Property boundaries

Fences and corrals

Buildings

Wells (human orstock)

Septic system

Streams, wetlands,ponds

Bare ground

Weeds

Lawn, pasture or cropland

Trees or shrubs

Soil type (refer toyour county soilsurvey available fromthe USDA SoilConservation Service)

Depth to groundwater(check with welldrillers

Neighboring land uses

Flat or sloped ground

As more people make Utah their home, more of our large traditional farms arebeing divided into small acreage home lots. Many of these small acreage ownerswould like to have verdant green pastures where they can raise horses, calves,or sheep. However, many of them lack the experience and training to successfullyestablish and maintain a healthy grazing system.

Using Our Land and Water Resources in aProductive, Environmentally Friendly Way

Utah is a greatplace to live, andwe each need todo our part to

keep it that way!

Evaluate What You Have . . .The first step in developing a management plan is tolook around, make a sketch and take a few notes aboutyour property. In your sketch, show or note:

Some CommonlyAsked QuestionsAbout Pastures:• Why is my pasture’s produc-

tivity dropping, leavingbare ground and weeds?

• Are three horses too manyfor one acre?

• What type of grass should Iplant?

• How do I fertilize for goodproduction and also avoidcontamination of water-ways and ground water?

• How often and for how longshould I irrigate my pasture?

This booklet will answerthese questions and pro-vide information andideas for your own smallpasture. With a little time,knowledge and not a lotof money, you can have a“picture perfect” pasturethat provides abundantgrazing while protectingthe environment. Remem-ber, we’re all part of aneighborhood and our ac-tions can affect others.

Make a PlanOnce you’ve looked at your property and identified your goals, develop amanagement plan for reaching them. Remember, even if you like things justthe way they are, you will need to do something to keep weeds from comingin and to keep the water clean! With some basic maintenance your pasture willstay vigorous and productive for many years.

1

What are your goals?

What do you want?

What can your land andresources support?

Animal grazing? How many?

Hay production?

Wildlife habitat?

A fish pond?

A 4-H livestock project?

A riding arena?

Native plants?

Seclusion?

Pretty vistas?

Non-irrigated pasture?

Something else?

Are your goals realisticfor your property?

Plants get the energy needed for growth from the sun through photosynthesisin their green leaves. The root system is in the dark and totally reliant on

the leaves to supply the carbohydrates required formaintenance and growth. When grass

plants are continuouslygrazed short, the rootmass decreases to whatthe leaf area can support.

The general rule ofthumb is to begin grazingwhen the pasture is 7 to

8 inches tall and stop grazing when theaverage height of the pasture is 3 inches. Over grazing

not only reduces the health and vigor of the plants, causing a decrease inthe regrowth rate, but it pre-disposes the pasture to weed invasion.

How Much Feed and Forage Do You Need forYour Livestock?

In Utah, livestock areusually grazed from Maythrough October and fedhay from Novemberthrough April. Bystockpiling pasturegrasses (leaving a part ofthe pasture ungrazedfrom mid August to midOctober), the grazingseason can often beextended into December.

Grazing is measured inAnimal Unit Months(AUM). One AUM is theamount of forageconsumed by a 1000-pound animal in onemonth.

In this example, your land would produce enough hay to feed your animals for 6 months.However, you would not have enough forage (grazing) to meet your animals’ needs during thegrazing period. To avoid overgrazing your pasture, you can do some of the following…

Q. Does your needed forage and hay require-ment equal your production potential?

To find out, do your own calculations. This exampleoperation has 20 acres of fertile non-irrigated land.Ten acres is used for hay production and ten acresfor grazing. Livestock consist of three horses.

Hay Requirement3 horses x .5 tons/month x 6 months = 9 tons hay

Hay Production10 acres (fertile non-irrigated soil) x 1 ton/acre

= 10 tons hay

Forage Requirement3 horses x 1.25 AUMs/month x 6 months = 22.4 AUMs

Forage Production10 acres (fertile non-irrigated soil) x 1 AUM/acre

= 10 AUMs

• Buy additional feed or rent pasture• Increase pasture production• Improve grazing management• Reduce number of animals

Q. How much hay and forage do youranimals need each year?

Average Animal Feed RequirementsHay Forage

(tons/month) (AUMs/month)

1 horse .5 1.251 cow .4 1.21 sheep .1 .21 llama .15 .31 goat .1 .2

Q. How much forage or hay does yourpasture produce?

Average Forage Production of Pasture in One Year

Fertile Soils Poor SoilsHay Forage Hay Forage(tons) (AUM’s) (tons) (AUM’s)

Irrigated 4-6 6-10 2-4 3-6

Non-irrigated 1-2 1-2 .5 .5

How Grazing Affects Root GrowthOvergrazing stops root growth andreduces grass production. It occurswhen more than 50% of the grassplant is removed.Look what happens when you try tosneak in another 10% “harvest”, 50%of the roots stop growing!

