By KC Sheperd | Radio Okla. Ag Network
NORMAN — During the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association’s annual convention and trade show here, Oklahoma Conservation Commission Soil Health Educator Blane Stacy discussed soil health practices before and after rainfall.
Since Oklahoma received some good rains throughout July, Stacy talked first about how best to keep that moisture in the soil. Practicing good soil health management before it rains, he said, is the key.
“Everybody who had a good grazing management plan, it seems like they are reaping the benefits,” Stacy said. “They are getting a massive amount of growth out of their forage. The cattle market is going crazy right now, so those who really took care of their grass are reaping the rewards.”
Now that grass is growing well in parts of the state, Stacy said he recommends implementing a grazing system if you haven’t already.
“We mimic how the buffalo grazed across the prairie,” he said. “Buffalo graze in a small area for a short time and then move away and that grass gets a recovery period, so we are just trying to mimic that in a smaller area.”
Stacy said employees at the OCC will visit with producers who are interested in implementing a grazing management system on their property.
“We recommend everybody visit their local conservation district office,” he said. “We believe locally led conservation is the bread and butter of our division, so they will get you lined out with the information you need to get started, and they may even have some cost-share programs available.”
With hotter temperatures looming on the horizon, Stacy said allowing more grass and forage to grow will help to keep the temperature of the soil cool.
“It is basically like mother nature’s air conditioner,” he said. “When you start overgrazing, that bare soil heats up more quickly and retains heat for a longer period of time. If you are like me, I don’t want to go lay out on concrete in the middle of July, and our cows don’t either.”