The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-11-16
LIVE STOCK ON RECLAMATION PROJECTS


IRRIGATED PASTURE ON &c
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)
1t is becoming generally understood
that live stock industries must be es-
tablished On northern reclamation
projects if the best agricultural devel-
opment on these areas is to be brought
about. In such development, it is
recognized, irrigated pastures must
play an important part. One of the
chief advantages of the summer pas
turing of live stock on irrigation pro-
jects is that during that period labor
is especially scarce and costly on the
reclaimed areas. The proper manage
ment of irrigated pastures is outlined
in a circular recently issued by the bu-
reau of plant industry of the United
States department of agriculture.
The information in the circular is
based on experiments conducted dur
ing several years by federal and state
agencies at the Huntley (Mont.)
Scottsbluff (Neb.), and Belle FOurche
Is. d. field stations, and at the Good
ing (Idaho) experiment station, by
the University of Idaho; and on OBJ
servations made during the past four
years on IL northern reclamation pro-
jects.
There is reason to believe that,
while the carrying capacity and meth
DDS followed vary on different farms
under observation, with good manage
ment an acre Of pasture will support
two cows or their equivalent in other
live stock from four to six months
each year, depending on the location
of the project. 1t also appears that
under favorable local conditions and
proper care, the stock-carrying ca
pacity of these pastures could be in
creased somewhat from year to year.
Profitable Pastures.
Farmers in the Salt Lake valley Of
Utah have found that irrigated pas
lures are profitable on land which is
valued at 5000 an acre. A dairy farm
err in the Snake River valley of Idaho
reports that his irrigated pasture car
rieS three cows per acre.
The value of such pasturage can be
stated in terms of hay replacement.
Two COWS will consume approximately
a ton of alfalfa hay each month. If
this hay is valued at SIS ton, the hay
replacement value of an acre of irri-
gated pasture will be So month. The
length of the pasture season varies
from four to six months, depending on
the climatic conditions on the differ
ent projects. Hence the hay-replace-
ment value of an acre of good pasture
can be estimated at from $40 to $50
a year. These hay-replacement values
would, of course, be greater when the
price of hay exceeded So a ton. In
connection with this, it is important
to consider the fact that the use of
pastures requires much less labor than
the feeding of hay, and that good pas
ture is at least equal to, if not bet
ter than, hay as feed for cows. Such
returns as these fully justify the use
of some of the best land on the farm
for irrigated pasture.
Not all farmers who have tried irri-
gated pastures have obtained satisfac-
tory results, but in most cases the
failures have been due to causes which
might have been prevented. One COM
mon error is the belief that the pas
ture should occupy that part of the
farm which does not produce satiSfac-
tory yields of farm crops. Many have
attempted to produce pasture on shall
low soil or land that is rocky and I'M
suited for pasturage. Careless prepa-
ration of soil and poor seed are also
common causes of failure. Low carry
ing capacity frequently is due to the
fact that only grasses are used, where
as it is desirable to include one or two
clovers. Overstocking, particularly
during the first year, grazing when the
soil is too wet, and inadequate or i'm
proper irrigation are other explana-
lions of lack of success.
Preparing Seeded.
The circular devotes considerable at
tentiOn to selection of locations for
pastures, preparation of the land, the
Importance of using fertile and pro-
ductive soil, making provision for prop
er irrigation and proper preparation
of seeded. Under the subject of the
seeded, the author writes:
''The seeded should be carefully
prepared and made firm and smooth
so that a satisfactory stand can be
secured. 1t is ordinarily better to pro-
vide plenty of moisture in the soil be-
fore seeding time than to seed in
a dry soil and irrigate Immediately
afterwards. This is true particularly
of heavy soil, on which tough crust
is likely to form after irrigation and
interfere with the emergence of the
young plants. On light soils, how
ever, where the upper three or four
inches dries out very rapidly, it fire.
Quently is necessary to seed in dry soil
and to irrigate Immediately after seed
ing. In such instances the use of the
corrugation method of irrigation dur
ing the first year is particularly de-
sirable, and the land should be pre-
pared accordingly"