Pasture o Range and Irrigated Native 



The conservation needs on pasture, range land and irrigated native were 

 estimated to occur on 12„4- million acres needing treatment of problems 

 related to the establishment and maintenance of cover. Estimates were 

 developed separately for pasture, range, and irrigated native. 



The total acreage needing treatment and feasible to treat is shown by 

 problem areas in Table 5o The estimates of acreages needing establish- 

 ment or reestablishment do not duplicate those needing improvement; 

 however, acreages estimated for any of the other problems may duplicate 

 some of the other acreages. 



Establishment or reestablishment of vegetation — The acreage expected 

 to be converted from other uses to pasture, range, and irrigated native 

 plus land in pasture, range and irrigated native species in such poor 

 condition in 1958 that it needs to be completely reestablished amounts 

 to about l.U million acres. 



Improvement of vegetative cover — Another 14o4. million acres had inade- 

 quate cover in 1958, It is estimated that most of this acreage could be 

 restored to satisfactory condition by improvement measures short of com- 

 plete reestablishment. 



Protection of vegetative cover ~ The 1958 acreage which needs protection 

 from one or more of the following! 



Overgrazing — The Inventory shows that about 18.3 million acres have 

 inadequate vegetative cover but which could be restored to satisfact- 

 ory condition by the management of livestock or installation of sup- 

 plemental water facilities. Also, includes any acreage in the 

 estimates for establishment or reestablishment of vegetation or the 

 improvement of vegetative cover on which stockwater facilities are 

 needed on about 6,8 million acres j the acreage thus included is the 

 only duplication of acreage which occurs among these three items. 



Fire — Serious fire hazards which can be protected by improvement 

 and intensification of fire protection measures occur on about 16,8 

 million acres. 



Erosion — The Inventory reveals there are about 2,1 million acres 

 gullied or other seriously washed and windblown areas which need con- 

 trol measures to prevent further deterioration. 



Rodents — The acreage with serious rodent damage that can be cor- 

 rected by chemical, mechanical, or other measures amounts to about 

 400 thousand acres. 



Encroachment of woody and noxious plants — The encroachment of woody 

 and noxious plants had destroyed or threatened the grass cover on about 

 2,1 million acres which can be protected by chemical or mechanical 

 means. This acreage does not include any pasture on which woody and 

 noxious plants would be eradicated in the establishment or reestab- 

 lishment of the pasture. 



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