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Composition of the irrigated pasture hayland type is highly variable from field to field. Fields <br />generally in good condition are dominated by orchard grass, smooth brome, alfalfa and clover. <br />Areas that have poor drainage are dominated with rushes and sedges. Areas in less than good <br />conditions are dominated with Kentucky bluegrass and various weeds. <br />Morgan, Johnson and Benson all thought that they could achieve an annual production <br />potential of 3+ tons /acre in two cuttings as was asserted by operators in 1987 and reiterated in <br />1999. Since Johnson was the only person to both irrigate and harvest, his two first cutting <br />fields of 2.2 and 1.97 tons /acre are within the 1987 assumptions of area operators. These <br />figures are higher than those shown in table 2.04.10 -8 which indicates an average 1932 <br />Ibs /acre (.97 tons /acre) in 1987. Variation in yield in 1999 was directly related to the degree of <br />management and climatic variability. The Alfafa field which was intensively managed produced <br />the highest yields (8523 Ibs /acre) while the least managed field that had been invaded by <br />prarie dogs had the lowest yield (1140 Ibs /acre). <br />A dominant factor contributing to production values in 1999 is the climatic trend for 1998 -1999. <br />1999 is thus far proving to be an excellent year for herbage production. The 1998 -1999 winter <br />was warm and mild (table 2.04.10 -2) and the precipitation for spring and summer has been <br />high (Table 2.04.10 -1). Precipitation is running 177 percent of normal for the San Miguel Basin <br />(NRCS, NOAA). This trend has had the effect of elevating production levels. <br />(Revised July 2010) 2.04.10 -62 <br />