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Stephen Van Vleet, Ph.DWashington State UniversityWhitman County Extension
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Influence of Multi-species Grazing on Continuous CRP
CRP in Whitman County
Acres Accepted 198,577.00Annual Payments $12,389,030.00Total County Cropland 1,020,157.70
No general CRP or CSP signup for 2007 or 2008
Managed Haying and Grazing Provisions•Nesting season April 1 – June 1 **Changed 9/2006: April 1-August 1
•Must start with FSA and file a request for grazing
•25% payment reduction
•NRCS grazing plan
•Incidental grazing – contour buffers and filter strips
•Changes 9/2005:Only allowed 1 out of every 4 years
Grazing period for Whitman County November 1 – February 28
•Recent changes 9/2006:Only allowed 1 out of every 10 years
• Each year approximately 30% of grasses root system is replaced
• It is necessary for grass to replace its roots to remain healthy and productive
• It is necessary for grass to replace its above-ground biomass to remain healthy and productive
• Avoid overgrazing, provide enough rest for grasses to recover
• Manage grass not livestock
Managing Grass
• Many weeds we face are good sheep and cattle feed– Canada Thistle, Leafy Spurge, Downy Brome,
Medusa Head, Rush Skeletonweed, Dalmation Toadflax, Lupine, common Mallow, common Tansy, Whitetop
• Some weeds are not – Bull Thistle, Nightshade, Poison Hemlock
• Some weeds do not like to be trampled– Fiddleneck, Rattail fescue
Grazing and Weed Control
CRP Grazing Study• Research site set up on June 20, 2005• Pasture 1=1.12 acres, pasture 2=0.65 acres,
pasture 3=1.72 acres, pasture 4(2006)=1.28 acres
• Primary vegetation: fiddleneck, Canada thistle, downy brome, tumble mustard, cattail, reed canary grass, mullein, catchweed bedstraw, lambsquarter
• 2005: 6 yearling steers and 6 ewes put in pasture 2 (P2) on June 23
• Cattle and sheep removed from trial August 19• 2006: 6 yearling steers and 6 ewes put in pasture 2
on June 12 increased to 8 steers on June 16
• Cattle and sheep removed from trial on August 30
CRP Grazing Study
• Permanent sampling areas (rebar rods) were established in each pasture
• Changes in vegetation were recorded at each sampling point
• Temperatures were also evaluated (20 foot sections) in cattails and in open areas of a continuous flowing spring
June 23
July 5
July 19
Aug. 5
Aug. 19
Aug. 10
Aug. 17
Pasture 2 Pasture 1Pasture 3
2005 Rotation
Pasture 4
June 12
June 19
June 29
July 14
Aug. 25
July 20
July 26
Pasture 2 Pasture 1Pasture 3
2006 Rotation
July 30
July 31Aug. 10 Aug. 14
Aug. 20Aug. 23
Aug. 30
Pasture 4
May 24 & 25
May 30
June 12
Pasture 2 Pasture 1Pasture 3
2007 Rotation
Pasture 4
June 20
July 4
June 30
July 13
8
9
10
1112
June 23, 2005
Pasture 2Pasture 1
8
9
10
111213
July 04, 2005
Pasture 2Pasture 1
June 10, 2006
Pasture 2 Pasture 1
8
9
10
11
1213
June 27, 2006
Pasture 2
Pasture 1
8
9
10
13
June 30,2005 Plot 8 Sept. 22,2005 Plot 8
June 20,2006 Plot 8 Sept. 11,2006 Plot 8
May 24, 2007 Plot 8
June1, 2007 Plot 8
100% Grass, Height = 33 cm
After 1st grazing rotation
July 19, 2005 Plot 26 Sep. 22, 2005 Plot 26
July 14, 2006 Plot 26 Sep.11, 2006 Plot 26
May 24, 2007 Plot 26
June 17, 2007 Plot 26
After 1st grazing rotation
20% Grass, Height = 23 cm
Pastures Weeds Grass
1 47% decrease 47% increase
2 35% decrease 35% increase
3 18% decrease 18% increase
Change in the percent cover of weeds and grass from 2005 to 2006
20’ Open Sampling Area
20’ Cattail Sampling Area
66°F 64°F
64°F
64°F
64°F
Average 2°F decrease after grazing in 2005 and 2006
Days lbs/day
2005 6 steers 57 1.75
2006 8 steers 74 1.55
Yearling Steer Weight Gain Data
Individual weight gains were taken in 2005 and ranged from 1.35 to 2.26. Weights in 2006 were taken on all eight steers combined. There was a weak performing steer in 2005 and in 2006 which influenced the weight gain averages. Sheep remained at their maintenance weights because they did not lamb.
Grazing CRP
Advantages DisadvantagesVegetation management Water availabilityWeed control Constant animal rotationLimit weed seed production Poor feed quality?Increase grass prod.Decrease H2O temperature
Increase OM--carbon storing
Wildlife benefitNatural reseeding--hoof actionIncrease water infiltration
Continued Work-Initiatives1) Separate haying from grazing within the CRP guidelines.
2) Use rotational grazing as a management tool. The typical cost share of $5.00 per acre for maintenance (weed control) and $6.00 per acre for mowing could be used to encourage livestock managers to perform managed grazing on CRP lands (i.e., temporary fencing, water tanks).
3) CRP contract holders: If managed grazing were to be allowed on CRP lands, the livestock producer would enter into an agreement to manage the land and continue to keep the land in grass for the same number of years as the CRP contract, following expiration of the CRP contract.
Example: Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Under contract--CRP payments No contract, no payment managed grazing remain in sod and continue mgmt
4) Allow managed grazing on CRP lands 1 out of every 2 years
