The property I purchased in the early '90s, that I call the Elbert Place after the previous owner, has some native prairie. This land has never been plowed because it's too steep, rocky and wet for tillage. Likely it has been pasture, as it is today, since the land was first claimed by white settlers. It even hosts a large rock once rubbed by bison.
The invasive, smooth brome grass, introduced from Hungary in 1884, has been the primary vegetation in the pasture. It's not a bad forge grass, but, desiring the return of native grasses I struck a deal with Steve, a neighboring farmer. He could place livestock in the pasture in early spring and remove them by July 4. This works well for Steve allowing him to delay pasturing his own ground. Also, his pasture is a short walk for the livestock from my pasture so the critters are easily moved. The intention was to graze down the brome grass on my land, which emerges in early spring, to encourage the recovery of native grass. This early emergence of brome allows it to out compete the native, late summer, grasses.
Each year over these plus 30 years more big bluestem native grass has appeared. Finally, this year there is an excellent stand of big bluestem. Likely the combination of grazing and an exceptionally wet year have benefitted the bluestem. The cattle also provide an other benefit as their hooves break up the thatch that builds up. Fire would have speeded the restoration process but, the way the pasture is positioned, fire couldn't be controlled.
Takk for alt,
Al
PS Returning to the field with the large rocks this morning I quickly left. Even on a hill in short grass the mosquitos were intolerable...no wind. The crowbar with which I was armed was no use against mosquitos. Sunday it was windy but I choose not to work on Sundays.
You can see why big bluestem is also called 'turkey foot.' It can grow to 7 feet tall. It's interesting how it lay dormant in the soil for decades prior to emerging when the right conditions prevailed.
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