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

Effective Rainfall

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

Loss of the Concho’s

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“We caught many catfish, sun perch and trout. At the time the North Concho was very large and deep. Many live mussel shells crawled around on the flat surface bank, dropping off into the river when anyone approached the bank.” Edna Allison ‘Milling Around Sterling County’ 1911 era. This memory of the North Concho River just south of Sterling City is a sad statement as to the current condition of the river. The river was named Concho by Spanish explorers, because of the numerous mussel shells found. The Spanish word concho is interpreted to be shell in English. As a young boy in the late 1950’s and early 60’s I found numerous mussel shells along the river, but never any live mussels. Today one must search to find a single remaining shell and the river is only a remnant of what it once was. Dry in many areas with a few clear pools of water, running a small stream during wet spells-mainly in the winter. Still a beautiful river when looking at the areas of clear live water, though wide and muddy when big rains come.

‘Milling Around Sterling County’ a history of the settlement of Sterling County was published in 1976 and is currently being updated after close to fifty years of new history taking place. Wouldn’t it be wonderful after the next fifty years if a third book were to be published telling of the North Concho once again being ‘large and deep’. The knowledge as to what caused the river to ‘dry up’ is now understood, as the loss of the dense cover of vibrant grasses and forbs has been lost and the water cycle no longer works as it once did. Yes, the increase in brush has added to the loss of the water cycle effectiveness, but it is only an ’effect’ of the loss of cover and healthy soils that is the ‘cause’. It is also understood by some that proper grazing management can overcome this lack of cover and healthy plants allowing that water cycle to become an effective provider of water to the aquifer once again. Yes, many other factors, including the many water wells that draw on the aquifer that once provided the beautiful fish and mussel filled river with water, are a contributing factor and always will be.

It is but a dream, but dreams can come true with sharing of knowledge, diligence of labor and love of the land. Fifty years from now Sterling County could be looking at struggling to have any water and the wells that now provide that high quality water could produce little to none.   An unlikely thought? While fishing on the North Concho watching the mussels get away from her, Miss Allison probably didn’t dream, at some time in the future, the ‘conchos’ on the river could not be found.

THE BETTER IT GETS, THE FASTER IT GETS BETTER

Engleman Daisy, having been grazed short during the last grazing cycle in the fall. Is beginning to show recovery from the current rest period.

Effective Rainfall

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As the ongoing dry spell continues over a wide area. The question of ‘How much rain does it take to be effective?’ becomes an even more relative issue than during higher rainfall periods. The answer lies within numerous ‘What ifs?’ most of which the rangeland manager has no control over. Humidity, wind, cloud cover, temperature and length of time until the next rain event are all things that the manager has no control over and can’t do anything to change. But the most important of all variables that the manager does have control over are the health of the plants on the ground, the density of those plants and the amount of litter covering the ground. (Litter being, dead plant material that has fallen on the soil and is in a state of decay.)

Some managers would say ‘It is dry and has been for a long time, there is no way I can improve on those things.’ Preparation for the ongoing drought began during the last good growing conditions and continues even during the dry spell, by proper grazing rate and giving adequate recovery time for those plants by removing the animals from the pasture for predetermined periods of time. This preparation does not happen by chance alone, it takes planning and diligence of initiation. Then replanning after observing livestock, plant recovery, economic conditions, and rainfall, this is called ‘proper grazing management’. When this ‘plan’ is put in place density of cover -over time- will approach 100% coverage, healthy root systems provide healthy soils that retain moisture and ground litter covers the soil lessoning the evaporation rate caused by all of those variables that the manager has no control over.

The current drought is hurting good managers and poor managers alike. Those that have prepared for current conditions are faring much better than others, even to the point of growing a little forage where good ground cover-healthy soils are prevalent.

THE BETTER IT GETS, THE FASTER IT GETS BETTER

Take note that this photo is along a formerly erosive creek bank. Recovery of creek areas is one of the first places an effective grazing program influences.

Rocks-Drought-Rangeland Recovery

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Went for a little ‘walk about’ yesterday and made some interesting observations. I have long said that the rocks of the West Texas area that I have the privilege of working with, have become more prevalent in my lifetime of caring for the rangeland. In short, that means erosion (At an almost imperceptible pace) of the limited soil of the hillsides has continued, and the rocks appear to be more prevalent and larger than when I was but a ‘munchkin’. This little ‘walkabout’ showed that even in the midst of the current dry spell the rocks are slowly becoming less noticeable and grasses like Black Grama, Side Oats and most excitingly Little Bluestem are filling in the open spaces of the very rocky terrain, with very little soil to move the rangeland to a higher successional-environmental level. Without proper grazing management (An effective graze-rest program) this would not be the case, the continuous grazing of the past only resulted in more erosion, even on the rocky hillsides that my great grandfather staked his legacy on. This was not his fault, as he did not have the knowledge to know that REST FROM GRAZING is a key factor within any RANGELAND-GRAZING program. We now have that understanding of the rangeland-grazing process and must uRockstilize that knowledge.

With ground litter, grasses and their roots systems the limited rainfall is slowed, resulting in better rainfall retention, thus the rocky hillside and the existing plants get more water per plant than in deeper soils during an extended dry spell.

THE BETTER IT GETS THE FASTER IT GETS BETTER

Not a beautiful picture, but one that tells the recovery story well.

Extremely shallow soils showing slow recovery, even during drought. The next few years should tell and even bigger story.

Optimism vs. Realism or Optimism in Conjunction with Realism

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Working with rangeland and livestock (Ranching) has always been an industry of OPTIMISM.

“It will rain soon.”

“When it does rain it will be of adequate volume to cause the land to recover.”

“We’ll hold on for a bit longer, it will rain soon.”

“Yes, feed is high, but it is better than———-”

“Next year’s calves will be better.”

Being a REALIST is many times the hardest to accept but is the process that can make that ranching operation truly sustainable and provide a future for the operation, moving the operation forward to the next step in the ever-changing ranching environment.

The author Adam M Grant states “The goal of learning is not to shield old views against new facts. It’s to revise old views to incorporate new facts.” Utilizing this statement to make the ranching operation sustainable for the families involved and the environment within the operation is critical in todays complicated processes of attaining those sustainability goals.

Understanding the positive relationship of grazing the rangeland and the rest that is to follow is a major key to sustainable ranching and sustainable rangeland resources. This is new information for many and must be incorporated into the old views for future profitability and recovery of our rangeland resources.

Now that the ‘new’ facts are being applied, the rancher’s optimism can now be confidently applied to his operation thanks to the reality of understanding the Graze-Rest relationship

“When it does rain, the land will recover quickly thanks to the improved soil health and the continuous cover of deep-rooted thriving perennial grasses and forbs.”

“Drought is no longer as prevalent as it used to be thanks to the healthy rangeland.”

“Feeding of livestock is no longer a major expense, as the land is providing adequate feed resources for the livestock.”

“Now that I understand the graze-rest relationship, the future of the operation is bright.”

A mark of an open mind is being more committed to your curiosity than to your convictions.

The goal of learning is not to shield old views against new facts. It’s to revise old views to incorporate new facts.

Ideas are possibilities to explore, not certainties to defend.

THE BETTER IT GETS

THE FASTER IT GETS BETTER

How much rain does it take to be effective? Depends on the density and health of the plants on the ground.