Show U- U FARM I I TOPICS FARMERS LOSE CASH GRAZING WOODLANDS Forestry Specialist Points Out Common Fallacy By R. R W. W GRAEBER GRABBER Farmers who graze cattle in woodlands lose Iose money both in milk or beef and in timber and erosion control Experiments have shown that managed woodlands yield an annual annual annu annu- al return of about 4 per acre and that the best open pastures yield about the same amount However I Nhen grazing and forestry are combined combined combined com com- on the same area the yields are much less the total annual return return return re re- re- re turn for typical woodland pasture being only 1 per acre Why do farmers run their cattle in the woods There is only one logical reason They think they can pick up an extra dollar or two by letting the cattle pick a few buds and twigs in early spring along with the low-growing low plants and a few sprigs of grass or briars which may grow where a few rays of sunlight reach the ground This is a fallacy A farmer doesn't pick up an extra dollar or two the cows do not produce as much milk or as much beef as when they graze in open pasture the timber supply is reduced grazing grazing grazing graz graz- ing woodlands induces erosion and loss of leaf litter the fencing billis billis bill billis is higher |