Intensive grazing for short duration in early spring will stimulate forb production and reduce the dominance of fescue. Grazing should keep the grass height below 3 inch-es until after the peak growing period, May 1 to June 1. This intensive spring grazing will provide bare ground and reduce fescue competition to allow desirable summer le-gumes and forbs such as ragweed to develop. Fescue fields grazed intensively in the spring should not be mowed during late summer or fall because mowing will eliminate desired cover and food plants. The intent with light grazing in late fall or early spring is to have about 50 to 75 percent virtually ungrazed and 25 to 50 percent closely grazed.
Fescue is a bunchgrass which can provide fair quality nesting structure if lightly grazed.
Habitat may be enhanced if colonies of low growing shrubs such as coralberry and blackberry are allowed to develop to give the grass clumps more upright structure. Prairie-chicken flocks may be sustained by such pastures and bobwhite quail coveys will benefit as well. Light grazing in late summer and fall will create paths through a dense stand for small wildlife to have access to food and escape cover. Burning in early spring before fescue growth exceeds 1 inch, or during summer dormancy, will stimulate fescue dominance and remove litter. A late spring burn will not be difficult if you allow a year's growth to accumulate and burn when the humidity is below 40 per-cent.