April, 2007 Producers participate in Vol. 10, No. 1 Solar Pump Installation Field Day Upcoming Events Wildflower/Nature Tours & Walks May 12, 2007 Barber County 620.886.3721, ext. 3 Neosho County 620.449.2028

May 19, 2007 Commanche County June Kliesen 620.738.4340 [email protected]

June 2, 2007 Wilson County Gina Thompson 620.378.2866

June 7, 2007 Butler/Chase Counties Affixing the solar panels to the support frame was one of the final tasks in completing the pump 620.273.6491 and solar panel installation. Photos courtesy of Carol Blocksome.

June 9, 2007 A picture may be worth 1000 words, but there’s just no substitute for doing it yourself. Pro- Cowley County ducers who prefer the hands-on method showed up Wednesday morning, April 4, 2007 at the 620.221.1850, ext. 3 Ellsworth Demonstration Site for a chance to learn from experience at the Solar Pump Installa- Neosho County tion Field Day. Brandy Nelson, Panhandle Sales and Service, instructed producers in install- 620.449.2028 ing a submersible pump powered by solar panels. Starting with a 135 foot cased well, during June 10, 2007 the morning the pump, plumbing, and panels were set in place. Producers could assist or ask Konza /Manhattan questions as the work proceeded. The majority of the time was spent installing the pump and 785.587.0441 plumbing. The solar panels and associated wiring went up quickly, in less than an hour. By http://www.ksu.edu/konza/keep shortly after noon, a functioning, pressurized watering system was completed. A cement live- Grant-Bradbury Prairie Jaunt Topeka, KS stock water tank surrounded by a geotextile and gravel base will be installed later this spring. 785.864.3453 [email protected] Herschel George, watershed specialist, provided a hands-on demonstration of simple solar pumping systems for ponds and other surface water. He demonstrated the ease of placing and June 13, 2007 moving this type of solar system, which is ideal for those who will move cattle during the Calhoun Bluff/Topeka 785.478.1993 summer and don’t want to purchase a separate solar system for each pasture. Herschel also [email protected] provided a handout listing solar panel system components and dealers in .

Other presenters at the field day were Pamela Hays and Brad Kratzer of the Ellsworth County Soil Conservation District, who spoke on potential funding sources for livestock waterers. They emphasized that funds for livestock waterers were part of a broader plan for improv- ing water quality and wildlife habitat. The field day was followed by a meal at the Ellsworth County NRCS/ Conservation District office sponsored by the Smoky Hill Watershed Restora- tion and Protection Strategy (WRAPS). Producers filling out a survey commented that they now felt competent to choose and/or install a solar pumping system and to select an alternative watering site for their livestock.

cont. on page 8 Current Rangeland Issues

Walt Fick

Calendar Events, cont. June 16, 2007 Konza Prairie/Manhattan Paul Willis 785.478.4383 wldfl[email protected]

