Range Restoration
Converting Sagebrush Dominated Rangeland into Forage
Matt Palmer, USU Extension, Sanpete County
Why Spend Time and Money to Reduce Sagebrush and Weeds?
- Increase forage quality and quantity
- Sagebrush pastures yield 50-200 lb of feed/acre
- Perennial grasses and forbs can yield 400 to 1000 lb of feed/acre
- Less expensive than buying land
- Land costs from $500 to $5000/acre
- Converting sage into forage costs about $150-$250/acre
- With GIP and DWR cost share it is under $100/acre
Benefits of Restoration: Increased Forage
- 40 acres producing 100 lb/acre with 60% utilization will feed 2.2 cows for a month
- 40 acres producing 900 lb/acre with 60% utilization will feed 20 cows for a month
Keys to Success
- Weed Management: Control of Cheat Grass, Bulbous Blue Grass, Knapweed, White Top, Thistle
- Forage Establishment: 1) Seed selection; 2) Seed bed prep; 3) Timing or planting and 4) Good spring and summer moisture
- Rest Period: No grazing for a year or more after planting;
- Management: Short grazing periods with adequate rest periods
JDP Ranch Pasture Restoration: A Case Study
Goals:
- Convert 229 acres of low producing sagebrush, cheatgrass and bulbous bluegrass pasture into a sustainable rotationally grazing pasture, with perennial grasses and legumes that will produce 500-1000 lb dry matter/acre.
- Complete this project with little or no out of pocket expenses.
Steps for Restoration
- Develop a plan and budget
- Site evaluation: 1) sagebrush and understory cover; 2) assess weed populations
- Fencing and water developments
- Sprayed sagebrush and weeds with 2-4,D and Roundup
- 2 way chain harrowt o prepare seedbed
- Drill seed (crested wheat, intermediate wheat, sainfoin, alfalfa, forage kochia)
- Install waterline and 5 troughs
- Cross fenced into 40 acre pastures
Overview
- Project was started July 2010 and completed June 2011
- Pastures rested until May 2012
- First year of grazing provided 60 AU for 2.5 months = 150 AUM
- The equivalent of 590 lbs of feed/acre on a dry year, enough feed for 200 ewes for a month on 40 acres
- Out of pocket expenses totaled less than $50/acre
Budget
| Practice | Cost/unit | Quantity | Units | Total cost | GIP cost | Producer cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fence | 1.3 | 8970 | ft | 11661.00 | 5830.50 | 5830.50 |
| Pipeline | 2.06 | 5783 | ft | 11912.98 | 5956.49 | 5956.49 |
| Troughs | 1 | 6000 | gal | 6000.00 | 3000.00 | 3000.00 |
| Chemical Roundup | 13.85 | 229 | ac | 3171.65 | 1585.83 | 1585.83 |
| Chemical application | 8 | 229 | ac | 1832.00 | 916.00 | 916.00 |
| Chemical 2, 4-D | 7.6 | 229 | ac | 1740.40 | 870.20 | 870.20 |
| Chemical application | 8 | 229 | ac | 1832.00 | 916.00 | 916.00 |
| Chain Harrow | 39.2 | 172 | ac | 6742.40 | 3371.20 | 3371.20 |
| Range Seeding drill | 20 | 229 | ac | 4580.00 | 2290.00 | 2290.00 |
| Seed | 30 | 229 | ac | 6870.00 | 3435.00 | 3435.00 |
| Broadcast seed | 10 | 229 | ac | 2290.00 | 1145.00 | 1145.00 |
| Total | $58,632.43 | $29,316.22 | 29,316.22 |
Conclusion:
Increased forage production from 100 lbs/acre to over 900 lbs/acre for $50/acre plus tractor hours and labor. And Happy Cows
Project Team
- Tom Tippets (UDAF, GIP)
- Kendall Bagley (NRCS/DWR)
- Soren Nielsen (NRCS)
- Jason Vernon (DWR)
- Chad Dewey (Eco-life)
- JDP Ranch Family