Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Finding the right forage crops has always been a challenge for producers from the dry regions of the prairies, especially in the Southwest where the number of tame species they can choose from is somewhat limited.
Trevor Lennox, a Forage Development Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, believes seeding native forages instead is a viable option.
“Generally, tame forages are adapted to areas with higher precipitation levels. This is where native species come in handy when putting together grazing systems. They are well adapted to the harsh environmental conditions experienced on the southern Canadian Prairies,” says Lennox. “They have evolved for centuries under harsh environmental conditions, and the Southwest is where we find the highest concentration of unbroken native grasslands in the province.”
If one rates native grasses from a productivity standpoint, compared to tame grasses, the tame grasses will usually win. However,Lennox believes the advantages to seeding native grasses in this particular part of the province far outweigh the perceived loss of capacity.
“Ranchers who currently have native rangeland know the true value of native grasses when left until later in the year, due to their quality preserved within the leaves. Native species require very few inputs, as they have evolved under low fertile conditions.”
More specifically, the species mix of cool and warm season grasses provides a succession of freshly grown leaves throughout the grazing season.
“When seeding these native species on annual cropland, graziers will initially witness a higher production rate during the first five or six years, due to the availability of nutrients in the soil. Then the pasture will achieve a certain equilibrium, as nutrients incorporate into emerging root system.”
But this resource will be available for years, explainsLennox .
“The key is to manage the grazing system effectively. Native species provide grazing later into the growing season, allowing producers to keep their cattle out on the land because of the grasses’ ability to cure well on the stem.
“Native grasses are sometimes referred to as hardgrasses, whereas tame grasses are quite often referred to as softgrasses. Soft grasses are great for grazing when they are green and actively growing, but once they go dormant, their forage quality rapidly declines when left standing. On the other hand, native hardgrasses are able to lock in a higher level of nutrition when they go dormant on the stem.”
Landowners end up with a richer community of grasses in their pastures to tap into, and this diversity is beneficial from an ecological standpoint. How much does it cost to seed native species?
“A simple mix of four to five species can be put together for a cost of approximately $40 per acre. By contrast, a more diverse mix of 14 species would cost somewhere between $60 and $80 per acre. Once established, the stand should last in perpetuity, provided it is managed properly.”
If you have severely marginal land (Saskatchewan Crop Insurance rating of “L” or lower), you may qualify for the Greencover Canada Land Conversion component where you will be compensated $75 per acre to seed native species, plus an additional $25 per acre once it is successfully established.
For further information on the Greencover program, check out the web page at:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/greencover-verdir/applic_e.phtml, or call toll free 1-866-844-5620. For more information about seeding native forages, call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.
For more information, contact:
Trevor Lennox
Forage Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 778-8294
Finding the right forage crops has always been a challenge for producers from the dry regions of the prairies, especially in the Southwest where the number of tame species they can choose from is somewhat limited.
Trevor Lennox, a Forage Development Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, believes seeding native forages instead is a viable option.
“Generally, tame forages are adapted to areas with higher precipitation levels. This is where native species come in handy when putting together grazing systems. They are well adapted to the harsh environmental conditions experienced on the southern Canadian Prairies,” says Lennox. “They have evolved for centuries under harsh environmental conditions, and the Southwest is where we find the highest concentration of unbroken native grasslands in the province.”
If one rates native grasses from a productivity standpoint, compared to tame grasses, the tame grasses will usually win. However,
“Ranchers who currently have native rangeland know the true value of native grasses when left until later in the year, due to their quality preserved within the leaves. Native species require very few inputs, as they have evolved under low fertile conditions.”
More specifically, the species mix of cool and warm season grasses provides a succession of freshly grown leaves throughout the grazing season.
“When seeding these native species on annual cropland, graziers will initially witness a higher production rate during the first five or six years, due to the availability of nutrients in the soil. Then the pasture will achieve a certain equilibrium, as nutrients incorporate into emerging root system.”
But this resource will be available for years, explains
“The key is to manage the grazing system effectively. Native species provide grazing later into the growing season, allowing producers to keep their cattle out on the land because of the grasses’ ability to cure well on the stem.
“Native grasses are sometimes referred to as hardgrasses, whereas tame grasses are quite often referred to as softgrasses. Soft grasses are great for grazing when they are green and actively growing, but once they go dormant, their forage quality rapidly declines when left standing. On the other hand, native hardgrasses are able to lock in a higher level of nutrition when they go dormant on the stem.”
Landowners end up with a richer community of grasses in their pastures to tap into, and this diversity is beneficial from an ecological standpoint. How much does it cost to seed native species?
“A simple mix of four to five species can be put together for a cost of approximately $40 per acre. By contrast, a more diverse mix of 14 species would cost somewhere between $60 and $80 per acre. Once established, the stand should last in perpetuity, provided it is managed properly.”
If you have severely marginal land (Saskatchewan Crop Insurance rating of “L” or lower), you may qualify for the Greencover Canada Land Conversion component where you will be compensated $75 per acre to seed native species, plus an additional $25 per acre once it is successfully established.
For further information on the Greencover program, check out the web page at:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/greencover-verdir/applic_e.phtml, or call toll free 1-866-844-5620. For more information about seeding native forages, call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.
For more information, contact:
Trevor Lennox
Forage Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 778-8294
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