Category: Range/Pasture (Page 5 of 6)

Guide to Prescribed Burning

guide to prescribed burningPrescribed burning, also known as controlled burning, is for lack of a better term just a fire that you have set intentionally. Despite the fact that the word “fire” often brings up negative images of nothing but destruction a prescribed burn can be a good thing. It is a management tool that is used by land managers and land owners to improve the diversity of their vegetation. It can also be used to control any invasive plants that are present in your pasture.

When used along with other management methods prescribed burning can be used to improve the overall health of your pasture. Getting the most out of doing this takes more than just simply setting some fires. To ensure the safety of both you and your neighbors it requires some serious planning.

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4 Principles for Summer Pasture Management

4 principles for summer pasture managementA summer pasture can be a producer’s greatest resources for his cattle. When managed correctly it provides all of the nutrients your cattle need going into fall breeding season.

Utilizing it properly is necessary to the success and profitability for any rancher. Like any investment it requires the correct amount of work on your part to reach it’s full potential.

Managing pastures during summer, and other seasons, correctly can help to improve your bottom line. When your forages are performing at their optimum then you will not have to spend as much on supplements. As I have mentioned before supplement costs can reach as much as 70% of a ranch’s operating budget.

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Getting control of pasture thistles

getting control of pasture thistlePasture thistles are a group of plants that are considered a serious threat to rangelands. Like most weeds they propagate very quickly and choke out any grasses that are growing there.

The combination of their sharp spines on their leaves and being unpalatable means they will reduce the grazing area on your pasture. Animals will not travel near them so they will seek out other areas to go. This can lead to overgrazing and increased traffic to other areas.

Once they have fully established in a field it is very hard to get rid of them. It will take many years as well as the combination of different methods to really get them under control.

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How to Control Mesquite

how to control mesquiteMesquite trees, everyone’s favorite “trash” tree. It can provide us with some really good firewood but it does pose some problems for range managers.

Despite being viewed by some as a poor quality rangeland plant a mesquite does have some benefits. One such benefit is that it can provide both food and cover for wildlife and livestock. Also, since it is classified as a legume it has the ability to fix nitrogen back into the soil.

Despite it’s benefits if it is left unmanaged it can dominate a rangeland. This will choke out any grass that you may have in the pasture providing less for your animal to eat. With it also being a very thirsty plant it will also suck your place dry if you let it get out of hand.

The thing to remember is that complete eradication is not possible but getting them under control is. Here are 5 steps that you can follow to do this.

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4 steps to the perfect hay bale

4 steps to the perfect hay baleLooking out onto a field of perfectly rolled hay bales is a beautiful sight to see. It is even more impactful if you are the one that baled them. Can feel yourself filling with pride on a job well done.

When it comes to making the perfect hay bale there are many steps to take care of. Things like being at the right moisture content, the maturity of the forages, and the settings on the machines that you will be using all play a part in how your hay bales will turn out.

But how can you get all of the factors to mesh together to produce your desired result? Well today I will go over the 4 main steps that you can use to make the perfect bale of hay.

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How do you get control of cedar?

how do you get control of cedar?Cedar, more accurately known as juniper, can be a very difficult plant to control. It is a very aggressive woody plant that grows here in Texas. It is often viewed as invasive because if left unchecked it can quickly take over a pasture chocking out any grass growth.

Along with quickly taking over a pasture it has been shown to be a very thirsty plant. I knew a rancher near here that when he started removing cedars on his place he had a spring start producing water again.

While getting control of cedar is possible it is not a one-and-done type of thing. It will take many applications to get this little pest under control.

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Grazing Systems: What Types are There?

grazing systems: what types are there?A grazing system, when done correctly, can assist rangeland managers in achieving management objectives. They can both boost production as well as reduce their overhead costs.

Selection of the proper type of system depends on understanding the unique combination of different aspects that go into range management. Things like the topography, soil type, the particular animal involved have to be balanced in order to get the best results.

Whether intended or not if you have animals grazing in a pasture then you already have a grazing system in place. If you are getting the most out of your pasture however is an entirely different story.

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Controlling Pasture Thistles

controlling pasture thistlePasture thistles are a group of plants that are considered a serious threat to rangelands. Like most weeds they propagate very quickly and choke out any grasses that are growing there.

The combination of their sharp spines on their leaves and being unpalatable means they will reduce the grazing area on your pasture. Animals will not travel near them so they will seek out other areas to go. This can lead to overgrazing and increased traffic to other areas.

Once they have fully established in a field it is very hard to get rid of them. It will take many years as well as the combination of different methods to really get them under control.

Continue reading

5 Steps to Controlling Mesquite

5 steps to controlling mesquiteMesquite trees, everyone’s favorite “trash” tree. It can provide us with some really good firewood but it does pose some problems for range managers.

Despite being viewed by some as a poor quality rangeland plant a mesquite does have some benefits. One such benefit is that it can provide both food and cover for wildlife and livestock. Also, since it is classified as a legume it has the ability to fix nitrogen back into the soil.

Despite it’s benefits if it is left unmanaged it can dominate a rangeland. This will choke out any grass that you may have in the pasture providing less for your animal to eat. With it also being a very thirsty plant it will also suck your place dry if you let it get out of hand.

The thing to remember is that complete eradication is not possible but getting them under control is. Here are 5 steps that you can follow to do this.

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Don’t Hold Back Your Soil Test

Don't Hold Back Your Soil TestDoing a soil test can be a very effective tool in a producer’s toolbox. It can tell you the kind of nutrients available as well as the amounts that are present.

I don’t have to tell you that knowing this information can be very helpful when it comes to choosing what type of fertilizer to use. If properly done soil sampling and testing can indicate the types and amounts of fertilizer and lime that you should put out.

Now you may be asking how it is that you can do a soil test properly. Well here are some points that you may want to consider:

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