Studies of Pasture Management 

 By Max F. Abell 



r\URIXG THE SPRING of 1935 a pasture study was begun by a 

 ^^ survey of pasture conditions on 256 farms scattered throughout 

 the state. This preliminary survey was made to determine some of 

 the pasture problems facing the dairy industry and to determine 

 some of the best methods to be used for their solution. As pasture 

 is the cheapest form of roughage, it appeared desirable to develop 

 a pasture improvement program that would furnish this roughage 

 most cheaply. 



An analysis of the data obtained indicated that considerably more 

 pasture would be needed to maintain the present dairy population 

 than could be furnished by the present open pasture even if im- 

 proved by fertilizing, or brought to maximum production in other 

 ways. There appeared to be a need for clearing and improving some 

 of the old pasture that had been permitted to grow up to brush. 

 From the survey, data on methods commonly used in getting rid of 

 brush on pastures were obtained as well as data on the permanence 

 of such brush removal under different treatments. As a result, the 

 second phase of this study was inaugurated in the spring of 1937 to 

 determine : 



a. Best methods and costs of removing brush. 



b. Effect of method of removal on l:)rush reproduction in later 

 seasons. 



c. Effect of different fertilizer treatments in checking brush re- 

 production and on improvement in pasture herbage. 



d. Effect of grazing on checking brush reproduction. 



e. Change in soil conditions as result of fertilizer treatment. 



f. Change in pasture herbage as result of brush removal, fertil- 

 izing, and grazing. 



Good pasture is fundamental to economical production of dairy 

 products. Census data indicate that "as goes the pasture so goes the 

 dairy industry." A decline in pasture productivity has been followed 

 by a decline in agriculture, or a shift to some other type of agricul- 

 ture not dependent upon pasture. 



In New Hampshire this decline has been accompanied by a more 

 or less gradual return to forest growth. A large part of this shift 

 from pasture to brush and finally to forest has occurred on poor soils 

 of rough topography, or in the more remote areas less suited to ag- 

 riculture. A few farms in these areas have persisted because of bet- 

 ter soils, more aggressive farmers, or, frequently, because of a 

 special outlet for milk. 



For a time in New Hampshire production continued with cheap 

 grain and relatively cheap labor, but eventually lack of pasture has 

 lessened the carrying capacity of the farms to the point where they 

 will no longer provide the income necessary to carry expanded social 



