Pasture and Hayland

We can help you plan pasture improvement practices that will increase your ability to effectively manage your land.  In addition to helping you conserve the resources you depend on, conservation practices can save you money by reducing vet bills, enabling you to compost manure for fertilization, increasing forage production, and eliminating erosion.  Whether you own a large farm, small farm, or just want to improve your streamside acreage, we provide technical assistance to help you plan, design, and implement your conservation practices.  Check out the following practices to see how conservation can improve the viability of your operation.

Prescribed Grazing

Adjusts intensity, frequency, timing and duration of grazing to meet landowner objectives, improve pasture health, and meet the feed requirements of livestock.  This may include the division of large pastures into smaller units that provide increased grazing control and allow grasses adequate rest to generate new growth. Grazing units may also be configured to allow management of sensitive vegetation such as streamside, wetland, and habitats of concern, and to reduce livestock concentration and soil compaction.

Heavy Use Area Protection

Stabilizes areas frequently and intensively used by people, animals or vehicles by surfacing with suitable materials, or establishing vegetative cover.  Heavy Use Areas are frequently used in livestock operations to provide an area for winter turnout that when maintained are free from mud and manure.  This practice is very effective in reducing soil erosion in high traffic areas where vegetation is difficult to establish.  Other benefits include improved water quality and animal health.

Fencing

Provides a means to accomplish conservation objectives by controlling the movement of animals, people, and vehicles.  Typical pasture applications include cross-fencing large pastures to create smaller grazing units and installing riparian fencing to exclude livestock from rivers and streams.

Nutrient Management

Managing the source, amount, timing and method of application of nutrients on each field to achieve realistic production goals, while minimizing movement of nutrients and other potential contaminants to surface and/or ground waters. Intensive grazing of pastures can reduce nutrient levels available to meet plant needs for regeneration.  Measuring levels of plant available nutrients through soil testing and applying the minimum amount of nutrients necessary to meet plant needs saves money and protects water quality.  As a result, Nutrient Management maximizes forage production, reducing the amount of feed necessary to meet animal needs.

Pest Management

Utilizing environmentally sensitive prevention, avoidance, monitoring and suppression strategies, to manage weeds, insects, diseases, animals and other organisms (including invasive and non-invasive species), that directly or indirectly cause damage or annoyance.  Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to pest control that combines the use of prevention, avoidance, monitoring and suppression strategies, to maintain pest populations below economically damaging levels, to minimize pest resistance, and to minimize harmful effects of pest control on human health and environmental resources. IPM suppression systems include biological controls, cultural controls and the judicious use of chemical controls.  For assistance with pest management planning, contact a Rural Conservation planner.  For information on specific weeds visit the Weedwise Program homepage.

Composting Facility

Structure designed to process raw manure or other raw organic by-products into biologically stable organic material.  For pasture managers, improper waste storage can create problems with ground and surface water quality, especially during periods of high intensity rainfall.  Additionally, proper composting destroys harmful bacteria and weed seeds that can be damaging to human, livestock, and pasture health.  Installing a facility designed specifically to meet landowner needs for storage can turn waste into a valuable resource by reducing reliance on expensive fertilizers.

Roof Runoff Structure (Gutters)

Structures that collect, control, and transport precipitation from roofs.  Runoff may empty into surface or underground outlets, or onto the ground surface.  Barn and stables without gutters lead to problems with mud and often create surface water quality problems as runoff runs through areas of livestock concentration, such as corrals.  These systems are combined with designed outlets to prevent runoff contamination and to reduce soil erosion.

Underground Outlet

Conduit installed beneath the surface of the ground to collect surface water and convey it to a suitable outlet.  On pastures, this practice is often used in conjunction with gutters to move water away from buildings and areas of livestock concentration, reducing erosion and mud problems created by the concentration of water.

Pasture & Hayland Planting

Establishing native or introduced forage species.  While it is generally less expensive and resource intensive to work with existing pasture, there may be situations in which complete or partial pasture renovation is a viable option.  This practice also applies to overseeding an existing pasture to introduce new species or alter plant composition.  Implementing this practice can help establish vegetation to reduce weeds, provide for forage for animals, and reduce erosion.

Livestock Watering Facility

Permanent or portable device to provide an adequate amount and quality of drinking water for livestock and or wildlife.  Ensuring that pasture division doesn’t become so labor intensive that it becomes counterproductive is a key to improving management.  Planning permanent facilities to meet the needs of livestock can save time and improve livestock distribution across a pasture.

Spring Development for Livestock

Utilizing springs and seeps to provide water for livestock.  Springs are great ways to provide for livestock, and excess water just goes right back to the natural system.  A well maintained spring development can provide livestock water for decades with a minimum investment.

Grassed Waterway

Natural or constructed channel that is shaped or graded to required dimensions and established with suitable vegetation.   Grassed waterways provide the ability to direct runoff away from structures and livestock concentration areas to reduce erosion and improve the quality of runoff water.  Waterways are shaped to pass water with very low flows, and the vegetation in the channel works to slow the water to non-erosive velocities.

Irrigation Water Management

Process of determining and controlling the volume, frequency and application rate of irrigation water in a planned, efficient manner.  Efficiently managing your irrigation saves money and reduces the demands on our surface and groundwater supply.  Over-irrigation also depletes fertilizer and nutrients in the soil, which are costly to replace.

Irrigation System

System in which all necessary equipment and facilities are installed for efficiently applying water by means of nozzles operated under pressure.  Installing the right system and properly maintaining its function will reduce erosion, save water and save your pump from unnecessary wear.  Replacing old or worn parts can also save resources on existing systems.  Replacing old or inefficient systems can save significant money and may pay for themselves in many situations by lowering your electric bill.

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