How Much Rain Have You Had? | Texas Range Report
The standard greeting among ranchers is, “Have you had much rain?” The answer could be a signal for preparing your herd for good grazing ahead, or for considering your plan for the next drought.
By Charles L. Kneuper, USDA NRCS state rangeland management specialist
In February, we talked about finding a clipping area on your ranch for quarterly forage inventories. What did the grass look like then? What does the grass look like now? We should be starting this growing season off with good cover which will help ensure a good forage production year, successful rainfall capture and infiltration, in turn maximizing rainfall events.
Did you carry out a prescribed fire this winter? How are those pastures recovering? Did the burn meet your objectives?
Now is the time to start thinking about whether you will be burning another pasture in 2018 and monitoring the forage in that field to make sure there will be enough fuel to meet your objectives.
Are you planning to do some brush work this year? If you are planning to use herbicides, depending on the target species and choice of chemical, soil temperature is important. Start monitoring the soil temperature at 12 inches deep. For some species and chemicals, soil temperature at this depth needs to be at least 75 degrees. Also, watch for other characteristics that indicate the brush will be susceptible to chemical treatments.
Get out your pocket calendars and take a look at how much rainfall has been received since Nov. 1.
How does this compare with historic averages? In the western part of Texas, we should have received around 25 percent of our average annual rainfall; in central Texas, approximately 40 percent; and in the eastern part of the state, around 50 percent.
If we are below those numbers, there is a chance we will be below average in our annual grass production.
In this water management issue, I have asked Nathan Haile, Texas state soil health specialist for USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to provide his insight into water management and effective steps to implement with respect to rainfall and improving your operation’s soil function (page 98). We also have regional reports from our grazing lands specialists. Take a look at the Regional Coalition Map (page 94) to find which specialist covers your county. If your county is not covered by one of the specialists, locate the NRCS field office that serves your county at tx.nrcs.usda.gov.
Blackland Prairie
By Matt Machacek, USDA NRCS rangeland management specialist
May is the peak grass-production month in the Blacklands, and we are only a month away from growing half our grass for the year on pastures dominated by warm-season perennials. Are you stocked accordingly, and will you have enough water for grass growth for the rest of the year? That depends on past management and how much water your soil is holding.
If your pastures are lush and dominated by cool-season annuals such as ryegrass, be aware that their growth period is ending and you have, in fact, grown most of your grass for the year. They will also consume much of the plant-available soil moisture as we begin to experience drier conditions this summer.
To avoid the summer slump with these annuals, consider maintaining adequate residue from perennial grasses going into next fall, and keep at least 1,200 to 1,500 pounds per acre by early May or earlier.
The only way to maintain residual forage is by inventorying what you have and setting a stocking rate for year-round grazing.
Remember that in Texas we are either in, coming out of, or going into our next drought, but managing for warm-season perennials will make your operation more drought resistant. Conservative stocking is the key to maintaining plant vigor. Adjusting animal numbers to forage conditions will allow you to be the last rancher to enter a drought and the first rancher out of the drought. Please feel free to contact me, or your local NRCS field office representatives, to develop a resource management plan for your operation.
Coastal Prairies Region
By Stephen Deiss, USDA NRCS rangeland management specialist
Our precipitation over the winter and subsequent lack of drying days — even in the face of brief periods of very high winds — set us up well for a very good start to the growing season, especially in the area from Refugio-Goliad northward up the coast.
Last year’s flush of tremendous grass growth bodes well even for this year’s growing season. The reason? Last year’s growth is going to go a long way toward establishing an anchor for effective use of the precipitation we will receive going forward.
Having the soil surface covered with herbaceous vegetation allows the water cycle to operate in an efficient manner. According to a study published by Dr. Tom Thurow in 1991, in a bunchgrass-dominated setting, around 76 percent of the precipitation received infiltrates into the soil, making it available for plant roots. The vast bulk of the loss is to surface runoff.
In my work area, extending from San Patricio to Galveston to Burleson to Wilson counties, this is land that receives adequate rest after periodic disturbances like grazing.
