The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1911-12-14
FORAGE CROPS FOR WESTERN
FARMERS

BY L. A. Merrill. director extension
division Utah Agricultural college,
In discussing the subject of forage
crops, l propose doing it in the wild
est sense, including any food suitable
for horses, cattle, sheep or swine.
The subject will include particularly
pasture grasses, soiling and fodder
crops. and it is my purpose to par
ticularly emphasize the Importance of
some crops with which our west
ern farmers are not familiar. We
shall necessarily have to limit our
selves to a discussion of those crops
that have been tested at our expert
ment stations and by successful farm
ers and found to be of practical val
ne, since in the grass family alone
there are more than $500 species.
AS l read the history of agricul-
ture of this and other nations, l am
impressed with the fact that the per-
manent prosperity of any country is
dependent very largely upon the en-
phasis placed upon pastures and hay
crops. Pastures feed mankind; they
are the bed-ro k of civilization. There
is always something alluring in IN
agriculture based specially on per-
manent things like meadow and pas
lures, that do not let fields wash
and erode; that maintain and build
fertility hat make possible the
higher types of agriculture based on
keeping animals, or making milk for
babes, wool for soft garments or
horses for the use of man.
A1fhannb Nc live IN a annanor offxa-
ly new section of country, our agri-
culture in these mountain valleys is
already advanced far enough to give
a number of examples showing the
difference between a system of farm
ing that includes pastures and grass
es, and q system that involves the
production of sugar beets, potatoes,
grain or fruit crops only. In the
growing of these crops we are on
taking from the soil those
elements of fertility that are abso-
essential for the growth of
and without which the soil
is worthless. In the growing of
grasses for pasturage or for hay when
fed upon the farm, We return to the
soil those elements of fertility and
the supply is at least maintained, and
by a wise system of h~usbandry, even
increased year by year.
In this western country where our
have turned their attention
the production of grasses and for
crops, they have been scarcely
lble to place a limit on the number
If live stock they are able to main
ain, and amount of live stock pro-
they are able to produce.
Our irrigated lands are particular
y adapted to grass or forage crop
because of the abundance
# those plant foods necessary for
heir growth, particularly lime, pot
.sh and phosphates, and because of
he assurance of supplying moisture
ust at the time needed. 1t is en-
%ouraging to the western farmer to
ealize hat with the adoption of a
system of cropping, one acre
ere can be made to do the work
f three or four acres in the middle
'est. or even fifteen or twenty acres
1 the southwest. l have seer three
Ows pasture on a single acre of up
pasture in Utah from May until
and in the east have OBJ l
erved that it is necessary to have
-om three t. four acres to pasture I
ne COW for the same length of time. {
ur pastures need never become dry t
r parched, but under a proper sys- '
I'M can be kept constantly green and t
lcculent. I
Land for the Pasture-It is a mis- d
notion to suppose that the G
0orest part of the farm should be t
ven over to pastures. Often times {
c rocky hill side is used for this i
and we too frequently fail a
take into account the fact that il
e pasture can be made the most a
lportant part of the farm. For g
is reason the best and most con- 81
,nient part of the farm will in a d
'od farm practice, be selected for b.
is purpose. The land should be Il
I'll drained. If not, we must see Il
at it is tiled, or open bitches pro- ii
led so that stagnant water may be m
W away. We should appreciate ty
: fact that in preparing the land 81
the pasture grasses we are pre- o.
ring it for a number of years. 1t ri
therefore, that consider ia
e attention be paid to proper lev til
IL so that there may be no diff lie
ties In the way Of irrigation. Then is
the land should be prepared of
,etime before we expect to do the &c
ding. The soil must settle togeth-
% that the roper functions Of the tn