Percent Grass Percent RootPlant Removed Growth Stopped

10% 0%20% 0%30% 0%40% 0%50% 2-4%60% 50%70% 78%80% 100%90% 100%

2

Forage Quality

Pasture Growth PatternsThe cool season grasses grown in Utah havea large flush of growth in the spring. This flushcan be beneficial in providing the increasednutrient demands of lactating mother animalsand their growing young. However, it frequentlyprovides more grass than the animals canconsume.When this spring flush of growth isn’t used,the grass gets overly mature, animals avoideating it, and new leaf growth is suppressed.If this happens, the pasture should bemechanically clipped to encourage uniformregrowth of young vigorous grass plants.

Options for utilizing the spring flush are totake one cutting of hay from half of the pasturethen graze all of the pasture through the restof the season, or to vary the number of animalsgrazing the pasture to match its production.The spring flush can be partially avoided bydelaying the first fertilizer application untilthe end of June. However, a large percent ofthe season’s growth occurs in May throughJune, without fertilization much of this foragepotential will be lost.

As plants grow older, their forage quality decreases. This occurs because, as plants get larger,more of their cells become fibrous in order to support a more massive structure. This lessdigestible fiber lowers the forage quality and makes the plants less palatable to animals.

Fertilization can also have a major influence on forage quality. (See Fertilization page 7)

Grazing Management Produces More ForageAnimals will seek out the most palatable foragesin a pasture. If livestock are allowed to continu-ously remain in one pasture too long, they willre-graze the succulent regrowth instead of eatingmore mature plants. This continuous grazing isvery hard on plants, using up their root reservesand slowing their future recovery.

Rotational grazing involves confining animals inone section of pasture or paddock while theremainder of the pasture “rests.” These paddocksare small enough that all the forage is grazed toa uniform height in a relatively short period oftime. The timing of rotations must be adjustedfor the growth rate of the forage. However, mostirrigated paddocks are ready to be regrazed after3 to 4 weeks of rest. A minimum of four paddocks

is necessary to achieve the major advantages ofa rotational grazing system. For maximum animalgrowth, more paddocks will be needed. Be sureto design the system so that animals have accessto water in each paddock.

Having access to a corral where animals can befed hay, greatly increases the flexibility of arotational grazing system. The corral can be usedas one or more of the paddocks rotated throughor used to limit the animals grazing to a specificnumber of hours. For example, some horseowners will let their animals into the pasture fora few hours in the morning and evening. Thismeets the nutritional needs of most horses andeliminates excessive trampling.

M J J A S O N D J F M APASTURE 1

PASTURE 2

PASTURE 3

PASTURE 4

GG

GG

GG

GG

GG

G

G Graze Rest Provide feed/hay

3

MA

R

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AU

G

SEP

OC

T

NO

V

Excess Forage

Forage Needed

Typical Pattern ofPasture ProductionDuring Grazing Season

Monthly forage needs shown as bargraph. The pasture yield isrepresented as the curve.

Forage Needed

Yield

Best time to graze

Quality

Forage Growth Curve

Before starting over on a run down pasture, considerinvigorating it with improved irrigation, fertilization,weed control, and grazing management. If replantingis necessary or when establishing a new pasture,consider:

Seed bed preparation - Best results come with aclean, firm seed bed. An herbicide application (broad-spectrum type such as Roundup) may be necessaryprior to tillage for effective weed control.

Species selection - Access to irrigation is theprimary concern in determining which grass speciesto plant. Drought tolerant species are not as palatablenor productive but are the only realistic optionwhen sufficient irrigation water is not available.Another factor to consider is tolerance to salinityand standing water if these conditions exist. If thesite is free of these constraints, consider palatabilityand yield. Legumes such as alfalfa or clover are oftenincluded in pasture mixes. They may be killed byherbicides if weed treatments are needed afterestablishment.

