Rebuilding After Wildfire

/ Rangelands and Ranching: A Study of Proper Use of Rangelands & the Environment by Frank S Price / Leave a comment

The 2011 fire season in our area had profound effects on our ranching operation. We had to step back after each fire (Seven separate fires encroached on ranches that we were operating) and accept that the damage was done and ask; What can we do to move forward and adapt to the conditions that the fires left us with? Fifty-Seven plus miles of fencing needed to be replaced and we took this ‘opportunity’ to move some of them to new locations thus improving the ability to make our grazing programs more efficient. Loss of grazable forage was extensive, the 2011 Wildcat Mountain fire in Coke County made its first big run-on April 15 of that year. No moisture fell on the burned area until mid to late August, more than 120 days after the fire. To add to that lack of moisture there were 100 consecutive days of 100+ degree heat prior to that rain event in August. This produced a soil temperature one foot below the surface of the ground of 147 degrees and some took temps of 153 degrees. The cover of the soil and the shade-protection it provides is essential to effective use of rainfall. Recovery under those conditions takes patience and the utilization of the already established graze-rest program has made our recovery a much faster and productive experience.

Our hearts go out to the folks in the Panhandle that have suffered such horrific losses. As the rebuilding process begins for those folks that lost so much, it is important to accept what has happened and think through how to make this tragedy a positive process. (Easy to say, hard to do!!) Numerous ranchers have become much too familiar with wildfire and what it entails to rebuild. Thinking through the what’s and why’s is aways good and may provide knowledge-wisdom as to how to prepare for the next fire and make it a bit more positive and less stressful. Accepting it as ‘That’s the way it is” is not acceptable. Planning for the next wildfire is a valuable tool. (How to control it, what management practices will lessen the effect of the fire, how to financially prepare for the next one, the list can become quite extensive.) Instead of working to put things back as they were, finding new paradigms that will enhance the ranching operation and preparing for the next fire event might be a better long-term solution.

The following pictures show rangeland that burned in the 2011 Dos Amigos fire. Heavy cedar on hillsides (Mostly Blueberry). The first picture shows the mosaic aftermath of the fire and the remnant heavy cedar that was the dominant feature of the hillsides prior to the fire. The second and third photos are what was heavy cedar prior to fire and the grass response that has occurred with the ‘death’ of the blueberry cedar. Looking closely at the remnants (skeletons) of the cedars, riding through this area was an impossible task (Even for a veteran ‘cedar popper’) The grasses including side oats, curly mesquite, slim tridents, tall dropseed, Texas winter grass, little bluestem and green sprangle top have been released and are flourishing with the help of the previously established graze-rest program.

THE BETTER IT GETS, THE FASTER IT GETS BETTER

Brush Management and Increase in Grazable Forage

/ Rangelands and Ranching: A Study of Proper Use of Rangelands & the Environment by Frank S Price / Leave a comment

A short time ago a research scientist asked what percentage increase in grass production I expected after completing a brush management program. My response was that I wasn’t qualified to respond with a percentage increase (Not a research scientist), but that the amount of increase in production seemed to be directly related to the length of time an effective graze-rest program had been in place PRIOR to the brush management program.

To understand this thought, one must consider what a healthy plant with a strong root system is capable of. A healthy root system recovers quickly with just about anything you can ‘throw’ at it. Trample it severely, either with animals, heavy equipment, fire and even extended drought conditions and it is amazing what that healthy plant can do to quickly recover. However, if it is in poor condition lacking the energy reserves stored below ground, lacking the extensive-massive root system that is capable of drawing nutrients and water from limited sources, that plant may die from the brush management process that was initiated to increase the grazable production of the rangeland.  Resulting in a negative connotation, making recovery and the hoped for increase in production a slow and many times disastrous result of only creating more denuded bare ground creating a perfect place for the brush to germinate and become thicker than when the original ‘brush management’ program was initiated. Once again, how do you create those healthy plants prior to the brush management program? Graze-Rest-Graze-Rest it is essential.

The photo below tells several stories.

  1. Preparing for brush management establishing healthy grassland prior to it.
  2. The beginnings of rocks disappearing
  3. The starting effects of prickly pear control with the use of the ‘native’ prickly pear beetle. (Yellow dots on the prickly pear pads.)

