2001 Report on the Multi-Agency Land and Water Education Grant Program Highland in Oak Savanna Restoration SUCCESS AT A GLANCE

Problem: Degradation of oak savanna habitat in Wisconsin

Audience: Private landowners and natural Oak savanna, a natural community of scattered oak resource managers trees and tallgrass prairie, is one of the most endangered Partners: UW-Extension, UW-Madison, native ecosystems in North America. Less than one percent UW-Platteville,WI Department of of the savanna that existed in Wisconsin prior to European Natural Resources, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service settlement remains. Much of this is overgrown with non- native and native plant species and bears little similarity to Results: Early indications at demonstration sites show grazing Highland cattle is the original native oak savanna. This project examines the a cost-effective tool for restoration feasibility of using rotational grazing by Scottish Highland Sites: 20 acres at Yellowstone Wildlife cattle to restore degraded oak savanna habitat in southwest Area, 15 acres at Iowa County Wisconsin. farm, 15 acres at Lafayette County farm

Impacts: • Approximately 20% of regional landowners use rotational grazing • Collaborators received 16+ public inquiries about oak savanna and restoration

Natural History Two hundred years ago, natural and human-induced prairie fires burned through the grasslands of southwest Wisconsin. Their presence inhibited the growth of woody brush and trees, except fire-resistant large oaks, ensuring that native plants and grasses would continue to occupy the landscape. In addition, herds of bison and elk roamed and grazed the tallgrass prairies, helping to maintain an open vista. As oak A Scottish Highland cow. savanna dominated the landscape then, cropland does today. Woodlots are common in upland areas where steep topography discourages plowing. Although many woodlots are dense with brush and hardwood species like oak, hickory, beech and maple, some support oak savanna.

Peter and Mary Rathbun farm in southcentral Wisconsin. A Report on the Multi-Agency Land and Water Education Grant Program

Oak Savanna Management Managing oak savanna habitat presents a variety of challenges to landowners and managers. With the suppression of fire, successional and invasive species are able to dominate the landscape. Also, with the elimination of large grazing herbivores, much of the original oak savanna habitat has degraded. Landscape restoration practices, which aim to return these areas to their healthy, sustainable former state, consist of several techniques. These include controlled-burning to reduce ground cover, manual removal of intrusive vegetation, and grazing that mimics how grazers like bison and elk fed in ancient grasslands. However, burning is not always possible or desirable on public and private lands and manual labor can be costly. As a result, prescribed grazing may be the most practical and beneficial option for A healthy oak tree at the Rathbun farm. both farmers and the environment.

Why Highland cattle? Now growing in popularity among small North American farms, Scottish Highland cattle originated in the barren highland region of . There they evolved to browse on sparse and often thorny vegetation. As a result, they are well suited to browse the dense, brushy, and woody shrubs that have invaded the oak savannas. From the perspective of the farmer, Highland cattle are more trouble-free to raise than other species, including horses and other cattle breeds. Most have gentle dispositions. Because of their general rustic build and thick hairy coats, they can live outdoors without shelter year-round in Wisconsin. Another positive feature is their ability to give birth unassisted. from Highland cattle is becoming more popular with the growing market of health conscious consumers nationwide. Because hair, rather than fat layers, keeps the cattle warm in winter, Highland cattle meat is low in fat and cholesterol. This potential in the health food market is a strong economic incentive for farmers who choose to raise them. Highland cattle are gaining so much popularity nationwide that registration of the breed has increased 33% in just two years. A Report on the Multi-Agency Land and Water Education Grant Program

