Project Number: 6216-21630-007-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Nov 02, 2002
End Date: Nov 01, 2007

Objective:
Evaluate improved grasses for increased seed production, establishment, persistence, forage production and quality in mono-cultures and in grazing systems. Sustain use of improved forages on highly erodible lands and to complement native rangeland. Develop sustainable, integrated cow-calf production systems and investigate the seasonal and annual carbon and energy fluxes of the mixed-grass prairie and contribute to national rangeland carbon and energy balance studies.

Approach:
Major red meat production assets of the Southern Plains include temperate winter weather and a high forage production potential from a combination of rangeland, perennials established on marginal farmland, and annuals on farmland. Major natural resource problems include drought, over used rangeland, farmland highly susceptible to erosion, weeds, difficulty in grass and forb establishment, low fertility on farmland seeded to forages, and low forage quality from late summer through winter. The challenge is to develop economic, energy-efficient grazing systems for the area while maintaining or improving the plant, soil, water, wildlife, and aesthetic resources. The overall approach is to gather information on forage production and quality, and cattle gain on native rangelands, perennial forages growing in marginal farmlands, and annual farmed forages as affected by management, climate, and soils. The information will be used to develop and test forage and grazing management strategies for red meat production systems.

Project Team

Gillen, Robert - Bob Springer, Timothy Sims, Phillip Goldman, Jason

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003