THE BETTER IT GETS THE FASTER IT GETS BETTER

Brush Management and Grazing

/ Rangelands and Ranching: A Study of Proper Use of Rangelands & the Environment by Frank S Price / Leave a comment

For many grassland managers brush management is the costliest of all the management options. Those operators that have a substantial outside income are, as a rule, the only ones that can afford to ‘Control the Brush’, without the help of various government ‘help’ programs. Regardless of the source of money, understanding why the brush is an ever-increasing problem, despite the long-term efforts of ‘controlling’ it, is essential to developing a viable program of brush management. Long term continuous-sometimes heavy grazing, loss of the fire regime and perhaps the ever-changing climate are all factors in creating the brush issues many face on rangeland. Perhaps the combination of these ‘causes’ creates a multiplying factor to the brush issue.

The first thing a rangeland manager can do to change this paradigm is to be certain he has adapted an effective graze-rest program so the plants can survive and flourish after the brush management plan is initiated. The importance of creating this grazing management process PRIOR to the brush management practice cannot be over emphasized. The results of such a program have been shown to be dramatic.

Stay tuned as in the following weeks we will discuss several brush management issues both good and perhaps not so good.

The photo below shows even with heavy cover of brush, some grass plants are established. When a good grazing program is established prior to removing brush those grass plants are given the opportunity to flourish. Making the brush removal effort effective in grassland improvement.

THE BETTER IT GETS THE FASTER IT GETS BETTER

Managing Thru Drought

/ Rangelands and Ranching: A Study of Proper Use of Rangelands & the Environment by Frank S Price / Leave a comment

Texas Cup Grass

It is interesting to note the different plants and how they are reacting to the awesome rainfall received this past week. (3” in two different rains 6 days apart)

The prickly pear, which was shriveled to the point that one rancher commented that he thought if we had a wildfire it would burn like grass, has ‘fluffed out’ and greened up amazingly in just a few days, as its shallow roots quickly absorbed the moisture. The amazing pear apple crop was the result of the last rain event in May. Pear is certainly well adapted to drought conditions.

Black Walnuts, which appeared to be drought killed have already begun putting on new leaf growth, even at this late date in the growing season. Many dead limbs and stems are evidence of the lack of moisture through the exceptionally hot-dry summer. The Lords plan with natures resiliency is awesome, and only needs the help of man to move the process forward.

Grasses are very slow to show any green up as the moisture conditions were strikingly poor, being the result of a long drought period only offset by the May rain event that provided excellent recovery from prior drought conditions, however that rain event did not provide any deep moisture for long term recovery. (Take note that this rainfall event does not mean the end of the drought, but it is an excellent start.) Thus, the grass was in a dormant condition, and it takes time for the growth process to begin again. Even the deeper-rooted dense stands of grasses that traditionally fare much better than the sparsely spaced grass plants of heavy-continuous grazed programs, are dormant from this current dry spell. Yet having said all this, some grass plants recover much more quickly from extended drought-heat than others.

The picture below is of a Texas Cupgrass plant, while every other grass in the pasture is struggling to show any green at all even at the base of the plant, the Texas Cup is already making very positive new growth of leaf structure. For a review of past discussions, Texas Cup under continuous grazing is a rare find and will almost always be found growing within a protected area from grazing like a bush. Being one of the first to green up in spring, the last of the summer grasses to brown out in fall and in many years will retain some green in the stems through the winter much like Black Grama. With the timely initiation of a dedicated graze-rest program utilizing an extended rest period the Texas Cup will increase at a dramatic rate as the seed source is allowed to expand. While not known as one of the ‘tall’ grasses this mid grass is one of the better indicators of rangeland improvement and is a key plant in putting the grazing manager in a position of profitable ranching on a consistent basis.

                            THE BETTER IT GETS THE FASTER IT GETS BETTER

Effective Rainfall

/ Rangelands and Ranching: A Study of Proper Use of Rangelands & the Environment by Frank S Price / Leave a comment

The small rainfall events throughout the year are many times of too little volume to have a positive effect on the rangeland, but how small is that amount?

There are numerous factors that have a direct bearing on whether rainfall will be effective in promoting growth of plants. Quantity of rain, temperature, humidity, wind, and timing of the next rainfall event are all critical to the effectiveness of the Lord’s gift of moisture. The rancher-manager has no influence or control of any of those factors, thus he should not lose any sleep from worrying over those things. (Yet most all of us do so.) However, he does have control over a key factor, that being the health and cover of the soil he is managing. Or perhaps more simply stated, rangeland health. When the rangeland is healthy those small rainfall events become a valuable part of the ecosystem’s ability to move forward. Sustaining the rancher until the next rain.

