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CRP Participants Have Decisions To Make

published: July 2nd 2009
by: Kay Ledbetter
source: TAMU Ag Communications

Many Conservation Reserve Program participants find themselves facing some tough decisions after being notified their contracts will not be renewed, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service specialist.

“I think we need to keep most of this land in rangeland,” said Dr. Ted McCollum, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist.

The land put into the federal program commonly called CRP in the mid 1980s was planted primarily in the High Plains to native grasses, Old World bluestems or weeping love grass, he said. There are about 4 million acres of CRP in Texas, much of it in the High Plains.

“About 10 years ago when we first started seeing people come out of the program, we realized we would not be making the same amount as with government payments,” McCollum said. “But we know properly managed Old World bluestem and weeping love grass can produce more beef per acre than native rangelands in the region.”

The first step is to renovate the pastures, he said. Renovation includes fencing, water development and rejuvenation of the forage stand. The exact needs will depend on if the land has been utilized under the managed haying and grazing allowance, emergency drought provisions or has been lying idle the entire contract period.

Livestock water is a major consideration, McCollum said. Planning must be based on how much water will be required daily and where the watering site will be located. These decisions must also take into account fencing layouts and grazing management plans, so a producer should formulate some ideas on the overall operation and use of the land before developing livestock water.

Consider the pumping or refill rate, the type and size of tanks/drinkers and storage needed to keep pace with daily consumption, he said. Cattle requirements for water are generally one gallon per 100 pounds of body weight in cold weather and two gallons per 100 pounds of body weight in hot weather.

“Remember cattle consume water in one or two drinking bouts per day, which means they take in a lot of water at once,” McCollum said. “Watering tends to be a herd activity on large acreage, but an individual activity on small acreage, so that affects the storage and refill rate required.”

Fencing decisions have to be made simultaneously with the watering decisions, he said, because one governs the other. When designing a fence layout, keep in mind grazing management, cattle handling and movement, machinery access for fertilization, well maintenance and integration with other grazing areas.

McCollum said there’s more than just the permanent fence on the exterior to consider. Cross-fencing increases management flexibility and ability to manage forage.

All landowners need to also think of how they want to renovate the forage stand to enhance the vigor, stimulate tiller production and recruit new plants, he said.

“The first step is to remove the standing, decadent plant material and some of the thatch that can stifle developing tillers and seedlings,” McCollum said. “Prescribed burning in the late winter or early spring is going to be the easiest way.”

The material also can be cut and baled, he said. If thatch buildup is a p