Saving our Ranch with Grass

Saving our Ranch with Grass

Summary

To increase survival rates of the family farming lifestyle, farmers and ranchers look for ways to lower high overhead costs of traditional operations. Costly investments include machinery, repair, fuel, commmericial fertilizer and chemical expenses.

Objectives: 1) To convert cropland to quality grassland by seeding grass and using good weed control, 2) to develop a managment intensive grazing (MIG) system that includes fencing, water placement and proper rotation, 3) to extend the grazing season and increase the stocking rate on pastures, 4) to control erosion and enhance soil life on steep slopes and hills, and 5) to develop wildlife habitat through strategic fencing of waterways and trees.

The producer fenced and seeded the tillable land with grasses and legumes. He cross-fenced the converted cropland to form paddocks for grazing control, and dug wells.

Results: The project will be extended one year to establish a pipeline running from the wells to paddock livestock tanks.