Planting considerations - Pasture planting ismost successful when completed from March 15through May 1 or from August 15 through September

15. Seeding rates for most species is 15 to 20 lbs/acre.Planting depth should be 1/4 inch. Seed planteddeeper than 1/2 inch will have difficulty emerging.Many small pasture owners broadcast the seed andthen lightly drag the field to establish adequate soilcontact. It is recommended that single grass speciesor a bunch and sod forming type grass mix beplanted. Mixtures that contain a large number ofvarieties tend to lose their more palatable species,because the animals preferentially graze them. Manyof these pastures end up being dominated by TallFescue because it is frequently the least palatable.

Legumes - A legume such as alfalfa or clover canbe added to the mix at the rate of 1 to 2 lbs of seedper acre to increase forage protein and provideorganic nitrogen.

Grazing - New seedings should be protected fromgrazing and trampling until the plants are establishedenough so that they will not be pulled up by grazinganimals. This can be accomplished by taking onecutting of hay before allowing animals to graze.Non-irrigated pastures may require two summerswithout grazing.

Tips for a Successful Grazing Program• Eliminate continuous season-long

grazing.• Corral livestock and feed them hay

until your pasture grasses are 6" to 8"high. Remove animals when 50% ofthe available forage has been eaten(3" height remains).

• Do not regraze until grasses are atleast 6" tall (will take 3 to 4 weeks onirrigated pasture).

• During the winter non-grazing period,hold animals in a corral.

• Allow long rest periods to rejuvenatepastures in poor conditions.

• Provide a water source for each pas-ture.

• Irrigate each pasture immediatelyafter grazing to stimulate regrowthand avoid hoof compaction on wetsoils.

• Horses do not need continuous ac-cess to pasture. Their nutritionalneeds can be met with only a fewhours of grazing on good pasture.Corral animals for the remainder ofthe day to prevent over grazing ofplants and avoid excess trampling ofvegetation.

• On limited acreage, you may haveonly enough pasture to exercise youranimals and will need to feed year-round.

Corral

Fenced Pasture

W

S

Water in corral

Shelter in corral

Gate to pasture

2 4 6 8

S W

1 3 5 7

1 2 3 4

S W

WS1

2

34

SAMPLEDESIGNSFOR AROTATIONALGRAZINGSYSTEM

Pasture Establishment

Before starting overon a run down pasture, considerinvigorating it withimproved irriga-tion, fertilization,weed control, andgrazing manage-ment.

4

GRASSESMeadow Brome - Sod forming, excellent palatability,strong seedlings, irrigated or non-irrigated with 15 inchesor more of precipitation annually.

Smooth Brome - Sod forming, excellent palatability, weakseedlings, vigorous spreader, adapted to irrigated conditions.

Tall Fescue - Bunch grass, fair palatability, high producing,tolerant of wet and salty conditions. For grazing, plantcertified endophyte-free seed.

Perennial Ryegrass - Relatively short-lived bunch grass,excellent palatability, establishes rapidly, low winterhardiness, requires high fertility, adapted to irrigatedconditions.

Orchardgrass - Bunch grass, highly palatable, high pro-ducing, shade tolerant, irrigated or non-irrigated with 16inches or more of precipitation annually.

Creeping Meadow Foxtail - Sod forming, highly palat-able, well adapted to wet meadow conditions.

Intermediate Wheatgrass - Mild sod forming, highlypalatable, excellent on non-irrigated sites with 14 or moreinches of annual precipitation.

Timothy - Bunch grass, traditional feed for horses, mod-erate palatability, moderate to high production on wetmeadows. It is poor for grazing during moist conditionsas many plants will be pulled out thus thinning the stand.

Pasture Establishment Forage Descriptions forCommonly Used Species

Weeds in small pastures cansignificantly reduceavailable forage. Most weedproblems can be preventedwith good grazing,fertilization and irrigationpractices, but continuallywatch for new weedinvasions. Among the mostcommon broad-leaf weedsin pastures are burdock,cocklebur, whitetop, curlydock, teasel and thistles.Foxtail barley is one of themost troublesome grassyweeds. Weed identificationis the first step towards aneffective control program.

Weed and Pest ControlKnow Your WeedsBefore They…• Choke out desirable for-

age for livestock and wild-life.

• Reduce the productivity ofyour pasture and land.