Other Events Sericea lespedeza can become a serious rangeland weed when it replaces native vegetation in Kansas Wildflower Seminar rangelands. Photo courtesy of Walt Fick. Craig Freeman, speaker Apr. 18, 2007 Lawrence, KS Sericea lespedeza, sometimes called Chinese Prescribed burning in the spring once sericea Jill Kleinberg bush clover, is an invasive perennial legume has started growth will slow down growth, but 785.842.2903 found on rangeland, tame pastures, and CRP in probably increases seed germination resulting [email protected] Kansas. Currently, sericea lespedeza has been in more plants per unit area. Concentration Missouri Prairie Foundation found in about 70 counties in the state infesting of livestock at high stock densities following Spring Plant Sale over 650,000 acres. Sericea lespedeza became burning can result in increased use of sericea. Apr. 21 & 28, 2007 a statewide noxious weed in Kansas on July 1, As stated earlier, goats graze sericea better Kansas City, MO 2000. Despite the noxious designation in Kan- than cattle do, but it takes 4 to 5 goats per acre 888.843.6739 http://www.moprairie.org sas sericea lespedeza is still planted as a forage to achieve a utilization rate high enough to crop in the southeastern U.S. eliminate seed production. Annual mowing of Papermaking with Kansas sericea in late July will start to reduce stands Native Plants Workshop Sericea lespedeza was probably first introduced and prevents seed production most years. Apr. 22, 2007 into Kansas during the 1930s for strip-mined Herbicides containing metsulfuron (Escort XP, Topeka, KS Jeff Hansen land reclamation in the southeastern part of the Ally, Cimarron, etc.) or triclopyr (Remedy, Pas- 785.478.1993 state. How the species spreads is not clearly tureGard, etc.) have proven the most effective [email protected] understood, but movement by animals, wa- at controlling sericea lespedeza. Metsulfuron ter, in contaminated hay or native grass seed is generally more effective applied in the late National Conference on harvests seems plausible. A high tannin content summer when sericea is actively flowering. Ecosystem Restoration Apr. 23-27, 2007 in sericea limits grazing by cattle on infested Triclopyr works well during the early summer Kansas City, MO grazing lands. The tannins tie up protein mak- when sericea is in a vegetative stage. Unfor- www.conference.ifas.ufl. ing the plants indigestible to cattle. Sheep and tunately, retreatment with herbicide is required edu/NCER2007 goats are better able to utilize sericea. every 2-4 years. Wings and Wetlands Weekend Without grazing pressure or treatment, sericea Early detection and treatment is extremely Apr. 27-29, 2007 lespedeza populations expand and will decrease important in trying to control sericea lespedeza. Great Bend, KS associated forage production and eventually Individual plants and isolated patches require Great Bend Convention & reduce species richness. Loss of more palatable immediate attention. Left untreated, a few scat- Visitors Bureau forage may result in overgrazing of some areas, tered plants can form a solid stand with time. 620.792.2750 information@visitgreatben which could increase the potential for erosion. An integrated approach using prescribed burn- d.com ing, mowing or grazing, and chemical control Control of sericea lespedeza is difficult. A will help keep this unwanted invasive species long-term management strategy is necessary to from taking over our grasslands. maintain the growth of more desirable vegeta- tion. Prescribed burning, grazing, mechani- Walt Fick cal control, and herbicides can all be used in managing sericea lespedeza stands. Beneficial management of winter feeding sites pro- motes healthy animals, efficient feeding, less pollution Calendar Events, cont. Grazing Forage Management Information Teleconference Call Gary Kilgore May 1, 2007 Jerry Jost 785.766.0428 [email protected] http://www.kansassustain- ableag.org/Documents/Graz- ingConfCalls.pdf To connect: 1.888.387.8686 4699043#

