animals are allowed to"clean things up"
I estimate the value of what we let on a pasture that is properly grazed is no more then $135 an acre if they could harvest to bare earth. Seed alone will cost that much and the process of sound reseeding methods and lost forage production during reestablishment go to well over a $1,000 of dollars an acre in lost revenue and erosion and nutrient losses too boot.
Key thing I see folks need to do:
!. Get off of all pastures till regret has occurred. Feed in a sacrifice area not the pasture!
2. Get rid of what animals they can.
3. Look at getting corn silage from lost crop fields and do test as appropriate.
4. Look to temporary small grains and annual grasses for temporary feed this winter. ryes and ryegrasses are great!
5. Get a grazing plan that gives drought management ideas.
6. Look at realistic animal numbers
7. Pray for rain and sound management in the future.
Thanks for your support.
I see lots of folks still trying to graze pastures. Until we have 30 days of recovery including several good rains we need to advise folks to get off the pasture and feed hay off the pastures and keep animals out of the pastures. Valuable food reserves for Fall regrowth are being destroyed. Folks need to stop it now !
A lot of damage is being done to pasture where animals are allowed to"clean things up"
I estimate the value of what we let on a pasture that is properly grazed is no more then $135 an acre if they could harvest to bare earth. Seed alone will cost that much and the process of sound reseeding methods and lost forage production during reestablishment go to well over a $1,000 of dollars an acre in lost revenue and erosion and nutrient losses too boot.
Key thing I see folks need to do:
!. Get off of all pastures till regret has occurred. Feed in a sacrifice area not the pasture!
2. Get rid of what animals they can.
3. Look at getting corn silage from lost crop fields and do test as appropriate.
4. Look to temporary small grains and annual grasses for temporary feed this winter. ryes and ryegrasses are great!
5. Get a grazing plan that gives drought management ideas.
6. Look at realistic animal numbers
7. Pray for rain and sound management in the future.
Thanks for your support.