• Spread RAPIDLY!

Burdock Canada Thistle Cocklebur Curly Dock

Foxtail Barley White Top Teasel

A shovel can be used to dig outwidely scattered weeds. Clippingweeds before they go to seed willhelp prevent existing problemsfrom getting worse. When usingherbicides, remember that mostweeds are better controlled whenthey are small. Owners of smallpastures will generally need to useproducts based on 2,4-D or dicamba(Banvel) for broadleaf weeds andglyphosate (Roundup) for spottreatment of grassy weeds.

Keep in mind that Roundup is non-selective and will kill desirableplants as well.

Always read herbicide labelscarefully and follow directions.Animals may need to be removedfor a number of days after spraying.

For best results team up with yourneighbors in a joint control effortso weeds are less likely to returnfrom across the fence.

Insects and diseases are rarelyproblems in pastures, but rodentscan be a real concern. The fan-shaped mounds of dirt left bygophers reduce yield, while thetunnels can damage irrigationsystems. Control can be achievedby using baits or traps available atmost farm supply stores. Protectedby winter snow, voles may leave aweb of surface tunnels in pastures.This problem disappears later inthe spring as lack of cover exposesthe voles to natural predators.

5

LEGUMESAlfalfa - Very productive, excellentpalatability, short-lived, irrigated ornon-irrigated.Strawberry Clover - Spreadingmoderate production, tolerant of wetand salty conditions..White Clover - Spreading, high pro-ductivity, long-lived, irriagted or non-irrigated.

Nothing in your management efforts will affect pro-duction of your pasture more than providing adequateirrigation. Different soil types hold various amounts ofwater. If all of the water held by the soil was removed,the plants would die. A general rule is that when theplants have removed 50% of the water held by the soil,it is time to irrigate and refill the rooting zone. Forestablished pasture grasses, the rooting zone is 2-3 feet.

Determining when to irrigate. In all but the sandytextured soils, you can do a rough check on soil moistureby using the soil ball method. Dig a small hole andremove a handful of soil from a section 6" to 12" deep.Squeeze the soil into a ball. If, when you open yourhand and bounce the ball (in the palm of your hand),the soil remains in a stable shape, your soil has morethan 50% of its available water holding capacity. If itcrumbles, it needs irrigation.

Am I applying too much water? Using too muchwater washes away plant nutrients. When this happensgrasses appear yellow. Growth of aquatic weeds, suchas sedge or rushes, are also indicators of too muchwater.

What if I’m short on water? If your grass is goingdry and dormant between irrigation turns in the hottestpart of the summer, it is time to sacrifice some pasture.Let some land dry up in July and August, the grass willgreen up again in the fall. In the meantime, keep yourmost productive areas green and unstressed by focusingyour irrigation here. You will get more productionfrom a smaller area of unstressed grass than a largerarea of grass going in and out of dormancy.

How long should I irrigate? While this depends onthe irrigation supply rate, in general, irrigate sandy soilsfor short periods (2-3 hours) and clay soils for longerperiods (9-12 hours). Before considering rain as areplacement for an irrigation turn, use a shove to seehow deep it has penetrated into the soil. Not oftendoes a rain storm provide enough water to fill the

rooting zone.

Sprinkling is one of the best ways to efficientlyirrigate your pasture, but it requires a significantmonetary investment in equipment. There is little runoffwith sprinklers and it is easy to measure how muchwater is being applied.

Flood Irrigation Methods - With all flood irrigationsystems it is essential that provisions be made to drainexcess tail water off the bottom of the field. This watermay carry fertilizers and sediment and thus be asource of contamination to streams.

Graded Border Irrigation is when water is floodeddown the field between two dikes. It works well, butthe land should be leveled for best efficiency. It isdifficult to know how much water soaked in and howmuch ran off the bottom of the field.

Corrugations are closely spaced small furrows thatcarry water from the top of the field to the bottom.This approach doesn’t require quite as level a field asborder irrigation, but still doesn’t provide for easymonitoring of the water actually retained by the soil.It is also very rough running hay harvesting equipmentacross the corrugations.

Wild Flood is just running water from the top of thefield to the bottom with no mechanism for insuringan even distribution. For this method to work efficiently,the field must be very level with a uniform fall fromtop to bottom.

