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The Southern Great Plains: Characteristics, Agriculture, and Livestock, Study notes of Geographic Data and Information

An overview of the southern great plains region, its climate, soils, and vegetation. It highlights the challenges faced in the past due to misuse of soils and drought, and the importance of diversified agriculture and range management. The distribution of livestock and their impact on range resources, as well as various practices for wintering and fattening livestock. It also mentions the importance of annual appraisals and sustainable use of grass for optimal livestock production.

What you will learn

  • How can farmers and stockmen make better use of range lands and improve livestock production?
  • What practices are used for wintering and fattening livestock in the Southern Great Plains?
  • What are the main challenges faced in the Southern Great Plains region regarding agriculture and livestock?

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The
Southern
Great
Plains
THE
REGION
AND
ITS
NEEDS
D.
A.
SAVAGE,
D.
F.
COSTELLO
T
HE
Southern
Great
Plains
is
a
big
expanse
of
range
country,
dry-land
farms,
and
some
irri-
gated
areas.
Unintentional
but
wide-
spread
misuse
of
its
soils
in
the
past
and
a
cataclysmic
drought
depleted
the
ranges,
destroyed
land
and
property,
upset
community
stability,
and
brought
a
need
for
subsidies,
relief,
and
other
outside
aid.
People
then
called
a
part
of
it
the
Dust
Bowl.
It
has
now
regained
some
of
its
prominence
as
a
leading
cattle-pro-
ducing
and
livestock-farming
area;
to
maintain
and
improve
this
position
re-
quires
a
grassland
agriculture
geared
to
climate
and
the
nature
of
the
soil.
This
hopeful
trend
is
still
in
its
in-
fancy.
Much
remains
to
be
done.
Mil-
lions
of
acres
of
the
t^rosive,
less
fertile
areas
need
to
be
returned
to
grass;
farming
needs
to
be
restricted
to
the
better
lands.
Extremely
alarming
is
the
tendency
in
some
sections
to
repeat
the
serious
mistake
made
in
the
First
World
War
by
plowing
up
the
native
pas-
ture
land
and
placing
it
under
cultiva-
tion.
The
great
drought
of
the
1930's
emphasized
the
fallacy
of
straight
wheat
production
in
the
region,
pointed
up
the
importance
of
a
more
diversified
grassland
agriculture,
and
focused
public
attention
upon
the
crit-
ical
need
for
expanding,
improving,
and
conserving
the
acreage
of
good
range
grasses.
The
lesson
was
a
costly
one.
It
must
be
remembered.
Severe
droughts
are
certain
to
recur.
We
must
be
ready
for
them.
The
Southern
Great
Plains
includes
about
130
million
acres
south
of
the
Nebraska-Kansas
and
Wyoming-Colo-
rado
borders.
It
extends
from
the
east-
ern
slope
of
the
Rocky
Mountains
in
Colorado
and
New
Mexico
to
about
the
98th
meridian
in
Kansas
and
Okla-
homa.
The
boundary
swings
southwest
in
Texas
to
the
southern
border
of
New
Mexico
and
includes
the
Texas
Pan-
handle
and
adjacent
areas
of
western
Texas
and
eastern
New
Mexico.
The
region
represents
about
a
third
of
the
total
area
of
the
ñvc
States.
Wide
variations
occur
in
surface
fea-
tures,
soils,
and
plant
cover.
The
gen-
eral
aspect
is
a
fairly
level
plain
with
shallow
drainage
channels
often
inter-
spersed
with
rolling
lands
or
steep
broken
areas.
The
principal
rivers
flow
eastward.
Only
two
of
them,
the
South
Platte
and
the
Arkansas,
furnish
much
water
for
irrigation.
Most
of
the
re-
gion
slopes
gently
from
elevations
of
5,000
to
6,000
feet
on
the
west
to
2,000
feet
or
less
on
the
east
and
south.
The
climate
is
highly
variable
from
month
to
month
and
year
to
year.
Rainfall
is
comparatively
light
and
in-
frequent;
humidity
is
low;
there
are
high
winds
and
quick
evaporation.
503
pf3
pf4

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Download The Southern Great Plains: Characteristics, Agriculture, and Livestock and more Study notes Geographic Data and Information in PDF only on Docsity!

