The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-11-23

ment OF Agriculture.)
II is becoming generally understood
that live stock industries must be es-
tabllshed on northern reclamation
projects II the best agricultural devel-
opment on these areas is TO be brought
about. In such development, 1t Is
recognized irrigated pastures must
play an important part. one Of the
chief advantages c. 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 n 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 Qdaho) experiment station. by
the University of Idaho; and on OBJ
servatlons made during the past four
years on IL northern reclamation pro-
jects.
There is reason 10 believe that,
while the carrying capacity and meth
ods 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 Gu
paclty 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
er 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
|
this hay is valued at So a ton, the hay
replacement value of an acre Of irri-
gated pasture will be $5 a month. The
length of the pasture season varies
from four to six months, depending on
the climatic conditions on the differ
ent projects. Hence tho hay-replace-
ment value of an acre of good pasture
| hA .gtt AA ND ~
year. These hay-replacement values
would, of course, be greater when the
price of hay exceeded IS ton. In
connection with this, 1t 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, II 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 satlsfac
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 tn,
farm which does not produce satisfac
tory yields of farm crops. Many have
attempted to produce pasture on shal
low soil or land that is rocky and un
suited for pasturage. Careless prepa
ration Of soil and poor seed are ais,
common causes of failure. Low carry
ing capacity frequently is due TO thu
fact that only grasses are used, where
as II is desirable to include one or TIVE
clovers. Overstocklng particular!
during the first year, grazing when thu
soil is too wet, and inadequate or i'm
proper irrigation are other explana
tions of lack of success.
Preparing seedbed.
The circular devotes considerable at
tention 10 selection of locations 70
pastures, preparation of the land, tn
Importance of using fertile and pro
ddctlve soil, making provision for prop
er irrigation and proper preparation
of seedbed. Under the subject OF tn
seedbed, the author writes:
"The seedbed should be CAREFUL
prepared and made firm and smooth
so that a satisfactory stand can b
secured. II is ordinarily better 10 pre-
vide plenty of moisture In the soil be
fore seeding time than to seed 4
dry soil and irrigate immedlatel
: afterwards. This Is true particular
5 Of heavy soil, on which tough crus
is likely to form after irrigation an
I interfere with the emergence Of tn
> young plants. On light soils, how
5 ever, where the upper three or fou
d inches dries out very rapidly, it fr'
+ quently is necessary to seed in dry so
: and to irrigate Immediately after seeC
ing. In such instances the use of tn
corrugatlon method OF irrigation dul
ing the first year is particularly d.
e sirable, and the land should be pr
d pared accordingly"
PaettIra Cron NarletiAR