TLA Meeting May 2, 2007 Bill Sproul Ranch Allowing livestock unrestricted access to bales results in large quantities of wasted feed and ideal Sedan, KS breeding conditions for stable flies. Photo courtesy of Carol Blocksome. Tim Christian [email protected] The use of temporary feeding sites during wastage in excess of 25%. The quality of the 620.241.3636 winter and early spring months to supply feed forage also plays a major factor in the amount WRAPS Capacity Building and/or water to livestock is a common manage- of wastage. Forum ment practice with livestock producers. The May 3, 2007 Rolling hay out is commonly practiced and prolonged winter weather conditions through- McPherson, KS can be a very effective means to feed forage if out much of Kansas this year have increased Melissa Arthur the amount provided matches the intake needs 785.597.5452 the frequency of supplemental feeding at these of that group of cattle. If excess is provided, [email protected] sites due to the inability of cattle to fully utilize the amount of wastage increases as well as the http://kcw.kdhe.state.ks.us/ available forage or crop residues. When select- kcw/calendar.nsf/webevents/ amount of manure and mud accumulation in ing a temporary feeding site, producers need to 976C22E151F18646862572 the surrounding area. One of the most popular determine the most ideal location that balances AD004A825D means of providing ease of use by the harvested forages KAWS Spring Meeting producer, ani- • Bale feeding sites may affect water quality when by producers is May 15-16, 2007 mal performance Topeka, KS runoff or leachate from the site enters bodies of water using hay ring feed- and health, and Tim Christian such as creeks or water supplies such as wells ers. While these are potential impacts 620.241.3636 typically the most [email protected] of the environment. • Soil phosphorous increased in the area surrounding convenient meth- http://www.kaws.org/Calen- While these sites the bale feeding site (10 ft) ods for producers, dar.htm serve important they are also the roles in care and Tree Shear Demonstration • Increases in soil fecal E coli concentrations were method that most management of a May 16, 2007 observed up to 100 feet away from the feeding site often generates the Cedar, KS herd, awareness of during the feeding period. E. coli concentrations greatest amount of Solomon Valley RC&D mismanagement decreased after cattle removal wastage, manure, 785.425.6647 and lack of sanita- and mud accumula- tion that result in Homesteading Reconsidered • Fecal E Coli was still detected 10 ft away from bale tion. These sites lost profitability Interdisciplinary feeders three months after feeding ceased. also can pose the Symposium must be under- H Info greatest bacteria May 17-19, 2007 stood. 2 and nutrient envi- Lincoln, NE 402.472.3082 Providing supplemental feed to cattle at feed- ronmental challenges. Producers must evaluate http://www.unl.edu/plains/ ing sites can be accomplished by a wide variety ring feeder design when utilizing this type of news/calendar.html of practices. Generally it is recommended feeding method, as designs to minimize wast- that cattle be supplied with an amount of feed age may quickly pay for themselves especially FloraKansas: that will be eaten within one to two days. The in times of high forage prices that we currently Plant Bazaar May 19-20, 2007 efficiency of feed utilization at temporary feed- have. Producers should rotate areas in which Hesston, KS ing sites varies greatly. Producers who grind forage (rolled out or ring feeders) is provided to 620.327.8127 forage and deposit it directly into the feedbunk prevent destruction of vegetation and minimize [email protected] will typically have very little wastage, while mud, manure and bacteria accumulations in producers that use ring feeders or roll excessive specific areas. hay out at a single feeding may experience in cont. on page 4 cont. from page 3 Feeding sites used for prolonged periods of time not only accumulate wasted forage, but manure as well. The combination of these two organic matter sources provides an ideal host for bacteria survival, which can pose a num- ber of problems. First, from an animal health standpoint, if these sites double for calving ar- eas, the shedding of disease causing organisms from cows provide a direct means of exposure to calves. Secondly, Lenehan et al. (2005) has shown that soil bacteria and nutrient concentra- tions increase dramatically over time within feeding areas. Not only can this affect animal health, but runoff from these sites can introduce bacteria and nutrients into surface water jeopar- dizing water quality. Winter feeding sites can require substantial cleanup to avoid future livestock health prob- Recent research at K-State has identified winter lems. Photo courtesy of Jerry Jost. feeding sites, specifically hay ring feeding sites, as a main breeding ground for stable flies af- Bale Feeding Guidelines fecting summer pastures. Ideal stable fly breed- cleanup and removal of residue is necessary. ing habitats