The Southern Great Plains

THE REGION AND ITS NEEDS

D. A. SAVAGE, D. F. COSTELLO

THE Southern Great Plains is a big expanse of range country, dry-land farms, and some irri- gated areas. Unintentional but wide- spread misuse of its soils in the past and a cataclysmic drought depleted the ranges, destroyed land and property, upset community stability, and brought a need for subsidies, relief, and other outside aid. People then called a part of it the Dust Bowl. It has now regained some of its prominence as a leading cattle-pro- ducing and livestock-farming area; to maintain and improve this position re- quires a grassland agriculture geared to climate and the nature of the soil. This hopeful trend is still in its in- fancy. Much remains to be done. Mil- lions of acres of the t^rosive, less fertile areas need to be returned to grass; farming needs to be restricted to the better lands. Extremely alarming is the tendency in some sections to repeat the serious mistake made in the First World War by plowing up the native pas- ture land and placing it under cultiva- tion. The great drought of the 1930's emphasized the fallacy of straight wheat production in the region, pointed up the importance of a more diversified grassland agriculture, and focused public attention upon the crit- ical need for expanding, improving, and conserving the acreage of good

range grasses. The lesson was a costly one. It must be remembered. Severe droughts are certain to recur. We must be ready for them. The Southern Great Plains includes about 130 million acres south of the Nebraska-Kansas and Wyoming-Colo- rado borders. It extends from the east- ern slope of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and New Mexico to about the 98th meridian in Kansas and Okla- homa. The boundary swings southwest in Texas to the southern border of New Mexico and includes the Texas Pan- handle and adjacent areas of western Texas and eastern New Mexico. The region represents about a third of the total area of the ñvc States. Wide variations occur in surface fea- tures, soils, and plant cover. The gen- eral aspect is a fairly level plain with shallow drainage channels often inter- spersed with rolling lands or steep broken areas. The principal rivers flow eastward. Only two of them, the South Platte and the Arkansas, furnish much water for irrigation. Most of the re- gion slopes gently from elevations of 5,000 to 6,000 feet on the west to 2, feet or less on the east and south. The climate is highly variable from month to month and year to year. Rainfall is comparatively light and in- frequent; humidity is low; there are high winds and quick evaporation. 503

504

The yearly precipitation ranges from 10 to 17 inches in the west to 20 inches or more in the east ; about two-thirds of it falls during the active growing sea- son, April to September. Much of the rainfall occurs as torrents or light, in- effective showers; often hot weather and high winds further reduce its ef- fectiveness. Drought periods, which oc- cur nearly every year and occasionally last for several seasons or years, make dry-land farming hazardous. The winters here arc generally mild, open, and fairly dry, with an infre- quent shower or severe snowstorm and sharp fluctuations in temperature. Wind velocities reach a peak late in winter or early in the spring and are usually higher throughout the year than elsewhere in the United States. Plants to be fully adapted to the en- tire region must be able to withstand these conditions and temperature ex- tremes from 118° to -30° F. The average yearly temperature ranges from about 50° in the north to 65° in the south, with a summer mean usually above 70°. The daily range is high. The frost-free season varies from 125 days on the higher slopes of Colorado to 200 days at the lower elevations in the southeastern part. The soils range in texture from dune sand to heavy clay. Most of them are well supplied with minerals and other essential elements in available form. They were developed mainly from materials originally washed from the Rocky Mountains, and contain a vari- ety of minerals that have not been leached below the depth of plant roots, except in some sandy soils. Farmers recognize tw^o broad classes

