Show RA RAE mE PROTECTION A m I THE INDUSTRY DUSTY I I By A. A G G. Nord Forest S Supervisor I Pasturage has always been an in indispensable indispensable inI in- in I I dispensable means of providing feed for animals This includes the the grazing of all herbaceous plants plants plants j feed gathered directly by ny domestic j stock whether it be grass grass like grass like I plants weeds palatable tr trees or 01 which if if converted converted con can I shrubs the value of into dollars would be h t I enormous I I Throughout the the western states there are enumerable communities I dependent upon the utilization of I the forage COlage products of the open opera I range range and of the forest foiest range and the the kneed need for systematic utilization I 1 I I I I I lof of the forage crop to insure perpetuity perpetuity of the range r resources sources is s s being being more and more keenly felt I Before Defore the establishment of oC tIlt the national forests the lands Included were part of the unreserved ed public I domain and as such In many localities ties had been subjected for years to i I every form Corm of overgrazing Misuse and depletion upon the unI unrestricted unrestricted un un- I lands landa of the public restricted use I complex prove problems 1 Later Inter one of the most r e leis lems c connected with the Ule administration stra- stra tion of the National forests was that of of a plan vIall of management nt I and the th tho the forest cover I b by which I watersheds cO could lI l bo ho protected protected pro pro- i 1 and nd all the lands be to a normal condition of of forage productivity without large Fargo permanent perma perma- perT perT- of ot in the number nent dent redo reductions o. o hardi hard hard- graz or stock s st tock cl grazed i i t ship upon uVo the s settlers settlors and stock stock- Igl I 1 who wh were dependent gl growers o or r rost for the maintenance I tIle C ranges I 1 nance an of or f their homes hashes hom S. S But t with t the cooperation n of tit the a i assistance tance and stockmen stockman a s system sem or r range management manage manag ment has 1105 been built up under which w ich an m effective cover of valuable forage plants has rapidly extended over denuded lands and pro production is being being being be be- beI I ing safely maintained In many regions reg- reg reg-I reg I ions in fact capacity of f the ranges range I Ihas has increased considerably and in add addition ion damage to tree growth gr has j been remarkably dh The factor contributing to the up up- building of the ange range lands is fundamentally fun fuu c ame tallY the recognition of of the plant requirements requirement's its maintenance maintenance maint 1 nance and nd growth Too early grazing grazing graz graz- ing of the plants for a s succession of or years without relief soon weakens I Ithe the root foot system which dwindles away and Is diminished in vigor so su that the plant is s less capable from year to year of ol producing a normal yield of forage even to extinction Successive overgrazing of oc the for fo- forage oage o- o age plants prevents the development I and of seed for tor a new crop crop and anel along with this condition the altable species make gains in density with Hh the depletion of the pal palatable table species This Cha change bc constitutes constitutes con con- a retrogressive succession on of of the plant cover I Forage depletion through t. t u hied td grazing grazin has been tiec l ao so i severe severo ev Te in f jm l 1 m me localities iDealitIes that range c r formerly producing from one quarter lUf tp I one oi or i ton Los of c dry ry matter ia iu the pe per tr n P w t t ff S I 1 0 0 pounds and in gonto sonTo Instances clis the he lands have been en rendered V I ue I ess from a grazing t. t A 4 cn common omon n fauk 11 oai i ra rattle range ge r ci ct ce Is t the l e I g s s 1 0 On Last St Page P e. e d' d I I t I RANGE PROTECTION AND I TI THE E LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY r j r From Page ge 9 One l grazed continuously continuously y in il inthe the ih Tho corm parly Y stages stages' of or plant plau II oth o r th without vill ut re ra relief relief lief lief- until serious dc depletion loUo of ur th thu th palatable forage rage plants has taken tikon place I There is is' is no no no danger in ia the proper harvesting of a mature crop cropf of f forage but there but theio Is danger in ex ex- excessively l grazing grazin the plants while In Inan In Inan an hn Immature immature m stage of gr growth Range dOlt deterioration is iq d difficult ff c lt to toi i detect in iii tho early stages es without very close study and ob observation oll until until un un- til serious selIous damage has occurred where the rate rato of or deduction of the palatable forage is no greater than possibly one to five percent per per year I It was vas to correct to-correct correct this condition and 4 1 11 I possible use of at the national forest est ranges lange that the deferred and r rotation rota rotation rota- rota a- a tion plan for tor sheep allotments and similar plans to for cattle allotments s have been de developed I The deferred and rotation system been one has of at ran range e management ement of or the most forward steps toward the systematic utilization of the this manner of use an forage By allotment of range is divided into units which I are alternately protected protect protect- ed eel a against grazing until after seed maturity rity thereby allowing vigorous growth of or the plants and to permit an all occasional seed crop following which the unit may be grazed the same season so that thero will be no mate material Ial loss of forage After Arter the treatment of or all units milts in this mannor man man- manner nor nero ono one r rotation tation for the allotment Is completed Not only have the stockmen l adopted this manner of manner of use as an approved practice for the maintenance of the forage corer cover on th their Ir national forest allotments but I. I m In inthe many are are applying applin the tIle system the tho use of or their private range hold holti- holdings ings ins gs in ord order order- r to the maintain maintain the productivity pro of their lands It t is the aim of the forest service to continue a constructive tive policy y i in inthe inthe th the management management Of tho the gr grazing zing upon the national forests forests and ami to use every every effort to tc bring about abou t a a better Jette ana n more complete use use of the forage re resO re- re sO sources s Many l beneficial changes l have ave been made through h the the cooperation cooperation coop coop- and assistance 0 of the stockmen stock stock- stockmen men and with such continued co cooperation cooperation o- o operation there will be foo further improvement improvement improvement im im- im- im provement to better meet the needs of the th l livestock industry |