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31. Seedmix #8 for Dryland Pasture contains some errors; the individual species <br />seeding rates do not add up to the 5.9 lbs/acre PLS indicated. Also, we would <br />recommend inclusion of an additional rhizomatous grass to replace smooth <br />brome, which was previously removed from the mix because it is not adapted to <br />dryland plantings in the Nucla area. We would recommend inclusion of the <br />native species western wheatgrass (Arriba cultivar). Recommended PLS seeding <br />rate (lbs/acre) would be as follows, to achieve the standard 20 PLS seeds per <br />square foot rate previously recommended by NRCS. <br />Species Cultivar PLS lbs/ac. <br />Fairway Crested Wheatgrass <br />Pubescent Wheatgrass <br />Russian Wildrye <br />Alfalfa <br />Western Wheatgrass <br />Total <br />Ephraim 0.6 <br />Luna 2.3 <br />Bozoisky 1.0 <br />Spreador 2 0.6 <br />Arriba 1.6 <br />6.1 <br />Please revise the seedmix as recommended. Also, NRCS has noted that <br />alfalfa is adapted to coarse textured, well drained sites, and the notation <br />under Site Variation Adaptability of Seed Mix #8 indicating that it is not so <br />adapted, should be deleted. <br />32. NRCS has indicated that they do not concur with the statement in Item 4 of <br />subsection 6.2 listing of reasons for why the 1.50 ton per acre technical standard <br />was set too high (i.e. that recent droughts had lessened the water availability in the <br />CC Ditch). <br />Please consider the subject comment in the December 8, 2009 letter and <br />revise the narrative as warranted. <br />33. Revised narrative in subsection 6.3 on page (e)-76 of the redline version of the <br />text addresses dryland pasture seeding procedures. The amended narrative <br />indicates that Seedmix 2 annual grain cover crop would be used in lieu of <br />mulching. We recommend either that a standard 2 ton per acre certified weed free <br />straw mulch be crimped in after seeding of the dryland mix, or that a sterile <br />hybrid annual triticale ("Quickguard") be used in place of the annual grain cover <br />crop, in order to minimize potential for volunteer and resulting competition with <br />the perennial species. If the quickguard alternative is used, it should be seeded <br />either in the fall preceding a summer perennial planting the following year, or in <br />the spring preceding a fall dormant seeding of the perennial species later the same <br />year. Fall dormant seeding should be delayed until after October 25, and we <br />would recommend that dormant seeding be completed by the end of November to <br />avoid delays associated with snow cover, frozen ground, muddy conditions, etc. <br />18