Why is the Conservation Department encouraging private landowners to plant native WSG?
A. These grasses are not grazed closely as are cool-season grasses. Therefore, more cover is present during and after the grazing season. In some cases, grazing or haying will not begin until after many nests have hatched. Warm-season grasses are usually grazed only during the hot summer months (June-August) leaving the remaining cover undisturbed for eight to nine months. Removing the cattle from cool-season grass temporarily also results in better habitat conditions in the CSG. Q. If it’s good for cattle and it’s good for wildlife, why aren’t more people planting WSG? A. There are several reasons for this. 1. Lack of information about the grasses. Until recently WSG was not even discussed in forage classes at any high schools or colleges in Missouri. There are few studies dealing with livestock performance on WSG in Missouri, but reams of such studies on CSG. Fertilizer was cheap and much of the state had converted to CSG. 2. Lack of understanding about grazing management. WSG should
