2010-09-22_REVISION - C1981008 (12)

Home Browse Search

Pashuvl an& Land ,usually dominated by grasses that w p mm* graced by livestock a considered posaadaid. Occasional mechanical harvest may occur at times dude the growing season to utilize excess growth. Fields are sustained in permanent grass, or Smunqume mix indefinitely. The level of management is less than hayland, and pastureland: are rarely disturbed with tillage due to poor soil conditions such as shallowness, excessive numbers of rocks, steepwa, high water tables, etc. The important flung to remember is that cropland and hayland are usually established on the better soils; those soils that are deep (at a minimum, three to four feet to bedrock), well drained, reasonably level and on moderate slopes, and containing few rocks. In the San Miguel Soil Survey area, the United States Depart ment of Agriculture has identified soils that meet catain criteria w "Prime Farmland." The following soil map units firm the San Miguel Sod Survey are considered Prime Farmland (if irrigated) and may be found in the vicinity of the Now Iieri m Mine #2: Man Symbol Soil Name 1 Abra 1 to 3 puma s lopes 2 Abrs loam, 3 to 6 percent gopes 14 Barx fine agft lom 1 to 3 percent s lopes 15 Barx fine sandy Ioam, 3 to 6 patent s knm Some produces in the area grow straight alfalfa hay as a cash crop or to feed to their livestock in the winter. The advantage of straight alfalfa hay is that it is very high protein forage for livestock. This is an intensively managed crop and is usually grown on one the above mentioned "Prime Farmland" soils. Prior to planting alfalfa the soil is well prepared. This will involve tMage, land leveling, rock picking, weed control, fertilizing, etc. In the spring the alfalfa crop is planted, normally with a companion crop of oats, and-irrigated well. In the Nucla area, with good management, alfalb will persist and produce well for seven to ten years, aft which production usually declines due to the natural increase of grass and wad competition. It is a common husbandry practice for producers to then plow under the alfalfa and plant small grains (and possibly cos) for a year or two befom replantn alfalfa. (Alfalfa prodam an mdoto sty that pmNents mtmuedmg alfift into alfalfa, or following an alfalfa crop immediately with another alfinlfa crop, which is why small grains are included in the crop rotation). The bottom line here is that a clear distinction needs to be made between true "Cropland/Hayland" and "Pastureland." Yes, it is common in the Nucla area for many fields dominated by grass to be bayed im early summer, followed by livestock prazm of regrowth later in the year, so the lines seem to blur. But those fields that are activelymanagod for bay mWor crop production need to be recognized for their unique value as "Cropland," and preserved, or reclaimed, as such. Page 7: A rerommendod time to seal both dryland and irrigated land in our area is July 15 — Sept. 15, due to the benefit of the monsoonal rains that commonly occur.