Participants Agency representatives from the Department of Natural Resources, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, UW-Madison, UW-Platteville, and UW-Extension are working alongside private landowners on this endeavor. With the majority of oak savanna located on private lands, it is important to find restoration solutions that hold benefits for landowners. One benefit is the economic gain available to farmers and private landowners for Highland calves resting beneath oak trees on the Rathbun farm. restoring oak savanna on their property. If grazing of Highland cattle can be controlled through rotations in the A Farm Perspective Environmental Benefits degraded woodland areas, this will Peter and Mary Rathbun own Creag-Is- Managed grazing enhances production provide economic benefit by increasing Daru, a small farm with wooded acreage in a pasture. Using managed or the amount of pastureland available to in southcentral Wisconsin. They turned rotational grazing allows the vegetation farmers. By taking advantage of the to rotational grazing over a decade ago to regenerate because it has a chance to vegetation available in the degraded when they became interested in com- rest between rotations. Rotating cattle areas, the landowner is able to naturally bining grazing with habitat restoration through a series of fenced pastures supplement the herd’s diet while as a goal for the degraded land they creates grazing cycles that mimic those reducing the cost of feed. purchased, which includes oak savanna of the large grazers that once moved and Students and researchers from habitat. After doing some research on migrated across the historic landscape. UW-Madison and UW-Platteville are A major advantage of grazing is conducting surveys of the vegetation in “Seeing neighbors being enhanced nutrient cycling, especially in all three sites before and after grazing the case of nitrogen. Historically, and burns to determine the impact successful in experimental sporadic grazing on the prairies aided these practices have on the oak savanna techniques, building trust nutrient cycling by forcing nitrogen into species. Complementing these with Extension agents, and the roots of grazed grasses, and thus the experiments is a two-part survey soil. conducted by UW-Extension to assess receiving unbiased the knowledge that landowners have information all influence Biodiversity also increases as certain regarding oak savanna management and vegetation groups are selectively grazed, landowners.” - the Rathbuns using cattle grazing in woodland areas. opening the forest floor to sunlight and Early results indicate that almost 70% of inducing the growth of other plant private landowners are unfamiliar with various grazing animals, the Rathbuns species. The mulch and litter layer is the term “oak savanna” and close to chose Highland cattle as their restoration trampled by the grazing animals and the 90% have not heard of or used oak tool. After meeting some of this project’s buried seedbank is exposed to the sun, savanna restoration techniques. Around collaborators at a conference in 1998, germinating the stored seeds. 80% use continuous rather than Peter and Mary became part of the study. A win-win situation results when rotational grazing on their land. The The Rathbuns see this project as a way to private landowners see that economic as follow-up survey will give insight demonstrate more sustainable alterna- well as environmental benefits increase into the success of tives to continuous grazing. They already when incorporating rotational cattle continued education see Highland cattle benefits spread in grazing into land management efforts. their community since they practices. began raising them. During the 1980s, there was only one herd in their “People are taking interest tri-county area. Today the number of Highland in the questions we are cattle herds, according to asking with this project. Peter, has grown to 15. They approach us as often as we approach them.” Wisconsin’s original oak savanna Location of study sites (from Curtis,Vegetation of Wisconsin) - Martha Rosemeyer A Report on the Multi-Agency Land and Water Education Grant Program

Education Sustained farmer education is an important aspect of this grant program. Peggy The Multi-Agency Compton, a Basin Educator with UW-Extension, says “the grant supporting this Land and Water project has allowed the investigators to win other funding opportunities. The grant was a great start to get the project off the ground and running.” Survey results Education Grant collected for the project are used to identify areas where restoration efforts and Program (MALWEG) education are most needed. Educators can Since 1997, the Multi-Agency Land and then work to increase Water Education Grant Program has landowners’ awareness allocated over 1 million dollars to of how grazing can locally focused educational projects that help manage degraded help Wisconsin’s farmers learn about natural resource issues and adopt oak savanna on their conservation practices. The program farms. is a partnership between the Natural Resources Conservation Service; Survey results UW-Extension; Wisconsin Department collected for the of Natural Resources; Wisconsin Department of Agriculture,Trade and project are used Consumer Protection; and Farm to identify areas Service Agency. Major funding comes where restoration from the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Programs and the Grazing efforts and Lands Conservation Initiative Program. education are Additional funding comes from the DNR and the UWEX Conservation most needed. Technology Program. Oak savanna habitat with prairie flowers in bloom. University of Wisconsin-Extension is an EEO/Affirmative Action employer and provides equal opportunities in employment and program- What Happens in the Future ming, including Title IX and ADA requirements. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pro- Agency and farmer cooperators on this project are frequently in contact with hibits discrimination in all its programs and activi- ties on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, interested individuals through outreach programs including local food festivals, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, or marital workshops, wildlife and grazing conferences, and press articles. The team plans or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who to hold farmer education field days require alternative means for communication of in the near future as well. “People program information (Braille, large print, audio- tape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET are taking interest in the questions Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).To file a we are asking with this project,” complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, says Martha Rosemeyer, one of the Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W,Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, partners at UW-Madison. “They Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720- approach us as often as we approach 5694 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal oppor- tunity provider and employer. them.” Newspaper articles highlighting the For more information or additional copies of this report contact one of the following: unique use of Highland cattle as a tool for restoring the environment Robin Shepard are becoming common. If grazing Land & Water Resources Education Coordinator UW-Extension 608/262-1916 can be used to restore degraded oak savanna and increase productivity, Andy Yencha USDA Project Liaison then it will provide an economically UW-Extension 608/263-4720 and environmentally desirable alternative for livestock producers, Don Baloun Asst. State Conservationist for Technology consumers and conservation managers. NRCS 608/276-8732 ext 252 The response from all groups has Jan Whitcomb been positive and encourages future EQIP Coordinator efforts combining agriculture and NRCS 608/276-8732 ext 238 conservation. December, 2001

Highland cattle browsing below an oak tree. Layout, photographs and story by Colleen Corrigan