include moisture, bacteria (upon Management options for producers to clean •Move the bale feeding which the larvae feed), mild temperatures, and sites include: site weekly an abundance of larval substrate (wasted hay • Scrape and spread waste over pasture or crop and manure). Single hay ring feeding sites can ground. •Every two weeks stack result in more than one million stable flies be- waste hay and manure ing produced each spring. Five stable flies per • Pile and compost the residue. Compost- from feeding site in a leg are considered the economic threshold in ing will allow for heating and destruction stockpile for composting. which cattle performance is reduced. of pathogens within the waste. However, nutrient levels, such as phosphorus are not •Use other methods for Proper sanitation or cleaning of these sites is diminished and must be dealt with even if the feeding hay such as bale critical to surrounding environmental quality. material is composted. processing, unrolling or Although research data is lacking on the effec- • Pile and burn the residue. Because the major- grinding. tiveness of different management practices to reduce environmental impacts, practical recom- ity of the residue can be from wasted hay, producers may be able to dispose of the ma- •Place hay feeding sites mendations may include the following: terial by burning. However, moisture content at least 100 feet from • Continual physical movement of feeder of the residue may limit the effectiveness of waterways, streams, or location to prevent manure accumulation in this option in certain years. ditches. specific areas. Utilizing winter feeding sites provide a means •Maintain vegetation • Rolling hay out in different locations for producers to supply additional forage or between the hay feeding throughout the pasture. feed to livestock without the investment of site and bodies of water • Avoid rolling out poor quality or rotted hay permanent facilities. Producers should select or waterways. that will not be eaten. a site that provides proper drainage, weather protection (when needed) and maintain vegeta- Reprinted with • Grinding hay helps prevent sorting by the tion to filter out bacteria and nutrient between permission animal, which decreases waste. the feeding area and surface water. Producers H2Info • Avoid overfeeding regardless of feeding should rotate feeding areas to minimize de- Cheney Lake Watershed method to prevent trampling of hay, which struction of vegetation and decrease mud, bac- becomes habitat once mixed with manure. teria, and build-up. Feeding sites with organic matter (wasted feed and manure) accumulation Feeding locations should have adequate drain- should be cleaned after cattle are removed to age to prevent moisture accumulation surround- reduce environmental degradation from runoff ing the feeder. However, runoff from these sites to surface water and stable fly production. should not enter open surface water as it could jeopardize water quality. Joel DeRouchey Professor, Animal Science and Industry If the feeding site is located in a stationary area Kansas State University and can not be rotated to new areas, proper More on winter feeding sites... cont. from page 6 Calendar Events, cont. Thinking of moving your winter feeding site? brush control, range and pasture seeding, burn- Wildflower Plant and Seed Planning to construct a windbreak near the feed ing, and deferred grazing are typical practices Sale bunks? Improving water quality and cattle available for cost-share. Contracts are for 1 to May 20, 2007 gains by moving your livestock out of the mud 10 year implementation periods. Lawrence, KS of the riparian area and on to the upland can Prairie Park Nature Center WHIP is for developing and improving wildlife have detrimental effects on some wildlife if 785.832.7980 habitat, primarily on private land. Most land in it isn’t planned carefully. Riparian areas are Kansas is eligible for WHIP, providing oppor- Ecological Engineering crucial for many types of wildlife, so protect- tunities for improving wildlife habitat on land in the Great Plains ing them from livestock degradation is impor- May 21-25, 2007 that may not be eligible for other programs. tant. But planting a windbreak in the middle Manhattan, KS Rangeland practices include burning and brush of the prairie can fragment the land so that it’s 785.532.5569 control. WHIP contracts are for 5 to 10 years. [email protected] no longer good habitat for species that need http://www.dce.ksu.edu/conf/ large unbroken expanses of rangeland, such as NRCS also has several conservation easement aees/registration.shtml prairie chickens. So where should you put that programs, such as the Wetlands Reserve Pro- winter feeding site? First, consider moving gram and the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Loess Hills Prairie Seminar the feedbunks but not planting a windbreak. Program. June 1-3, 2007 Onawa, IA Cattle don’t need a windbreak while they’re Additional cost-share incentives are available Dianne Blankenship eating. Feedbunks by themselves have