Finding the right forage crops has always been a challenge for prairie producers from dry regions, especially in Saskatchewan’s southwest where the number of tame species they can choose from is limited.
Seeding native forages may be a viable option, said Trevor Lennox, a forage development specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture in Swift Current, Sask.
“Generally, tame forages are adapted to areas with higher precipitation levels, he said.
“This is where native species come in handy when putting together grazing systems. They are well adapted to the harsh environmental conditions experienced on the southern Canadian Prairies.”
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Lennox said these native species have evolved for centuries under harsh environmental conditions and the southwest is home to the highest concentration of unbroken native grasslands in the province.
Tame grasses usually score higher than native species from a productivity standpoint, but Lennox believes native grass advantages outweigh the perceived loss of capacity.
“Ranchers who currently have native rangeland know the true value of native grasses when left until later in the year, due to their quality preserved within the leaves,” Lennox said. “Native species require very few inputs, as they have evolved under low fertile conditions.”
The species mix of cool and warm season grasses provides a succession of freshly grown leaves throughout the grazing season.
“When seeding these native species on annual cropland, graziers will initially witness a higher production rate during the first five or six years, due to the availability of nutrients in the soil,” Lennox said. “Then the pasture will achieve a certain equilibrium, as nutrients incorporate into the emerging root system.”
However, this resource will be available for years, he added.
“The key is to manage the grazing system effectively. Native species provide grazing later into the growing season, allowing producers to keep their cattle out on the land because of the grasses’ ability to cure well on the stem.”
Native grasses are referred to as hard grasses while tame grasses are often referred to as soft grasses. Tame species are great for grazing when they are green and actively growing, but once they go dormant, their forage quality rapidly declines when left standing.
“Native hard grasses are able to lock in a higher level of nutrition when they go dormant on the stem,” Lennox said.
Landowners end up with a richer community of grasses and the diversity is beneficial from an ecological standpoint.
A mix of four to five native species can be put together for $40 per acre, while a more diverse mix of 14 species would cost $60 to $80 per acre. Once established, the stand should last in perpetuity, provided it is managed properly.
Lennox said producers with severely marginal land that has a Saskatchewan Crop Insurance rating of “L” or lower may qualify for the Greencover Canada Land Conversion program. They could be compensated $75 per acre to seed native species and an additional $25 per acre once they are successfully established.
For more information on the Greencover program, visit www.agr.gc.ca/greencover-verdir/applic_e.phtml or telephone 866-844-5620.