Soil Types—Know Your SoilsSoils vary widely, even across your backyard. The type of soil you have willinfluence:• What type and how much forage your

land can produce.• How quickly water moves through the

soil.• If the soil will filter animal wastes

before they reach ground water.• How often you need to irrigate.• How much water needs to be applied in

each irrigation.• How much fertilizer is needed.For information about your soil type, refer to yourcounty’s soil survey available from the Natural ResourcesConservation Service (NRCS) office ( listed in your phonebook under United States Government, Dept. ofAgriculture). You can also find soil surveys at the CountyExtension Office and the public library.

How does it feel in your hand?

Loam is a combination of all of these.

Irrigation Management

Silt feels silkysmooth whenwet

Clay feelsstickywhen

wet

Sand feels courseand gritty

0”-2”Organic Matter

2”-10”Topsoil

10”-30”Subsoil

30”-48”Parent

Materialor Bedrock

Irrigation How Muchand How Often?

SoilTexture

Water* IrrigationInterval**

LoamySand

1.25” 4-6 days

Loam 2.5” 9-11 days

Clay 2.5” 9-11 days

* Water to be replaced in the 2.5´ foot root-ing zone when the soil is at 50% of itswater holding capacity

** Average July Irrigation Interval (Valid4,000-5,000 feet elevation in Utah)

6

GENERAL FERTILIZERRECOMMENDATIONS(for an established grass pasture)

Nitrogen (N) - Nitrogen is the plantnutrient required in the largest amountby grass pastures. An application of ni-trogen will usually have a profound ef-fect on pasture production. Soil appliednitrogen is effective for about 8 weeks,therefore it needs to be re-applied sev-eral times through the growing season.A suggested per acre application sched-ule for a well managed irrigated pasturewould be: 100 lbs of N in April; 60 lbsof N in late June; and another 60 lbs ofN in late August.

Legumes, like alfalfa and clover, have theability to pull nitrogen from the air andmake it available to plants. Pastures witha significant legume population requireless commercial nitrogen fertilizer. Ageneral rule is to reduce the nitrogenapplied by the percentage of legume in

the pasture mix.

Phosphorus (P) - Phosphorus is par-ticularly important for seedling growthin a new pasture. Legumes require higherlevels of phosphorus than grasses. Workphosphorus into the soil before seedinga new pasture or broadcast it over thetop of established pastures. Where pas-ture forages are consumed by grazingand the manure is distributed evenlyacross the field, phosphorus levels tendto remain constant. Thus once adequatelevels are established, further applica-tions may not be needed for severalyears.

Potassium (K) - The need for potas-sium varies widely through Utah. A soiltest is very useful in knowing whether toapply this nutrient. Many of our pasturesreceive sufficient potassium from theirrigation water. Like phosphorus, potas-sium in the soil remains relatively con-stant where forages are grazed and ma-nure redeposited on the field.

Fertilization

1.13

5.6

1

3.2

46

.38

5.8

56

.86

6.5

57

.32

7.7

87

.91

NITROGEN EFFECT ON PRODUCTIONOF LEGUME GRASS vs. GRASS

Weber County

0 50 100 150 200Lbs N/ACRE

100% Grass

50% Legume/50% Grass

An irrigated pasture requires frequent fertilization for top

production. In the spring, drag pastures to spread any

manure left by grazing animals. Animals avoid grazing

areas fouled by fresh manure for about three weeks. By

dragging the pasture, you not only avoid having ungrazed,

fouled areas, but also more efficiently distribute the

nutrient value of the manure.

Soil Testing A soil test is the best way to develop a

fertilizer program. It will tell you how much fertilizer you

need to apply for the amount of forage you estimate will

be produced. The local Utah State University ExtensionAgent can help you with a sample box and the instruc-

tions for having a soil analysis done. The routine test

includes phosphorus, potassium, pH, salinity, lime and

texture. Tests for nitrogen and micro-nutrients are also

available. Once you have completed a soil test and made

the appropriate fertilizer applications, a follow up test

every three or four years will indicate how your fertility

program is progressing.

Fertilizer Selection

The three primary plant nutrients contained in commercial

fertilizer are (N) nitrogen, (P) phosphorus and (K) potas-

sium. These nutrients are represented by the three numbers

on every fertilizer bag.

