80 MISC. PUBLICATION 7 02, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



individual ranch, but tentative indications are that crested wheat grass repre- 

 sents a feasible alternative in this area for a substantial acreage now used for 

 production of cash wheat. 



(2) A few farmers are experimenting with long-time rotations 

 involving cash-grain crops and crested wheat grass. Preliminary 

 results indicate that yields of both are increased as a result. Less 

 cash wheat is produced but incomes are increased by production and 

 sale of additional cattle. Problems involved in ranch organization 

 and operation are similar to those where crested wheat is seeded down 

 permanently. 



(3) Rolling topography, relatively high rainfall, and large acre- 

 ages of intertilled crops make the Corn Belt portion of the eastern 

 Plains susceptible to erosion. 



(a) By increasing grasses and legumes along with livestock many farmers 

 within this area have been able to retard erosion, increase soil fertility, im- 

 prove soil structure, and stabilize income. A substantial reduction in pro- 

 duction of cash grains accompanied these adjustments on some farms. 



(&) In making such adjustments these farmers have encountered many of 

 the same problems found by wheat-cattle ranchers of the more arid portion of 

 the Plains in seeding wheat land to crested wheat grasses, and have experi- 

 enced income reductions during the transition period. 



(c) Considerable planning for changes in field boundaries and crop-rota- 

 tion systems must be accomplished during the earlier years. Old fences may 

 need to be moved or new ones built in order to conform with new field boundaries. 



(4) As the present strong demand for grass seed will probably 

 continue for some time, a limited number of farmers who find it dif- 

 ficult to increase livestock numbers may find the commercial produc- 

 tion of grass seed profitable. 



(5) Throughout much of the West ranchers may profitably in- 

 crease the productivity of their ranges through natural revegetation 

 or artificial reseeding. 



(a) As in the case of a reseeding wheatland to crested wheat grass these 

 adjustments involve a minimum of 3 years' time during which temporary re- 

 ductions in net cash income are likely to be incurred. Additional female stock 

 must be held back and the size of the herd increased to take advantage of the 

 additional grass. 



(6) With artificial reseeding, grass seed must be bought and additional 

 cash expenditures must be made to prepare a seedbed and for drilling. On 

 many ranches additional private range must be leased or feed bought while 

 a stand of grass is established. In most cases it will be necessary to build 

 additional fencing to protect the new grass seedings. 



(c) With natural revegetation, no expenditures are required for grass seed 

 or seedbed preparation. However, because of the larger acreages which usually 

 are involved, larger cash expenditures may be incurred for fencing and for 

 rental of additional range to replace the deferred range or for buying feed to 

 lengthen the winter feeding period. 



(d) Economic and physical research on the merits of artificial reseeding and 

 natural revegetation are relatively new. Because of varying physical charac- 

 teristics such as moisture, soil type, condition and type of cover, the decision as 

 to whether to reseed and how must be determined individually for each site. Al- 

 though both types have their places in improving the range, artificial reseeding 

 is generally used where most of the desirable vegetation is gone while natural 

 revegetation is used in areas which still have a sufficient stand of desirable 

 perennials and enough topsoil and organic matter to furnish the water-holding 

 capacity that will insure forage recovery. 