Likewise, Thurow found that under sod grasses like Bermuda and Bahia, only 54 percent of the precipitation infiltrates, and with bare ground, only 25 percent infiltrates, with losses due to surface runoff.
The best infiltration (81 percent) was found to be under a woody canopy with litter accumulation — not a great scenario for cattle. Most of the losses in this scenario are due to the interception of rainfall by canopy and litter and subsequent evaporation.
Grazing management involves a host of factors, but the key is to make efficient use of rainfall.
We have generally had somewhere between 30 and 45 percent of our annual plant growth, depending on the soil and vegetative community, be it bunchgrass, sod grass or brushy.
The concept of “take-half, leave-half” in a grazing management plan can be difficult to assess at a given point in time. Exclosure cages can help make this concept clearer. Exclosure cages allow the landowner to see how the vegetation subject to grazing compared to that within the exclosure. [An exclosure plot is used to keep an area in a natural condition, free from grazing by deer or domestic livestock — Wildlife Management Handbook for Forest Officers.]
Using the grass resource in a manner to assure the health of plants above and below ground can make effective use of a 2-inch rain event.
Concho Valley Region
By Grant L Teplicek, USDA NRCS rangeland management specialist
May is upon us, which means the spring-calving ranches are vaccinating and working calves. Everybody is watching the weather. If we are below average rainfall, the fall-calving ranches will be looking at early weaning of their calves, while the others are looking at culling some older cows. Sheep and goat producers are busy vaccinating, drenching the herds for internal parasites and working lambs and kids.
Range seeding will be wrapping up at the end of the month. Watch the areas you have seeded for the seedlings you want, to make sure weeds are not beginning to out-compete those seedlings for water and nutrients.
If you are interested in spraying mesquite trees this year, start taking soil temperatures now and monitoring the weather. It is also a good time to start planning to treat the brush in your fences and around your water areas.
If you don’t have enough to do out on the ranch, there are numerous field days and workshops around the area to attend. You can learn about new developments in the livestock industry and receive continuing education units (CEUs) for your private pesticide applicators license. Don’t forget to make plans to attend the 8th Annual Rancher’s Workshop on May 12 in Mertzon.
Cross Timbers Region
By Kevin Derzapf, USDA NRCS rangeland management specialist
As mentioned in February’s edition, this is the time of year to be monitoring your forage production and have a drought plan prepared with key dates, triggers and management decisions already identified.
June 1 is a key date for this area. We should have received 50 percent of our annual rainfall and should have grown 50 percent of our yearly forage production by this date. If we are behind in production at this point, we will almost certainly be behind for the rest of the year.
For those of you who planted grass this spring, be prepared to manage the competition. Many times, competition from weedy plants is the cause of failed plantings. During establishment, excessive amounts of the competing weedy plants may be controlled by the use of herbicides or mowing. Herbicides may be used when seeded species have 3 to 5 leaves per plant.
Generally, when 3 weeds per square foot or a 50 percent canopy are observed, weed control should be considered. If weeds become overly mature or herbicides are not desired, then weeds may be mowed.
When plants reach a height of 6 to 8 inches, they should be mowed above the height of the seeded plants. The crop cover should also be maintained. Mowing should not be done when daily maximum air temperature exceeds 95 degrees and the humidity falls below 30 percent, to prevent dehydration of the seedlings. Generally, mowing should not be done after July 15.
June and July are typically the best time for foliar herbicide applications on mesquite. There are key conditions (air and soil temperature, etc.) that make for most effective treatments. You are welcome to contact your local NRCS office or Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office to discuss recommended herbicides and rates.
Edwards Region
By Kason Haby, USDA NRCS rangeland management specialist
Smoke on the horizon characterized the Edwards Region in January and February, as many ranchers capitalized on abundant fuels that were used to suppress brush and rejuvenate pastures with prescribed burns.
Keep the gates closed on burned pastures to allow the perennial grasses to rebuild their root systems and increase ground cover. Plan to defer grazing through November, but once production and ground cover have reached pre-burn levels, you can safely rotational graze.
