A GUIDE FOR R^NGE RESEEDING ON AMD NEAR 



TNE NATIONAL FORESTS OF MONTANA 



By 



C. Allan Friedrich 



Re seeding must play a larger part in the management of western range 

 lands as the need for full production from every acre increases. 

 Fortunately, many of Montana's ranges are in fairly good condition, but 

 there are numerous areas where overgrazing, plowing, fire or other 

 disturbance has resulted in reduced yields and accelerated erosion 

 that can be remedied by reseeding. 



Areas in need of reseeding occur on both public and privately-owned 

 ranges throughout the state. This reseeding guide, however, is intended 

 especially for use on national forests and nearby range lands in any 

 ownership. Its purpose is to promote effective reseeding where needed 

 as an aid to full and permanent production. 



The suggestions presented are based primarily upon results of research 

 in Montana by the Northern Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment 

 Station during the past 12 to 15 years. The Montana Agricultural 

 Experiment Station has also been carrying on research in range reseeding 

 for many years and their publications, as well as those of other agencies, 

 have been freely drawn upon for ideas adapted for use here. - 



X. WHY RANGE RESEEDING? 



There are two principal reasons for range reseeding: (1) for increasing 

 forage production, and (2) for soil and watershed protection. These 

 benefits of successful reseeding usually come hand in hand and, together, 

 help provide a more stable base for the economic and social structure 

 of the West. 



Where portions of the range have deteriorated to such an extent that 

 they cannot recover within a reasonable time under proper or light use, 

 reseeding is needed. Reseeding is also the only practical method of 

 getting plowed and abandoned land back into high forage production short 

 of the twenty or more years usually required for natural revegetation. 



Nc one knows precisely how many acres of range land in Montana are in 

 need of reseeding. It is estimated that more than 20,000 acres of 

 depleted native or unplowed range on the national forests should be so 

 treated. The acreage of similar range outside the national forests is 

 undoubtedly much larger. But in either case most of the acreage of 



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