minimal for Small, Limited Resource, and Beginning 712.255.3447 fragmentation effect. Or consider placing the [email protected] Farmers and Ranchers. There are numerous feeding site and windbreak outside the riparian rules and restrictions for all of these programs. area, but nearby, leaving an adequate buffer Prairie Days For more information, contact your local June 2-3, 2007 between the feeding site and the stream. This NRCS office. Contact information can be Maxwell Wildlife Refuge will provide livestock with shelter without frag- found at: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/loca- 620.628.4455 menting the upland. And if you’re using red- [email protected] tor/app?state=KS cedar or juniper in your windbreak, be aware of the potential for these species to spread into Contributors Ecology of Grazing Lands  Systems adjacent riparian areas and pasture and reduce Chris Berens June 4-15, 2007 livestock forage quantity and wildlife habitat LIP Coordinator FL, AL, LA,TX, OK tour suitability. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Vivien G. Allen Contributors 806-742-1625 Pamela Hays Matt Smith [email protected] District Manager http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/ Kansas Department. of Wildlife and Parks Ellsworth County Conservation District grazinglandecology/ Tony Ifland Mary Shaffer Low-Stress Animal Handling U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Public Affairs Coordinator Teleconference Natural Resources Conservation Service Dr. Lynn Locatelli, DVM June 5, 2007 Carol Blocksome Alex Miller Jerry Jost Kansas State Conservation Rangeland Management Specialist 785.766.0428 [email protected] Commission launches new website Natural Resources Conservation Service To connect: Carol Blocksome 1-888-387-8686 A newly-updated website for the State Con- 4699043# servation Commission, http://scc.ks.gov/, has Wildflower Weekend vastly improved information, organization, June 9-10, 2007 and layout. The well-designed site allows you Preserve to quickly access local conservation districts Chase Co., KS and information on general SCC programs and 620.273.¬8494 practices. However, county-specific informa- Staff Change [email protected] www.nps.gov/tapr tion on practices and their priority ranking, as well as a listing of products and services Ashley Cooper has joined the Field Study of Prairie Plants offered is lacking. There are just a few pub- June 15 & July 13, 2007 lications available, including the hard-to-find KGLWQSP as of Jan. 1, 2007. Hays, KS “Kansas River and Stream Corridor Manage- Ashley is a graduate student in ag- Bob Nicholson 785.628.4269 ment Guide.” The map link takes to you an ricultural economics and will work [email protected] interface identical to Kansas Alliance for Wet- on economic analysis and planning. http://www.fhsu.edu/biology/ lands and Streams’ except for the header. There We welcome Ashley to the project! ranpers/fspp/fspp.htm are direct links to the 11 districts that have their own website. The list of Conservation Educa- tion links is comprehensive. Resources are available for funding Calendar Events, cont. Symphony in the Flint Hills range management improvements June 16, 2007 Wade Pasture Want to improve rangeland in your area? Have phase, the producer can then apply for grant Wabunsee County ideas and goals, but need some help imple- funds of up to $5000. Cash or in-kind services 620.273.8955 menting them? There are several programs match must be provided by the producer. Only www.symphonyintheflint- that can help with labor and funding of range areas within a Watershed Restoration and Pro- hills.org improvements. They differ in what they offer tection Strategy plan are eligible, although this Buffalo Days and who can access them. Below are a few of includes much of Kansas. Grants can be used Sandsage Bison Range the resources available. for an extremely wide variety of rangeland and June 16, 2007 livestock practices that impact environmental The Habitat Improvement Team offers reason- Garden City, KS quality, including one-of-a-kind projects to 620.276.9400 able rates for range improvement services such address a specific problem. For more informa- www.fosbr.com as burning, chemical application, and native tion, contact Mary Fund at ksrc@rainbowtel. grass, tree and shrub plantings for wildlife. Stream Assessment net or 785.873.3431. Workshop Based in northeast Kansas, their services are June 21-22, 2007 available state-wide. The Habitat Improve- The State Conservation Commission, in Wichita, KS ment Team is sponsored by Pheasants Forever conjunction with local conservation districts, Christine Boller and other natural resource entities. For more provides funding for rangeland improvement 785.840.0700 information, call Rocky Fahey (785.313.2571) practices such as native grass reseeding, ponds [email protected] or Ryan Jones (979.218.3074). and watering facilities, pasture and hay plant- ing, livestock windbreaks, and riparian fencing. Grassland Prairie Field Day Upland Bird Habitat Initiative will provide June 23, 