The exciting thing is there are many ways of achieving the desired rangeland health, arguably some more effective than others and the type grazing program chosen is critical. It is up to the manager to evaluate goals, both long term and short term, in selecting the type and intensity of the grazing program. Within the more brittle-dryer environments achieving that healthy rangeland is dependent on grazing and rest as they are key ingredients to that successful program. Those two factors are controlled by animal impact and recovery from that impact. Leave out either one of those two and the grazing program and rangeland health improvement will most likely be an undesirable result.

The photo below is an excellent example of achieving the healthy rangeland goal and what can happen without an effective grazing program, but remember it takes time to accomplish. Those wishing for instant success will be disappointed.

It is up to the rancher to determine how he wants his rangeland to look.

Nature Utilizing its Resources in Unison

/ Rangelands and Ranching: A Study of Proper Use of Rangelands & the Environment by Frank S Price / 1 Comment

Vine Mesquite Grass is becoming much more prevalent than in the past. Its long runners (Stolon’s) can cover an area very quickly when given the opportunity. (Graze-Rest) While the descriptions of its growth habits show it to dominantly grow in low areas, depressions, and bottomlands once it is established within an effective graze-rest program it extends its colonies to surrounding areas of less quality soils and out of the depressions. The more seeds and stolon’s that are out there the faster it covers surrounding bare ground. One of the issues with Vine Mesquite is that, while it covers the ground well it is not a very dense cover. (One of those grasses that look great when looking across the rangeland, but when looking down the density leaves some to be desired.)

Possibly the closest competitor of ‘stoloniferous’ grasses to Vine Mesquite is Buffalo Grass. Given the opportunity, healthy Buffalo plants can cover bare ground at a fast pace. This cover is generally very dense, allowing little sunlight-wind to get to the soil. The problem with it is it does not grow very tall and that can be a limiting factor as to its ability to build soil and save valuable water resources. As the picture below shows, Vine Mesquite and Buffalo get along well together. The Buffalo will mix with the Vine and form a tall (12” to 24” +) dense cover over the soil surface. This ‘magic’ potion is one of the fastest ways of creating a soil building program on the rangeland. It also protects the soil from wind and water erosion, while providing an excellent seed bed for the next generation of even higher quality plants. (Succession)

Remember this process takes time, probably years of a productive graze-rest program but is well worth the effort and of low cost to the producer. The programs that make large inputs to the range resource for a ‘quick’ recovery to the grasslands of old, generally fail, and certainly will fail if the application of an effective grazing program is not applied, from the start.

THE BETTER IT GETS THE FASTER IT GETS BETTER

Black Grama on Steroids

/ Rangelands and Ranching: A Study of Proper Use of Rangelands & the Environment by Frank S Price / Leave a comment

Black Grama with its narrow spindly leaf structure doesn’t look to be a highly preferred native grass, but it certainly is and is a key ingredient to healthy short-mid grass prairie.  Much of the West Texas rangeland is almost devoid of this valuable plant as it has not been able to survive continuous-heavy grazing. While with continuous light grazing it can be occasionally found, (Usually within a shrub or cactus) but nothing like the amount found under a controlled graze-rest program. Under the properly applied grazed-rest scenario Black Grama is increasing very nicely on hill sides, shallow rocky ridges, and shallow soiled lowlands. The unique characteristic of retaining some green in the winter along the stolon’s and somewhat in the lower portions of the spindly leaves makes it an excellent winter feed for Vitamin A.

This photo of Black Grama is the most robust I have ever witnessed. Found in the bottom of an extremely rocky draw and is probably getting some extra water as a result. Take note of the Switch Grass just behind the Black Grama, doing quite well in what some would say was very poor soil. I beg to differ as nature has found many ways to adapt. (Wish more people were so included to follow this example.)

THE BETTER IT GETS THE FASTER IT GETS BETTER

Famine to Feast

/ Rangelands and Ranching: A Study of Proper Use of Rangelands & the Environment by Frank S Price / 1 Comment

The recent extended dry spell from September 1, 2021, through April 31, 2023 (14.16” for a 20-month period or an adjusted annual rainfall of 8.5” for 2 years) was devastating for most, over a wide area of Texas. Some had much less rainfall than us and the resulting lack of rangeland forage growth put most ranching operations’ future sustainability in jeopardy. Those that had an established-effective graze-rest program in place fared much better than others during this period. As some of those grazing programs had little need for expensive feeding and relocation of livestock costs. Yes, they reduced herd size dramatically, weaned calves early and utilized various other drought management protocols, as with grazing programs, drought management is essential. May to June was an established ‘sell out’ date by many in the area as little to no grazable forage remained.