A fertilizer labeled “32-10-10” indicates that:

32% of the contents is nitrogen (N)

10% of the contents is available

phosphorus (P2O5)

10% of the contents is soluble potassium(K2O)

(The other 48% is inert filler)

Example: Suppose the soil test recommended that you

apply 100 lbs of nitrogen per acre. Using the 32-10-10

fertilizer, you would need to apply 312 pounds per acre.

(100 lbs of nitrogen divided by 32% (.32) = 312 lbs of

fertilizer.

Most Limiting Factor

The Most Limiting Factor principle states that plant

yield is limited by which ever factor is most deficient.

This means that if phosphorus is severely deficient in a

soil, adding more nitrogen will not increase production.

This helps us understand that we must provide for the

balanced needs of the pasture for it to reach its full

potential.

Fertilizer Effect on Quality — Applying nitrogen fer-tilizer to pastures not only increases yield, but also improvesthe quality of the forage produced. The results of a grasspasture trial in Weber County showed that the additionof 150 lbs of nitrogen in the spring increased the proteincontent of the grass by 36% (from 11.3% to 17.7%).

7

MOSTLIMITINGFACTOR

The most limitingfactor determinesthe yield potential.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

TON

S /

ACRE

Pasture Management - Animals on pasture shouldhave access to a windbreak or other shelter to protectthem from cold winter winds, hot summer sun, andwet, rainy weather. When introducing livestock topasture in the spring, it is wise to limit access for a fewdays to decrease the chances of colic or founder froman abrupt change in diet. Begin by turning animals outfor two hours the first day. Increase this gradually overa week or two. After this adjustment period, it shouldbe safe for them to remain in pasture full-time.

The young growing calf, hard working horse, or preg-nant mare may have higher nutritional requirementsthan pasture alone can provide and may necessitatethe addition of a grain mixture. All animals shouldhave free choice access to trace-mineralized salt. Also,all animals need access to adequate quantities of freshwater. The average horse will consume 10-12 gallonsof water each day.

Parasite control - This is a vital part of every healthcare program. Manure is the primary means throughwhich parasites spread. Manure often contaminates thefeed, water supplies, pastures, paddocks, and stalls.Proper manure disposal will help prevent this contam-ination. The manure should be composted or spreadon unoccupied pastures to sun cure. Harrowing ordragging pastures during hot dry weather helps dispersemanure deposits and kills parasite larva by exposingthem to the sun. Dragging should not be done whereanimals are grazing because it distributes the larvaeacross the grass making it more accessible initially.There is little advantage to grazing cows and sheepwith horses. However, horses following ruminants(cows) or vice versa is beneficial. The parasites thatare specific to horses do not reproduce in cows so theparasite population is reduced.

Bloating - Pastures that contain a large percentage ofalfalfa or clover pose an increased risk for bloatinganimals. Make sure animals are not hungry when theyenter these fields and watch them closely.

Livestock Concerns

Owners of any kind of livestock know that animalscan affect neighbors. Some fairly general complaintslivestock owners receive are concerning dust, flies, andodors.

Dust can be reduced in corrals by periodic wetting. Ifyour pasture is producing dust, it needs serious attention.

Flies hatch from maggots that grow in warm, wetmanure. The most unpleasant odors also come fromwet manure.

Some possible solutions:• Feed dealers have mineral supplements that stop

flies from growing in manure.

• Drag manure to spread it over the field and dry itout.

• Divert runoff water away from corrals.

Save the trees! Trees and shrubs are an asset in mostpasture settings. They work like an evaporative coolerin the summer and are a windbreak in cold weather.They also increase the value of your property. If animalsare peeling bark or otherwise damaging trees, considerprotecting the trees with a fence.

Stream Stewardship - Trees and shrubs protectstream banks and enhance wildlife habitat. If they areremoved, the stream is likely to cut into the streambank on your property. People downstream then have

to deal with the sediment that used to be your land.Sediment kills fish and fills canals, lakes and ponds.Having a pasture on a stream can be an advantage,however it carries increased responsibility.

Fencing livestock off the stream bank allows willowsand trees to grow and protect the soil. You don’t haveto find another way to water the stock if you utilizeproper fencing. Make a small stream access area withpanels or fence. The access should be small enough tokeep animals from wading into the stream. Puttinggravel in the access area will provide a firm base tokeep animals from disturbing the stream soil.

Don’t Make Me Drink It! Take a hard look at the layof your land. When it storms, where does the watergo? It is not good stream stewardship to let yourrunoff carry manure with it because most Utahstreams are somebody’s drinking water source. Evenpeople using well water know that often theirwater source is the ground water from pastures.