The ground cover is an important indicator to watch because as ground cover increases, water in the soil increases by decreasing evaporation and increasing infiltration.
Ground cover provides food for soil organisms to feed on which increases organic matter in the soil.
For every 1 percent increase in organic matter, water-holding capacity of the soil increases by approximately 25,000 gallons per acre. That is more water to grow more forage for livestock!
Ground cover also helps reduce brush and weed encroachment. Look down on your pasture and determine your ground cover by judging the percent of soil shaded by living or dead vegetation at high noon. How much ground cover should you expect? That varies based on soil type and average annual precipitation; however, more is usually better. Ground cover is something that can be monitored easily through photo points or making notes in your record book as you are checking cows.
We should be in or near the first window for foliar chemical treatment of mesquite if bud break was around mid-March. Here are a few checklist items before spraying.
- Soil temperature must be at least 75° F at a 12-inch depth.
- Leaves should be dark green and not damaged.
- Do not spray when flowers are white.
- Do not spray when bean pod is green and not yet fully elongated.
High Plains Region
By Clint Rollins, USDA NRCS rangeland management specialist
The March 2017 Texas Panhandle wildfires burned approximately 422,755 acres across portions of Potter, Carson, Ochiltree, Lipscomb, Roberts, Hemphill, Gray and Wheeler counties. The loss of human life, livestock and wildlife, fencing, structures, equipment and forage for livestock was devastating.
There were an estimated 68,500 acres burned in March that also burned in the March 2006 wildfires, impacting several Panhandle producers. Many lost livestock, wildlife, fences and valuable grass forage in both wildfires. As in 2006, many producers today are faced with starting over.
The lessons learned from the 2006 wildfire forage-recovery efforts are critical to a successful long-term recovery plan as producers move forward from these recent, devastating wildfires.
In 2006, timely and effective rainfall during the growing season following the wildfires was critical to long-term recovery.
Additionally, total deferment of livestock on the burned acres during the growing season following the wildfires aided tremendously in grass forage recovery.
The potential for soil erosion from wind and water will be extremely high during the current recovery period due to bare soil surface areas. Wildfires seldom cause grass plant mortality. The most detrimental effect to grasslands following a burn is the temporary loss of standing grass forage, soil surface organic matter and plant litter.
The majority of the burned acres of 2006 required 3 to 4 years to recover the loss of soil surface organic matter and plant litter. The soil surface organic matter and plant litter are vital so that soils can capture and retain soil moisture following each rainfall event.
Accumulation and maintenance of forage biomass and litter are tied to soil moisture retention, which is necessary for grass production. Water infiltration can be increased when each raindrop hits a good vegetative cover. This cover will reduce the energy of each raindrop and minimize the damage to the soil surface.
Wildfire burn victims also need to be cautious when accepting imported hay. Various types of hay can be a carrier of pests, weed seed and diseases that are harmful to livestock and the environment. Other considerations are post-burn beef cattle health. Producers should always consult their local veterinarian to help them make treatment and culling decisions in the best interests of the animal and the operation.
Professional natural resource conservationists with the USDA NRCS can make on-site field visits with land managers affected by the wildfires to discuss effective post-burn strategies and practices, to help reduce soil erosion such as grazing deferment, cross fencing, and livestock water development. For site-specific assistance, land managers need to contact their local county NRCS office.
Northeast Texas
By Ryan Walser, USDA NRCS grazing lands specialist
This report pertains to the counties of Anderson, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Red River, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Upshur and Wood.
The spring flush has hit and it is now time to scout pastures for the presence of weeds and determine what management action is needed to meet the goals of the operation. Most pastures are in good shape with many annuals including ryegrass, clover, vetch, and numerous “weeds.” Bermuda and Bahia pastures are green and lush, but now is the time to prepare for the next drought. Summer rains have not been consistent and it only takes 2 to 3 weeks of no rain and 90-degree temperature to stop grass growth.