2007 Each county prioritizes practices for funding, money to pay for range improvements such as Snyder Prairie and a high priority practice in one county may brush management, legume interseeding into Mayetta, KS have a low priority in another county. High 913.262.3506 CRP fields, conversion of cool-season grasses priority practices have the best chance of being [email protected] to native grasses, and warm season native funded. Sign-up dates and allowable practices grass plantings. The initiative is limited to American Forage also vary by county. For more information, northeastern Kansas, primarily from Dickinson & Grasslands Council contact your local conservation district of- County to Miami County and north to the state Annual Convention fice. Information on offices can be obtained at: June 23-27, 2007 line. For more information, contact Kansas http://scc.ks.gov/index.php?option=com_contac State College, PA Dept. of Wildlife and Parks, Region 2 Office at t&catid=55&Itemid=143. 800.944.2342 785.273.6740. http://www.afgc.org/mc/ The Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers the page.do?sitePageId=42837 The Landowner Incentive Program, also Conservation Reserve Program, which funds administered by the Kansas Department of Iowa Prairie Conference conversion of cropland to native vegetation. Wildlife and Parks, is intended to “aid in the July 13-14, 2007 This 20+ year old program offers 50% cost protection and management of priority habitats Sioux City, IA share for establishing native vegetation and Dianne Blankenship including streams and associated riparian areas, annual rental payments for maintaining CRP 712.255.3447 playa lakes, and grasslands.” Projects funded land. There are restrictions on use of CRP land [email protected] by this program are: restoring native vegeta- http://www.ipc2007.com/ during the contract period, which can be 10-20 tion, brush and invasive weed management, years. In addition to the usual native grass and restoring playa hydrology. Participation Range Youth Camp seedings, other CRP practices include riparian July 16-19, 2007 is limited to privately owned land west of the and wildlife habitat buffers, wetland restora- Rock Springs Camp, KS Flint Hills in Kansas, with special consider- tion, and living snow fences. CRP is available Tim Miller ation for projects in the Red Hills, Cimarron 913.220.7204 state-wide. For more information, contact your River Sandsage, Arkansas River Sandsage, [email protected] local FSA office. Contact information can be , and Playa Lakes areas. Land- http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/ found at: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/loca- kssrm/rc/RYC_2007_flyer. owners must contribute at least 25% of the tor/app?state=KS. pdf project cost in cash or in-kind services. For more information, contact Chris Berens, LIP The Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Meeting Coordinator, at 785.462.3367. (NRCS) offers ranchers, conservation techni- cal assistance and financial assistance through July 21-25, 2007 The Kansas Rural Center’s Clean Water Farms Kearney, NE the Environmental Quality Incentives Program project starts with a producer completing the 402.47.4101 (EQIP) and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives River Friendly Farm Environmental Assess- [email protected] Program (WHIP). http://www.grassland.unl. ment on his/her own land. When the assess- edu/grazeconf.htm ment has been completed and a work plan for EQIP in Kansas has addressed grazing land improvement drawn up, the producer is eligible health as a priority since the inception of the for a $250 incentive payment. To help imple- 1996 Farm Bill. Pond and spring development, ment practices for correcting environmental watering facilities, cross and exclusion fencing, deficiencies discovered in the assessment cont. on page 5 Mixed prairie grasses are a better source of biofuel Calendar Events, cont. than corn ethanol and soybean biodiesel Stream Channel Field Course: Mapping and Diverse mixtures of native prairie plant spe- and soil than is released by the fossil fuels Assessment cies have emerged as a leader in the quest to needed to grow and convert them into biofuels. July 23-27, 2007 identify the best source of biomass for pro- Using prairie biomass to make fuel would lead Cheryl Harrelson ducing sustainable, bio-based fuel to replace to the long-term removal and storage of from 307.674.6010 1.2 to 1.8 U.S. tons of carbon dioxide per acre [email protected] petroleum. http://www.steadystreamhy- per year. This net removal of atmospheric car- dro.com/river_field_courses. A new study led by David Tilman, an ecolo- bon dioxide could continue for about 100 years, htm gist at the University of Minnesota, shows that the researchers estimate. mixtures of native perennial grasses and other Stream Assessment Workshop In contrast, corn ethanol and soybean biodiesel July 26-27, 2007 flowering plants provide more usable energy Marysville, KS per acre than corn grain ethanol or soybean are “carbon positive,” meaning they add carbon Christine Boller biodiesel and are far better for the environment. dioxide to the atmosphere, although less than 785.840.0700 The research was supported by the National fossil fuels. [email protected] Science Foundation Switchgrass, which is Nebraska Grazing (NSF) and the Uni- Conference versity of Minnesota being developed as a Aug. 7-8, 2007 Initiative for Renew- perennial bioenergy Kearney, NE able Energy and the crop, was one of 16 Center for Grassland Studies Environment. species in the study. 