Pasture Recovery

How do ranchers recover worn out, drought-stricken pastures?

Ranchers often practice conventional pasture recovery in the spring by applying a few tons of commercial fertilizer to worn-out pastures. From the time commercial fertilizers became widely available, this became a typical spring farming tradition for those who could afford it.

Popular agriculture magazines touted these fertilizers and the immediate green up of the pastures. But what ranchers didn’t know was the damage these products caused just below the surface. Chemical fertilizers were killing soil microbes. Even major universities promoted using chemical fertilizers knowing the damage they caused. University experts explained that “The number of microbes killed doesn’t make much difference, because forage production outweighs the loss.” The second step to conventional pasture recovery was to apply a chemical herbicide to kill weeds. The theory was that weeds take up space and nutrients needed for grass. But what ranchers didn’t know was the damage these products caused just below the surface. Chemical herbicides were killing soil microbes. Even major universities promoted using chemical herbicides knowing the damage they caused. University experts explained that “The number of microbes killed doesn’t make much difference, because forage production outweighs the loss.”

Read the previous two paragraphs again. Notice the similarities? Notice the differences?

Now welcome to the future of regenerative agriculture, backed by experience, evidence based knowledge and science. Ranchers who want better soils, better grasses and healthier livestock are learning not to apply toxic chemical products. Experienced ranchers don’t try to dominate nature: they work with nature. After all, nature always wins.

Step one in pasture recovery starts in the fall, helping grasses, herbs and forbs prepare for the winter. Soil amendments applied in the fall have time to integrate into the soil matrix. They not only interact with soil microbes but are transformed into the energy needed to sustain plants throughout the winter.

Helpful soil amendments include compost, compost tea, organic fertilizers, biochar, humic acids, sea salt, gypsum and more (depending on your soil). In a California research project run by Dr. Whendee Silver of the University of California, compost spread on land increased forage production by 50% after a single application. And benefits lasted for years.

Ranchers don’t need to compost an entire ranch in one year. Small sections of land can be treated as time and money allow. Even a small dusting of compost or organic fertilizer shows benefits when combined with adapted multiple pasture rotational grazing.

Other preparations for pasture recovery include dividing ranchland into at least 12 pastures or more. I believe 14 pastures is ideal. Some of these pastures can be further divided into paddocks for better forage use and pasture recovery. When cattle are allowed to continuously graze a pasture, they eat the best grasses first. Sometimes native grasses die from a lack of recovery time. This leaves less desirable grasses and forbes. More pastures and paddocks allow more time for each pasture to recover. Just adding one more pasture to the number you already have will prove beneficial.

Pasture rotation doesn’t happen on a set schedule; it depends on regrowth time. With multiple pastures, ranchers can chase the best forage for cattle with each rotation. “This allow for some pastures to be re-grazed more often, while pastures with slower regrowth have longer to regenerate. So, if a rancher has pastures of Bermudagrass, Bahia grass, Old World grasses, and native grasses, the faster growing Bermudagrass and Bahia grasses can be re-grazed sooner while Old World and native grasses recover at their own pace.

And if drought occurs, native grasses will be available for grazing while the shallowrooted grasses struggle to regrow. Diversity of grass and forb species sustain a healthy range. Monocultures of a single species of grass cannot sustain itself as well during drought.

The most important result of regenerative pasture recovery is that the benefits last longer than single or even multiple applications of commercial fertilizer. And the savings from working with nature last longer. Ranchers can grow their pastures and their profit margins together.

David E. Will is a local rancher and consultant. He can be reached at 830-6299876 or by email at dwill207@satx.rr.com.