PRACTICE PRESCRIBED GRAZING (Ac.) 528 DEFINITION Adequate quantity and quality drinking water will be supplied at all times during period of Managing the harvest of vegetation with occupancy. grazing and/or browsing animals. Adjust intensity, frequency, timing and duration of grazing and/or browsing to meet the desired objectives for the plant communities and the This practice may be applied as a part of associated resources, including the grazing conservation management system to achieve and/or browsing animal. one or more of the following: Manage kind of animal, animal number, Improve or maintain desired species grazing distribution, length of grazing and/or composition and vigor of plant browsing periods and timing of use to provide communities. grazed plants sufficient recovery time to meet planned objectives. The recovery period of Improve or maintain quantity and quality of non-grazing can be provided for the entire year forage for grazing and browsing animals’ or during the growing season of key plants. health and productivity. Deferment (non-grazing period less than one Improve or maintain surface and/or year) and/or rest (non-grazing period equal or subsurface water quality and quantity. greater than one year) will be planned for critical periods of plant needs. Improve or maintain riparian and watershed function. Provide deferment or rest from grazing or browsing to ensure the success of prescribed Reduce accelerated soil erosion, and fire, brush management, seeding or other maintain or improve soil condition. conservation practices that cause stress or Improve or maintain the quantity and damage to key plants. quality of food and/or cover available for Manage grazing and/or browsing animals to wildlife. maintain adequate vegetative cover on sensitive areas (i.e. riparian, wetland, habitats Manage fine fuel loads to achieve desired of concern, karst areas). conditions. CONDITIONS WHERE APPLIES This practice applies to all lands where grazing Manage livestock movements based on rate of and/or browsing animals are managed. plant growth, available forage, and allowable utilization target. CRITERIA Develop contingency plans to deal with General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes expected episodic disturbance events e.g. insect infestation, drought, wildfire, etc. Removal of herbage will be in accordance with site production limitations, rate of plant growth the physiological needs of forage plants and the nutritional needs of the animals.
PRESCRIBED GRAZING (Ac.) 528 DEFINITION Managing the harvest of vegetation with grazing and/or browsing animals. This practice may be applied as a part of conservation management system to achieve one or more of the following: Improve or maintain desired species composition and vigor of plant communities. Improve or maintain quantity and quality of forage for grazing and browsing animals’ health and productivity. Improve or maintain surface and/or subsurface water quality and quantity. Improve or maintain riparian and watershed function. Reduce accelerated soil erosion, and maintain or improve soil condition. Improve or maintain the quantity and quality of food and/or cover available for wildlife. Manage fine fuel loads to achieve desired conditions. CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES This practice applies to all lands where grazing and/or browsing animals are managed. CRITERIA General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes Removal of herbage will be in accordance with site production limitations, rate of plant growth the physiological needs of forage plants and the nutritional needs of the animals. Adequate quantity and quality drinking water will be supplied at all times during period of occupancy. Adjust intensity, frequency, timing and duration of grazing and/or browsing to meet the desired objectives for the plant communities and the associated resources, including the grazing and/or browsing animal. Manage kind of animal, animal number, grazing distribution, length of grazing and/or browsing periods and timing of use to provide grazed plants sufficient recovery time to meet planned objectives. The recovery period of non-grazing can be provided for the entire year or during the growing season of key plants. Deferment (non-grazing period less than one year) and/or rest (non-grazing period equal or greater than one year) will be planned for critical periods of plant needs. Provide deferment or rest from grazing or browsing to ensure the success of prescribed fire, brush management, seeding or other conservation practices that cause stress or damage to key plants. Manage grazing and/or browsing animals to maintain adequate vegetative cover on sensitive areas (i.e. riparian, wetland, habitats of concern, karst areas). Manage livestock movements based on rate of plant growth, available forage, and allowable utilization target. Develop contingency plans to deal with expected episodic disturbance events e.g. insect infestation, drought, wildfire, etc.
Prescribed_Grazing_528.docx