Show Problem of Range Management Discussed By William Peterson r I IA rA A study of what should be the scope of work work- taken up by the AgrIcultural Agricultural Agricultural Ag Ag- experiment station to extend extend extend ex ex- tend and intensify the agriculture of the state Involves both old and new problems Some of the problems are of such a nature as to Invite the study thought and advice of ot every progressive farmer in the state as well as the best scientific staff that can be assembled One ne of ot the most import Important nt of the newer problems confronted has to do with the of our range land The state of Utah contains 52 acres of land besides that covered by lakes Of this amount approximately 53 63 per cent has b been en surveyed leaving 47 per cent as open as when the pioneers dame came ame to o othe the state in 1847 The enabling act of 1896 which permitted Utah to become a state provided that sec see tion 2 16 32 and 36 in each township township township town town- ship if non-mineral non should become the property properLy of the state However the states state's title does not attach in inthe inthe inthe the land Therefore the state has no jurisdiction at present present present pres pres- ent in the 47 per cent Only 3 l per cr cent Improved The total amount of the states state's area owned at present is approximately approximately approximately 18 per cent or acres Fifteen per cent of the area of the state or acres is included within the boundaries o of the national forests Lands classified as farms and ranches contain acres or about 9 per cent o of the state Of this acres are classed as Unimproved Un hn- hn improved farm land is only 3 per pcr percent percent cent of the state Included in the Improved farm land is that land lind most productive in the state the state the irrigated ed land The Irrigated land consists of only acres or 26 per percent percent percent cent of ot the total area of tho ato tuu-t tuu tato I It is estimated that if it the total water supply of the mountains of the tho sta state e were so stored and conserved as a. to put it all to beneficial use it would water but acres acre Conditions point to ta t the tL-e e fact that acres actually farmed for the next decade The returns fr ru fr-ru r m the balance hal bal ance of the state must bo be in grazing It is doubtful if the farming population population population tion of the state of Utah as S a whole could live on its own mud laud T Tie The o farming business requires grazing of the public lands in the mountains adjacent to the valleys Large returns returns re ra re- re turns are taken annually from the 82 l per r cent of public land The census of 1920 shows th that t there thero were approximately J worth of beef beet cattle and worth North of sheep grazing on he the public public pub pub- lic Hc lands of the state That same year worth of wool was taken laken from the s sheep Small Effort to Conserve Yet what effort is being made to conserve the grazing of the public lands The forest lands are under control both as to the number of ot animals animals animals ani ani- mals and the tho assigned area where each might graze Those stockmen who remember the condition of ot tho the range about 1900 can can easily measure measure measure meas meas- ure the tremendous improvement brought about by the tho control and able management of ot the national forest organization I It has been noted that whoa when a apiece apiece apiece piece of public grazing land goes Into in into into in- in to private ownership its grazing value and carrying capacity improve r Yet no one is convinced even under private ownership or forest manage- manage met that grazing lands havo have been brought to a stage of ot greatest In a study of or the gr grazing zing land within the boundaries of the National forest which have been under control for moro more than 1 fifteen teen years it is easily noticeable that that land laud which for a period of ot years has lias been assigned to sheep is rich In cattle forage and somewhat deficient in sheep forage and on the contrary those sections which for a number of oC years have been assigned to cattle abound plentifully in that well ell adapted to sheep but often show a scarcity of ot the grass demanded for tor cattle grazing Carrying Capacity Decreasing If H the land which has been under control is la not up to Its full tull capacity what is the condition of the land to which no attaches except of the possession set up by the first firstman firstman firstman man with his J herds or flocks nocks to arrive arrIve arrive ar ar- rive in a particular locality Such areas are suffering both from severe tramping In the tho hurried effort of ot the range man to get his herd or flock to a section in advance of his competitor and from the grazing grazing- In Industry's industry's industry's in- in desire to get the full good goodof of the land while on it It has been a a. common statement from the sheep and cattle growers of the section that the and uncontrolled public land of the tho state have a carrying power today very much less ess than they did five or ten yearn year a ago o. o Td the ag agricultural industry of the state the public lands are a great as as- set The forest lands are especial especially ly a great asset But this asset can be materially increased If it the grazing grazing grazing graz graz- ing lands can be brought to a greater great great- er carrying capacity Up to date there thero has been but little work on the gra grazing lands in an experimental way to determine whether or not ItIs it itIs itis Is feasible to increase the carrying capacity The experiment presents man ninny many problems It may be an advantage advantage advantage ad ad- vantage to interchange every few years the range assigned to cattle and sheep It may be that the nature of the forage growing at present Is such that it is grazed at the wrong time of the year and thus prevents it from going to seed It is entirely possible that new forage plants might be brought from other sections sections sections sec sec- and our range made better as asa asa asa a result of it it There are many forage forage for tor- age plants growing on the drier areas at present which are considered consider consider- ed especially good winter feed teed The I propagation and seeding of ot these plants has not been tried Still conditions con con- seem to indicate that it is entirely entirely entirely en en- feasible that such a type e of propagation might be carried on Timo to Investigate It would appear that the time has come for tor an experimental Investigation tion Uon planned with a view to improving ing Ins the areas of ot our grazing lands which at present constitute more than 90 per cent of the area of the state It is essential that more com com- knowledge be obtained regarding regard regard- regarding ing the relative value of ot different forage plants Chemical analysis of ot each plant is not only necessary but accurate analysis analysts of the different stages stases of growth of ot the plant must be known to govern time and character character char char- acter of most efficient grazing Areas should be under control so that spring summer or fall Call grazing might be studied These are usually in different localities Better forage plants are found in ono one locality than another often with no apparent rea rea- rca rca-i condi- condi i son The soil and moisture tins tius are comparable yet the plants are provincial It seems that experimentation experimentation experimentation in seeding and plant adaptation are essential to tho the highest highest highest high high- est range efficiency The investigation of these Important important important tant factors which have a tremendous tremendous dous Influence on range problems calls for areas areas of ot land to bo be fenced and placed under absolute control To provide sufficient funds to fence the areas to be studied would be the principal burden on the state should investigations of at this Kind Iud be bo authorized because authorities authorities authorities ties of ot tho the forest service of the tho fed ted oral aral department of agriculture already already already al al- alI al- I ready have expressed a willingness and a desire to co Is it not advisable therefore to undertake these investigations the results of which doubtless would be of incalculable Incalculable incalculable value to the major live stock Industries of the state |