Fortunately, on May 2nd rain did begin to fall. Over the month of May and into the first week of June 4.24” fell here at the headquarters. Perfect timing for grass growth and the recovery has been phenomenal. However, as the hot days of June progress, those areas that did not have deep rooted healthy plants established prior to the dry spell are already beginning to suffer, brown-out will soon occur and growth already has ceased in many cases.  Some producers are expressing concern about the density of the weed population, robbing the moisture from the grass resulting in poor grass growth, while the areas with well established-dense cover of healthy grasses are not showing those weed issues.

It is interesting that those areas that have been in an effective grazing management program the longest are showing the impressive grass growth rates the best, as some of the latest established grazing programs are obviously behind the recovery of the long time established proper grazing programs. RANGELAND RECOVERY IS A SLOW PROCESS THAT TAKES CONSIDERABLE PATIENCE OF THE PRODUCER-GRAZER. (And for that matter the research-extension-collegiate study groups. A short-term study is of little value when grazing studies are the priority.) It is notable that within some of those well-established programs of 10 plus years, the recovery is arguably to the point of conditions prior to the beginning of the dry spell and are perhaps in better condition than it was prior to the start of the dry spell. (Fresh grazable plants increasing in density and cover area.) This is impressive to say the least, as most expect recovery after drought to take several growing seasons or years to recover and get back to the pre drought point.

Perhaps the most gratifying point is that the livestock have recovered well and are gaining weight rapidly. Making the ranch operations future look much more positive than a short time ago.

The three photos below taken in the last  week are a dramatic case in point. Native-not seeded Indian Grass, Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Texas Cup Grass, Vine Mesquite and even the lowly (In some opinions) introduced KR Bluestem are showing amazing recovery in a short 6-week period.

THE BETTER IT GETS, THE FASTER IT GETS BETTER!!

Drought is Taking its Toll.

/ Rangelands and Ranching: A Study of Proper Use of Rangelands & the Environment by Frank S Price / Leave a comment

Drought is affecting even the mesquites. This photo appears to be a bad spray job from the past but has never been sprayed and certainly will not be this year. The trees are very stressed from lack of moisture for the last two years. The rangeland grasses are a depressing sight, as the desert termites have finished off the bulk of the old moribund plants. (It is my opinion that termites seldom attack healthy grass plants, only those that are decaying from age and lack of use.) A good chance of rain shows to be in the forecast late this week, sure hope it is a GOOD PREDICTION. Photo was taken May 4, 2023

The next photo was taken yesterday May 6 and shows how the creek bottom is struggling to green up and is actually growing some forage. Note the upper portion of the creek is very dry. This is an awesome statement as to the effectiveness of a productive graze rest program over the last several years. The bottoms of the creeks and washes are the first to recover from continuous grazing and begins the process of recovery from erosion of our precious soil, even during a drought.

THE BETTER IT GETS THE FASTER IT GETS BETTER, BUT ADEQUATE RAINFALL IS ALWAYS A KEY INGREDIENT REGARDLESS OF THE GRAZING PROGRAM.

Looking Forward to Some Relief

/ Rangelands and Ranching: A Study of Proper Use of Rangelands & the Environment by Frank S Price / 1 Comment

Spring green up is struggling to proceed as the Texas Winter Grass, Canada Wildrye, Western Wheat, Engleman Daisy and the annual Rescue Grass is beginning to lose some of its green luster. Without a rain shower soon, the potential ‘good’ spring will be lost over this area. Where good ground cover including grass, forb and litter are present along with healthy root systems the potential is still possible. Without that cover the spring is all but lost for those that have not utilized a sound grazing management program.

The below photo shows Engleman Daisy, Texas Filary, Rescue grass, Globe Mallow and several other forbs and annuals moving into the survival mode that nature has designed into its program. This survival mode is to produce seed at all costs, as the very low growth of leaf surface is obvious. (The pocketknife is of the 3 ¾” variety for visual comparison) This survival mode is also heavy on the mind of livestock producers in the area, as all ranchmen are faced with critical and possibly very expensive resolutions to the continued drought conditions.