Environmental Issues: Opportunities and Challenges for Grazing Dairies By Kevin Ogles Grazing Specialist NRCS ENTSC Greensboro, NC
Resource Concerns that could be encountered during inventory Soil Water Air Plants Animals
Already Doing Continuous Grazing Converting Cropland to Grazing
Well Managed Permanent Pasture Well-Managed Hay Field Poorly Managed Pasture (Continuous) No-Till Close Growing Crops No-Till Row Crops Spring Moldboard Plowed Row Crops Fall Moldboard Plowed Row Crops
9 Steps of Conservation Planning PHASE I 1. Identify the Problem 2. Determine the Objectives 3. Inventory Resources 4. Analyze Resource Data
Soil Resource Concerns Erosion Compaction Nutrient Loading Quality
Water & minerals very close to stream; trails due to long graze periods in this pasture Critical area is subpart of large pasture
Compaction and livestock lounging area
chicory Diverse Pasture Plant Community plantain red clover timothy dandelion white clover ragweed bluegrass
Topography/soil type influences the need Two days after rain, when cattle had to go to centralized water tank.
Thin stand due to heavy nutrient application and late harvest.
Dung Pattie indicates N may be deficient in surrounding area
Nutrient Management on Pastures
Nutrient Management on Pastures
Tall Fescue Tall Fescue Tall Fescue Orchardgrass Orchardgrass Fescue/Bluegrass Rotational Continuous Continuous Rotational Rotational Rotational
Take Home Message Given there is adequate forage quantity, quality and growth rate: The faster the rotation frequency, (With water tanks, minerals and feed bunks moved into every paddock for each rotation) The better the livestock waste nutrient distribution will be.
Legumes and Soil Quality: Fix nitrogen as a symbiotic host to Rhizobia bacteria Increase organic matter Create bigger soil aggregates (Mean weight diameter of soil aggregates 20% higher under alfalfa over bare fallow, Rasse et al., 2000) Improve soil porosity; hence water infiltration (Saturated soil conductivity increased 57% under alfalfa over bare fallow, Rasse et al., 2000) Increase mineralizable nitrogen and phosphorus
Water Resource Concerns Quality Quantity
Uncontrolled access to stream even with 16 paddocks on this farm. Overgrazed
Livestock concentration area Stream Riparian Buffer
Alternative water; but no control of grazing time Note short graze height, open stream crossing, a few weeds.
Animals - Domestic Resource Concerns Inadequate: Quantity and Quality of Feed and Forage Shelter Water (Quality and Quantity) Stress and Mortality
Opportunities for Grazing Managers with 2008 Farm Bill Programs Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) Conservation Stewardship Program (CStP) Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Wetland Reserve Program (WRP)
East National Technology Support Center Grazing Specialists: Kevin D. Ogles 336-370 370-33663366 kevin.ogles@gnb.usda.gov Michael D. Hall (Active Duty until 10/09) 336-370 370-33443344 michael.hall@gnb.usda.gov NRCS is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Rev 2/09
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