Show plant condition should govern grazing on ranges before a farmer harvests his alfalfa crop he carefully studies plant condition and development so that he will secure a maximum ol of forage in subsequent crops each year when the stand thins out and the forage yields diminish he plows up U the he a alfalfa and resends the field he watches the yield of forage whether it be sold as hay or fed locally the same principle applies to the harvesting of range forage similar or more exacting care should be exercised in the harvesting of a crop of native forage by livestock native cannot be and re seeded each time the yield diminishes there are a few guides that can be successfully applied in determining trie time that early spring grazing should begin spring grazing should not begin until the more desirable forage plants have developed enough to insure I 1 their ability to withstand grazing I 1 without injury or to remain productive I 1 and maintain livestock in a thrifty condition the following plant condition guide can be used successfully as a means of determining when grazing should begin on spring ranges in this vicinity bluestem plant 6 to 8 inches high no flower stalks showing mountain brome leaf blades 6 to 10 inches long no flower stalks showing june grass about 6 inches high flower heads showing conspicuously Fend lers blue grass nearly all in flower head blo blossoms beginning to open yarrow leafage 2 to 4 inches long flower stalks beginning to show low larkspur beginning to blossom death camas beginning to blossom service berries leaves Vs 12 to 1 inch long Vs 14 to inch wide flower buds about to open bitter brush leaves va to Vs 4 inch long from to 4 inch wide flower buds swollen the more common false indicators of spring range readiness are steers head spring beauty dog tooth violet Water waterleaf leaf indian potato smooth buttercup and tongue leafed violet when uiese these plants are usually in full bloom the more desirable forage producing plants are just beginning to grow A common danger of grazing at the earlier stages of plant growth is that many poisonous plants begin growth with the earliest of the showy weeds hence when grazing is started too early livestock losses sometimes occur particularly from larkspur pois aning canias poisoning of sheep one other factor that should be considered in early spring grazing is the amount of moisture in the soil it if uie the soil 1 is too wet trampling and subsequent baking often result |