Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
A pasture is simply an area of land where forage plants (grasses, legumes, and
forbs, such as dandelions) grow. Pastures may also include brush and trees
and are generally classifi ed as one of two types: tame pasture, which is an
improved and seeded pasture, or native pasture, which consists of whatever
plants naturally grow in the area.
Tame pastures, as a rule of thumb, are capable of much higher levels of
production per acre, but some native pastures produce remarkably well with-
out the cost of developing a tame pasture. Generally, tame pastures are found
in areas of high rainfall or in irrigated fi elds in arid areas. Native pastures run
the gamut from the lowland to the hilly and from unimproved pastures in the
humid East to the dry rangelands of the arid West.
REASONS TO MANAGE GRAZING
There are lots of good reasons to manage your grazing!
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Good grass cover is aesthetically pleasing and increases prop-
erty value.
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Even on a small piece of land, you can cut purchased-feed bills.
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Many health problems, such as parasites, dust-related ill-
nesses, and foot problems, are reduced.
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Erosion (from both wind and water) and pollution are reduced.
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Better grazing management improves profi tability.
Carrying Capacity
Carrying capacity (which is sometimes referred to as stocking rate) is a mea-
sure of how many animals a farm can support over the course of the year.
Carrying capacity depends on many factors, including these:
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Type of soil (rock, sand, clay, and so on)
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Plant species that are growing
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Amount and timing of annual precipitation
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Availability of irrigation water
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Temperature
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Fertility of the soil
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Lay of the land (hill, marsh, level)
