On page 186 of Dr. Larry Butler’s book ‘OUT ON THE LAND’ he writes within a subchapter about three categories or major purposes of conservation practices.

1. Vegetation management practices are directly concerned with vegetation use and growth.
   1. Prescribed grazing to balance forage supply with animal demand.
   1. Flexible scheduling and daily management designed to achieve desired objectives.
2.  Accelerating practices supplement management practices
   1. Pasture planting.
   1. Weed control.
   1. Range seeding.
   1. Brush management.
3. Facilitating practices control or influence the movement and handling of grazing animals.
   1. Fencing
   1. Water development

Dr. Butler goes on to describe the necessity of practicing vegetation management and without it, other practices may not be in the true spirit of conservation.

 The problem of our rangeland degradation is the result of lack of use of item 1 Vegetation management practices, without curing the cause of the problem the accelerating practices and facilitating practices are ultimately of little value to the conservation of our rangelands. True, in the short term one will think he has accomplished great conservation goals, but in the long term the same issues will return without a sound-properly applied GRAZE-REST program.

This photo depicts the current cold spell prior to falling moisture. (Fog and cold only) The wire of the power line is sagging to the point that the bottom line is well within the mesquite tree’s limbs. When the hot wire on the top gets into the tree it will not be a positive result.

Maybe global warming will resolve the issue. Could be that the Lord is showing us who is in control.

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE.

More information about Larry’s book can be found at www.outontheland.com