T18n R5e Section 4, Town of Xxx, Adams County, Wi

PRESCRIBED GRAZING (528) PLAN

JOHN GRAZIER

T18N R5E SECTION 4, TOWN OF XXX, ADAMS COUNTY, WI

20 ACRES: 10 ACRES UNDER CRP GRASSLANDS CONTRACT TRACT 3204 FIELD 1

TOTAL NUMBER OF LIVESTOCK: COW/CALF PAIRS: 8 HEAD, RANGING FROM 1200-1500 POUNDS DURING THE GRAZING SEASON

TYPE OF GRAZING SYSTEM: LONG ROTATION STOCKING (7 DAYS)

THE LIVESTOCK MAY GRAZE ANY PADDOCK AREA UNTIL THE FORAGE SUPPLY REACHES A MINIMUM AVERAGE HEIGHT OF 4 INCHES

 I have reviewed and understand this Prescribed Grazing Plan and agree to follow this plan to the best of my ability.

 Approved modifications and changes of this plan may be done at anytime

______PRODUCER DATE

______NRCS DISTRICT CONSERVATIONIST DATE

______GRAZING LAND SPECIALIST DATE

Prescribed Grazing Defined: A prescription to ensure soil health, plant growth, protect air and water quality, human and animal health, and economic feasibility without resource degradation by managing and/or controlling the harvest of vegetation with grazing animals. A target of grazing management is to harvest as much solar energy per unit area as possible to maximize the productions of quality livestock feed. John Grazier 1 528 Prescribed Grazing Plan Property Description:

T18N R5E Section 4 Tract: 3204 Field 1 Iowa County

Plan Objectives: Ron and Brenda are interested in developing their pastures into high quality forage for summer grazing. They plan on grazing the 8-10 cow/calf pairs of Angus/Herford beef cattle. They also intend to maintain a rotational grazing system both for the reduction in stored feed, labor, and improved environmental benefits.

Resource Inventory: the grazing period, the height of the forage Overall: should not be allowed to decrease to less than 4 Currently, the grazing acres do not produce inches. enough forage to meet the needs of the planned livestock numbers. By adding the 10 acres of Using an estimated yield of 2.5 tons per acre and CRP to the pasture there will be enough forage a 7 day occupancy rate, the 20 acres of pasture for the 10 head of beef cattle. will carry approximately 8 (1300 lb.) cows with calves. For the 10 ac. CRP field, the carrying Plants: Vegetative Cover capacity is 4 cows. When the other pasture is The pastures contain have high percent of combined with the CRP field for a total of 20 desirable grasses, such as Smooth Bromegrass, acres, the carrying capacity is 8 cows. Quackgrass, and Orchardgrass. There are some patches of less desirable Tall Fescue. The However, this does not mean the stocking rate percent legumes in the stand is minimal, less (number of animals per acre) has to remain than 10 percent by weight, mostly White and constant or that grazing on a particular piece of Red Clover. land will be season-long. There can be more animals for a shorter season if there are other Soils and Forage Suitability Groups pastures to move to. The predominant soil map units are New Glarus In order to reduce the amount of wasted forage Silt Loam and Palsgrove Silt Loam. The New and improve the harvest efficiency on pastures Glarus are in Forage Suitability Groups 5 and 6, that have a 5-7 day rotation we recommend that which have moderate available water holding each paddock be clipped at least once after the capacity and some slope limitations. The nesting season after the cattle come out of the Palsgrove soils are in groups 8 and 9 which have pasture. This is allow the forage to be staggered high available water holding capacity and some growth for the rotation. slope limitations. They are deeper than New Glarus. The forage yields for both soils are in To facilitate this process, the following the moderate range, 1.5-3 tons/ac/yr. depending guidelines are recommended: on management.  First, do not overstock; try to keep the Soil Fertility animal numbers at a level to balance the Soil Testing is recommended. forage supply with the forage demand. It’s known that the lack of grazing management  Second, the post-grazing height will not is the primary cause of pasture failure; the be lower than 4 inches. second most important cause is the lack of  Fourth, put livestock in an acceptable fertility management. For a pasture to produce sacrifice area or lot if the next paddock large volumes of high quality feed there must be is not ready to graze (forage height must an appropriate amount and balance of nutrients be at least 8 inches) or in a continuous available in the soil. pasture, if the forage height is below 4 inches. Forage-Animal Balance: Hay can be cut on up to 50 percent of the pasture Stocking Rate Using the Long Rotation Stocking area, which is 5 acres on the CRP. If this is done (Grazing) Method. a 1 or 2 paddocks, it will avoid an excess of forage in the spring. If the overall paddock Cattle will be rotated through paddocks with a 5- growth exceeds 12 inches of growth, Haying 7 days occupancy period in each paddocks. There will be a minimum of 5 paddocks. During and/or clipping is considered necessary. John Grazier 2 528 Prescribed Grazing Plan The following 4 areas of information should It is important to have adequate forage available be noted: in the paddock when you put them in. The 1) When animals are moved to each height should be at least 8-10 inches. paddock/pasture through the season. Water: 2) When animal numbers change Water is an extremely important part of a grazing plan and the more accessible it is to the livestock the better. Make sure that water is available to Facilitating Practices: the livestock at all times and that it is of adequate quantity and quality. Livestock should have a 1,100 feet of additional interior fence will be source of water every 900 feet. installed where shown on the map. A livestock pipeline and three water tanks will Adequate quantity and quality of drinking water also be installed where located on the map. for livestock will be supplied at all times during NRCS field office staff can assist with the the period of occupancy. design of these practices.

Out-Wintering or Bale Grazing: Operation and Maintenance:  The herd may be rotationally grazed Pastures may be used for winter bale feeding, every 7 days. However, 4 inches of however, they must be rested and not grazed in plant residue will remain at all times the spring/summer until the new growth reaches during the grazing season. They will 8 inches. In some cases, a new seeding of the not be placed into paddocks until the wintering area may be necessary. average paddock height is at least 8” or more and they will be removed before Contingency Plan: damaging the forage resource or leaving the 4 inch minimum. In the event of periods of excessive or deficient rainfall, actions should be taken to adjust the grazing prescription to ensure resource  Maintain pasture grazing records. management and economic feasibility without Grazing records will be collected to the resource degradation. The grazing manager will extent necessary to document grazing provide supplemental feed when pasture is low plan implementation. in quality, quantity or both.  Make available a planned sacrifice area It is highly recommended that livestock are fed or confined to a barn/feedlot area for in a lot or “sacrifice paddock” until surface drought and excess water conditions or and/or growing conditions dictate rotation to one when grass sod is likely to be damaged of the other paddocks. A sacrifice paddock is a or destroyed. Keep the livestock in the confinement paddock in your pasture system that sacrifice lot until paddock conditions you “sacrifice” to keep the other grass cover (to improve. maintain the minimum residue level of 4 inches). It should be well drained and just large enough  Recommend testing soils and plant to contain the animals for a short time. tissues, and correct major soil fertility and pH problems. Other options include:  Graze somewhere else and/or lease  Repair or replace fences incapable of additional pasture. controlling livestock to the level  Have a one-year supply of feed for all required by the prescribed grazing plan. livestock on hand.  Use fall seeded annual crops for  Frost seeding is encouraged to increase emergency pasture. sward while the ground is still frozen in the spring. Pasture Record Keeping\Monitoring Plan:  Depending on the weather and growing The grazing manager will keep records of conditions, the producer understands grazing days and number of livestock in the herd that supplemental feed may be throughout the season. necessary to maintain good pasture condition.

John Grazier 3 528 Prescribed Grazing Plan