402-472.4101 When grown by itself [email protected] http://www.grassland.unl. “Biofuels made from in poor soil, it did not edu/grazeconf.htm high-diversity mix- perform better than tures of prairie plants other single species Principles of can reduce global and gave less than a Range Management third of the bioenergy Adult Range School warming by remov- Aug. 14-16, 2007 ing carbon dioxide Prairie ecosystems are speices rich, with a complex of high-diversity Flint Oak from the atmosphere. biota of grasses, forbs, shrubs, wildlife, and soil mi- plots. “Switchgrass Elk County, KS Even when grown on croorganisms. Photo courtesy of Carol Blocksome. is very productive Aug. 21-23 infertile soils, they can when it’s grown Camp Mennoscah like corn in fertile soil with lots of fertilizer, Kingman County, KS provide a substantial portion of global energy Tim Christian needs, and leave fertile land for food produc- pesticide and energy inputs, but this approach [email protected] tion,” Tilman said. doesn’t yield as much energy gain as mixed 620.241.3636 species in poor soil nor does it have the same http://tallgrasslegacy.org/ The findings are published in the Dec. 8, 2006, environmental benefits,” said paper co-author PDF/07RangeSchoolFlyer. pdf issue of the journal Science. The is study based Jason Hill, also of the University of Minnesota. on 10 years of research at Minnesota’s Cedar Creek Natural History Area, one of 26 NSF To date, all biofuels, including cutting-edge long-term ecological research (LTER) sites. It nonfood energy crops such as switchgrass, el- shows that degraded agricultural land planted ephant grass, hybrid poplar and hybrid willow, with diverse mixtures of prairie grasses and are produced as monocultures grown primarily other flowering plants produces 238 percent in fertile soils. The researchers estimate that more bioenergy on average than the same land growing mixed prairie grasses on all of the planted with various single prairie plant spe- world’s degraded land could produce enough cies, including switchgrass. bioenergy to replace 13 percent of global pe- troleum consumption and 19 percent of global Tilman and his colleagues estimate that fuel electricity consumption. The practice of using made from this prairie biomass would yield degraded land to grow mixed prairie grasses 51 percent more energy per acre than ethanol for biofuels could provide stable production of from corn grown on fertile land. Prairie plants energy and have additional benefits, such as re- require little energy to grow and all parts of the newed soil fertility, cleaner ground and surface plant above ground are usable. waters, preservation of wildlife habitats, and recreational opportunities. Fuels made from prairie biomass are “carbon Excerpted from: negative,” which means that producing and us- National Science Foundation website ing them actually reduces the amount of carbon http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_ dioxide (a greenhouse gas) in the atmosphere. id=108206&org=NSF Prairie plants store more carbon in their roots downloaded March 26, 2007 cont. from page 1 Grassland Water Quality Stewardship Program Stacie Minson (Smoky Hill WRAPS) and Chris Berens (KAWS) were on hand to answer questions http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/glwq and provide information about their programs. Partners for the Solar Pump Installation Field Day were: Ellsworth County Conservation District, Smoky Hill WRAPS, Kansas Alliance for Wetlands Walter Fick and Streams (KAWS), Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas Grassland Water Project Leader Quality Stewardship Program, Panhandle Sales and Service, Gary Bruning, and Art and Kathy Rodney Jones Project Co-Leader Kohl. Scott Satterthwaite Project Officer, KDHE Carol Blocksome Carol Blocksome Ext. Asst. Agronomy Ashley Cooper Ext. Asst. Agriculture Economics Larry Huber Ext. Asst. Agronomy

The Grassland Watershed Carol Blocksome, editor [email protected] 785.532.0416

Larry Huber, copy editor and circulation manager [email protected] 785.532.0401

Financial assistance for the Kansas Grass- land Water Quality Stewardship Program is provided, in part, through EPA Section 319 Non-point Source Pollution Control Grant K3-016 by a grant agreement with the Kan- sas Department of Health and Environment.

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, as amended. Kansas State University, County Extension Coun- cils, Extension Districts, and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, Fred A. Cholick, Director.