Spread manure on land that is away from thestream, and manage irrigation water. When grassis well managed, it cleans and filters water anduses the nutrients in the manure for growth. Ifyou have a well-managed pasture, you canactually improve the quality of water for everyone.

Environmental Concerns

8

Utah State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer andeducational organization. We offer our programs to persons regardless of race,

color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability.

Land owners need to be aware of land and ownershipissues and requirements that may vary from jurisdictionto jurisdiction. The following are some issues that mayrequire a landowners attention and some research toverify compliance:

Zoning - Zoning laws vary in each community. Thenumber or type of animals that can be located on aproperty may be restricted. Some restrictions may berecorded on a deed while other requirements mayonly be verified by a visit to the local planning andzoning office.

Water Rights - Utah is located in a desert and wateris precious. Water rights on a given piece of land shouldbe verified prior to purchasing that land. Water rightsare verified through the State of Utah Division ofWater Rights in Salt Lake City. A permit from theDivision of Water Rights is also required to drill a well.Ground with water rights may be subject to localrestraints on how much water is available and for howlong the water may be diverted and used. Local ditchcompanies may also have varying rules and regulations.Speaking to the local water master or attending a ditchcompany meeting will give insight into water issuesin your area.

Burning Laws - In most areas, agricultural burningof ditches and field waste is accepted, but notificationof local fire fighting units is required. Regulations varyfrom community to community. Call the local firedepartment in your area to check on the legality of

burning. Remember, ev-ery big fire starts out asa small fire.

Fencing Laws - Fencingrequirements may be setby zoning laws or deedrestrictions (See zoningabove.) Care should betaken to make fencessecure and safe for youranimals.

Weed Control - Utahhas a Noxious Weed Law.Landowners are requiredto make all efforts tocontrol noxious weeds on their property. Control maybe achieved through various methods which includethe use of chemicals, cutting, burning, and tillage. Weedcontrol requires proper identification. Help with iden-tification of weeds is available through the USU Exten-sion Service or Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Pet Constraints - Homeowners need to be aware oflicensing and restraint laws affecting animals. A permitmust be obtained to legally raise certain exotic animals.Dogs that are allowed to run free can become a generalliability if they attack other animals and cause deathor physical damage. Some pets and poultry are subjectto attacks by natural predators if not well protected.

Landowner Responsibilities

9

Project Coordinator:James Barnhill, USU Agriculture ExtensionAgent, Weber County

Project Committee:Shawn Olsen - USU, Randy Sessions - USU,Neils Hansen - NRCS, Clark Garn NRCS, PattiTodd- NRCS, Dale Fowers FSA, Marilyn Odell- Bonneville RC&D, Kevin Stratford - SCD

Authors:James Barnhill, Shawn Olsen, Randy Sessions,Dean Miner, Tiffany Julen-Day, Niels Hansen,Clark Garn

Edited By:Donna Falkenborg - USU Extension Publica-tions, Marilyn Odell - Bonneville RC&D

Developed in Cooperation with:Utah State University Extension, USDA NaturalResources Conservation Service, USDA FarmService Agency, Utah Soil Conservation Districts,Bonneville Resource Conservation District

Reviewed By:M. Phil Rolston - New Zealand Pastoral Agri-cultural Research Institute Limited, StuartParkinson - University of Idaho, Bill Ford -Washington State University, Rich Koenig -Utah State University, Ralph Whitesides - UtahState University, Bob Hill - Utah State University,Wade Bitner - Utah State University

Funded By:USDA Environmental Quality Incentive Pro-gram funds

Designed and Illustrated By:Kathy Bardwell - Graphic Artist

Trudy Young - Design Specialist

Final Design and Printing By:Quality Quick Print - Riverdale, Utah

Sources:Primary source for information in this guideis “Tips on Land & Water Management forSmall Farms & Ranches in Montana,” MontanaDepartment of Natural Resources and Conser-vation

“Pastures for Profit, A Guide to RotationalGrazing”, University of Wisconsin-ExtensionA3529

“Interagency Forage and Conservation PlantingGuide for Utah,” USU Extension EC 433

You may freely reproduce or copy any portion of this booklet.

About this Publication…

• Productiveagricultural land

• Wildlife• Clear streams• Native plants• Healthy livestock