If you are trying to sync your calving season with nature, you should have calves on the ground or hitting the ground soon. The quality of forage at this time is higher than at any other time of the year and so is the demand on the cow.
The rotation of cattle through pastures is usually at its quickest pace now, but planning ahead is important and slowing down will be necessary when plant growth slows down in the coming summer months.
Management tips: Planning for a prescribed burn starts now. Drought plans and contingency plans should be ready to implement. Continue to scout pastures for weeds; scouting pastures for weeds and pests should be ongoing. Conversion of pastures from cool-season annuals to warm-season perennials is upon us, and management strategies should follow this change.
Rolling Plains Region
By Matthew Coffman, USDA NRCS rangeland management specialist
May is an excellent month to discuss water management. This topic is very relevant to us in the Rolling Plains. The next couple of months is when we typically see the majority of our forage production and rainfall. There is no better way to manage our rainfall than with a good ground cover of grass.
Let’s take a look at where we’ve been and where we are now. Late fall moisture gave us a flush of grass growth to make it through the winter. Rainfall from Sept. to Jan. 1 ranged from 4.5 inches in Fisher County to 14.5 inches in Nolan County. Most areas in this region received between 20 and 30 inches total in 2016 and were slightly above average in most cases.
Crosbyton was the least fortunate in receiving 14.14 inches for 2016, with Abilene taking first place at 37 inches!
This rainfall, paired with our warm fall and winter, has given us a flush of cool-season forbs and grasses like California and Texas filaree and rescuegrass. Texas wintergrass was also doing quite well, and the cattle and wildlife sought it out heavily. At this time, any grazing value from these is about played out as things start to warm and the annual grasses mature.
If weed pressure is a problem in some pastures, it’s not too late to consider some weed control to save this moisture for our warm-season grasses.
Any wildlife-oriented operations out there should go about this carefully to ensure that we don’t damage a food source for our bobwhite quail and white-tailed deer.
As things start to green up, be on the lookout for our more preferred forages — sideoats grama, blue grama, buffalo grass, vine mesquite and plains bristlegrass.
If we are lucky enough to receive some good spring moisture, now is the time to get our grass ahead, cover some ground, and stockpile some forage in case it gets dry. Also, stick to a grazing plan, or develop one, and allow those proper grazing and rest periods in pastures so grasses can get ahead and still provide high-quality forage for our livestock.
Most spring calving has wrapped up. Now is the time to start collecting livestock production records and prepare for a dry spell.
The best time to prepare for the next drought is when it’s raining straight down. Any cows that didn’t calve, lost a calf or are not in good enough body condition to rebreed should be on the culling list.
Right now is the time of year to remind ourselves of a good rule of thumb in the Rolling Plains: If we haven’t received 60 percent of our average rainfall by July 1, then 25 percent of the herd needs to go somewhere else to ensure that we have grass for the long term. In other words, prepare a list of which animals are included in your 25 percent.
Trans-Pecos Region
By Scott Bryan, USDA NRCS rangeland management specialist
This late winter and spring, the Trans-Pecos had normal precipitation patterns. The one notable weather factor has been the return of the wind. It is hoped that this is not a sign of the beginning of a dry spell.
The eastern third of the Trans-Pecos – Sanderson to Fort Stockton to Pecos east to Midland – usually receives more precipitation from spring and fall fronts. This area received an average amount of late-winter and early-spring moisture. In the case that adequate rainfall has not been received by June and there is not growth in the forage plants, it is a good time to start culling livestock.
The western two-thirds of the Trans-Pecos received some winter and spring moisture, but much was evaporated by the wind. This area does not usually have a big spring greenup and relies on the summer monsoon from the end of June to late September. If the summer rains do not start off in July, it is a good idea to start culling cattle.
Both areas will benefit greatly from correct stocking rates and timely grazing rotations. By properly grazing, these grasses will help water infiltrate the soil and recover faster when growing conditions are available. ❚
“Texas Range Report” is excerpted from the May 2017 issue of The Cattleman magazine.