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• composition. Several rock ridges wifh shallow soils also occur in these fields, further reducing <br />potential production. Burbridge, who does not fertilize his hay fields, has little alfalfa in the <br />stand, and significant areas of shallow soils with rock ridges. Combined, these result in a <br />potentially low level of productivity in his hay fields. However the hay production from this field <br />is adequate to meet Burbridge's needs and thus the incentive for more intensified management <br />is not there. It should be pointed out that Burbridge's cut hay was rained on twice and turned <br />twice before baling which will reduce both the yield and quality of hay. Staats' hay production <br />values, though higher than most first cuttings, still does not reflect the potential production. <br />Because of land leveling on Staats' fields, cut areas (exposing subsoil materials with lower <br />production potential) have lower overall yields, though irrigation water management is <br />benefited. Staats' fields (in the proposed permit area) north of Calamity Draw are not <br />intensively managed because of more productive and easier managed fields south of Calamity <br />Draw, and an already adequate hay base provided from these latter fields. Staats' fields which <br />were included in this study are not fertilized on a regular basis, irrigation water application is <br />not consistent during the growing season, and the fields are grazed during the non-growing <br />season. This reflects management during the last several years. A portion of Garvey's hay <br />fields were renovated in 1986 and herbicides were applied to control persistent perennial <br />• weeds such as Canada thistle and quackgrass. The fields have not been fertilized for several <br />years, some areas of shallow or boggy soils occur in part of the fields, alfalfa composition in <br />some of the older fields is low, and the hay fields were grazed during the winter and into the <br />early growing season. These factors all combined to reduce production below the potential in <br />Garvey's fields. <br />In summarizing the type, varying site characteristics, individual management objectives, II <br />applied management, and number of cuttings, result in wide ranges in production for the type. <br />Based on the 1987 field data collection, only one operator at this time manages for sustained <br />production during the growing season that approaches the potential of the site. <br />Swale/Drainge Tyge. Flood irrigation of lands on and adjacent to the study area has created <br />water regimes in certain locations that favor the establishment of hydrophytic and <br />phreatophytic vegetation (see Figure 4-5, Peabody Appendix 10-4). These situations occur <br />where: 1) small natural drainages or swales (with gentle slopes) collect tailwater drainage from <br />the surrounding irrigated fields; 2) shallow ground water, augmented by irrigation, daylights <br />• (REVISED 9/99) 2.04.10 - 39 <br />