Through a partnership with National Wild Turkey Federation, The Forest Service, Tygarts Valley Conservation District, WVU Extension, and the Fish and Wildlife Service, WesMonTy will be working to implement conservation practices among farmers in the Gandy Creek, Laurel Fork and Dry creek watersheds in Randolph County.
The funds have been awarded for a three year program focusing on the improvement of natural resources on private agricultural and forested lands. The objectives are to control or eradicate the invasive plant species multiflora rosa, autumn olive, tyrol knapweed and other invasive species. These programs will also work to improve the soil quality and increase the diversity of plant species in the grazing lands. The program will partner with private farmers in addressing the goals of this program.
The methods used will include lime application, brush management, prescribed grazing, nutrient management, and forest stand improvement.
The photo is a good example of a hillside that is unevenly grazed.
Prescribed grazing is a concept that focuses more on natural, chemical free management of invasive species. It does this uniquely by using multi-species grazing on the pastures. It is a new concept that is thousands of years old.
By having several species of grazing animal in the pasture, this ensures a more even consumption of pasture plants. By using all these pasture plants more evenly, it helps to contribute to the overall health of the ecosystem.
Different animals have different preferences for plants. Cattle prefer grasses. In many instances when cattle exclusively graze a pasture, some species of plants will grow in abundance. By bringing in animals with different preferences, mainly a preference for the plants that cattle do not like, then it ensures equal consumption of the pasture. In North America two animals to bring in are sheep and goats. Sheep will eat more legumes, and some grasses that the cattle will not eat. The goats on the other hand will eat whatever the sheep and cattle do not eat. Another advantage of the sheep and goats is that they are more nimble than the cattle. They will be able access more of the hillsides that are common among the ranches in Randolph county.
An example of the hilly terrain common among farms in Randolph County.
By having an even consumption of the pasture land, the health of that system will be improved dramatically. The overall goal of the project is to increase the health of most lands in this area. After the initial three years, we hope similar programs will be encouraged throughout the state.
Keep coming back for more updates!
No comments:
Post a Comment