Laserfiche WebLink
<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />2012 <br /> <br />Plata counties in southwest Colorado currently have about 12,000 <br /> <br />acres of land producing grass hay/pasture. <br /> <br />Grass hay and pasture are grown under both irrigated and dry land <br />conditions in Colorado. Successful establishment _and economic <br />yields from a grass hay/pasture operation are dependent upon proper <br />seed selection, seeding rates, and cultural practices that are <br /> <br />suited to particular soil characteristics and climatic factors. <br /> <br />Climatic conditions summarized in Section 4 impact the suitability <br />of grass hay and pasture to achieve economic yields in different <br />climatic zones. Tables 6.10 and 6.11 summarize grass hay and <br />pasture suitability and potential yield for each climatic zone under <br /> <br />irrigated and dry land production conditions, respectively. <br /> <br />In general, pasture can be grown on a wide variety of soil types. <br /> <br /> <br />Medium textured soils have the fewest potential problems from an <br /> <br /> <br />animal grazing and management perspective and are considered more <br /> <br />desirable for pasture and hay production. Salinity levels are more <br /> <br />manageable in pasture and hay production because appropriate <br /> <br />varieties can be selected from a wide range of salt tolerant species. <br />Therefore, yield reductions are not anticipated as a result of <br /> <br /> <br />irrigation water salinity. When establishing a pasture the seed <br /> <br /> <br />mixture is selected that is suited to soil physical and chemical <br /> <br /> <br />characteristics and the prevailing climatic conditions. <br /> <br />6- 17 <br />