YEARBOOK OF AGRICULTURE 19 48

of soils in the region: The hard lands, that can grow wheat and cotton, and the sandy lands, where sorghums or corn are best suited. Two other broad distinctions are made in considering proper land use: The heavy, semiheavy, and sandy soils adapted to cultivation; and the loose sandy soils, heavy clays, and rough broken lands suitable for range. The heavier and more fertile soils consist of a fine-grained layer of topsoil composed of silt or clay loam and underlain wâth a clay or clay loam subsoil. These soils absorb water slowly but retain it well. On January 1, 1947, the five States that include the Southern Great Plains had about 18 million cattle, 13 million sheep, and V/z- million horses and mules. The five States had 22 percent of the Nation's cattle, 35 percent of the sheep, and 16 percent of the horses and mules—or 25 percent of the total animal population and 17 percent of the valuation of these classes of grass- eating livestock. Sheep numbers in the five States were 75 percent of the cattle numbers in the area, but the valuation of sheep was a tenth of that of cattle. Texas led the United States in num- ber and valuation of cattle and sheep and in number of horses. Kansas ranked second in the region and fifth in the country in number of cattle; Colorado ranked correspondingly in number of sheep. New Mexico had fewer cattle than any State within the region but more than 11 other States. The importance of the region as a cattle-producing area is much greater than the figures indicate; they were recorded after millions of feeder cattle had left the region for finishing in the Corn Belt. The cattle population in the region on January 1, 1947, was 4 percent be- low that for the same date in 1946 but 8 percent above the previous 10-year average. This large population is cer- tain to result in damage to range re- sources in the event of another severe drought unless adequate supplies of extra forage and other supplements are provided.

5o

grazed on the range, the general prac- tice is to use a herder and to provide night corrals and some shelter. Supple- mental feeding in winter is the com- mon practice. A few small operators cater to the spring lamb market, but the bulk of production goes to the fall slaughter and feeder lamb markets. Range sheep production is of minor importance in the region. This ac- counts for the fact that range lands of the Southern Great Plains have suf- fered somewhat less from overgrazing than many other ranges in the West. The beef cattle industry in the Southern Great Plains can be placed and maintained on a much more stable basis through the adoption of im- proved practices for the care and man- agement of both the range and the cat- tle. These possibilities are indicated by the results of range studies and grazing tests conducted in the region. Stockmen are urged to make annual appraisals of the condition of their range lands and determine the trend for better or w^orse. Accurate inven- tories of this kind are dependent upon a thorough knowledge of, and ability to recognize, the desirable and unde- sirable plants. Every stockman needs a practical working knowledge of the production capacity of his grasslands. He needs to know what degree of for- age utilization will result in optimum returns from his livestock and at the same time allow sustained maximum production of grass. If this knowledge were generally available, the evil effects of "grass in- flation" and "grass depression" could be diminished. In good years, a large volume of vegetation^ much of which

YEARBOOK OF AGRICULTURE 19 48

consists of low-value weeds, springs up and gives false hopes of prosperity. The tendency under such conditions is to graze more livestock than is proper or profitable. The result is over- grazing in dry years and enforced sale of a portion of the breeding herd la- boriously built up over a period of time. This lowers the herd quality and fre- quently causes the operator to con- clude that purchase of high-grade ani- mals is hazardous and uneconomical. Stockmen need guides for judging con- dition of the range, yearly forage pro- duction, and current use of the grass. An occasional overhaul job of the ranch is just as important as a motor tune-up on the family automobile. There are very few farms and ranches where the efficiency of operation can- not be improved. Higher income can usually be obtained after a little trouble-shooting, usually without an expansion of facilities. This can be ac- complished by giving proper attention to forage, livestock, and equipment. The forage should receive attention at all times. It is the crop which the livestock operator has for sale; the ani- mals are merely a means of harvesting and processing it. In the long run, con- servative use of the grass pays the best dividends in grass and livestock pro- duction. It provides assurance of a sustained forage supply and results in optimum weight gains. An understand- ing of range conditions is necessary be- fore correct use can be attained. An examination of different ranges in any locality will show that the forage is better on some than others. An ex- change of ideas among stockmen fre- quently reveals the cause.

DRY-LAND PASTURES ON THE PLAINS

D. A. SAVAGE, JAMES E. SMITH, D. F. COSTELLO

IN THE Southern Great Plains a steadily increasing acreage of pastures is being established by seeding native or introduced grasses on cultivated and

abandoned farm land. Other grazing lands include small areas of irrigated pasture and extensive native range. Millions of acres of the more erosive