Prescribed Grazing (Code 528)

Range and Pasture Technical Note Number MT-34

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Range and Pasture Technical Note Number MT-34 (PDF; 24 KB)

By Jon Siddoway, State Rangeland Management Specialist
September 2008

The intent of this technical note is to clarify what is required when the conservation practice Prescribed Grazing (Code 528) is planned, when it is applied, and how it will be contracted.

When prescribed grazing will be planned or contracted to address identified resource concerns, the guidance and requirements provided in the Prescribed Grazing (Code 528) Standard will be followed by all planners.

The actual requirements are described well in the Prescribed Grazing (Code 528) Standard - refer to Section IV of the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG). The eight bulleted items required in a Prescribed Grazing Plan are:

• Goals and objectives are clearly stated.
• Resource inventory that identifies existing resource conditions, concerns, and ecological site potentials. Identify opportunities to enhance resource conditions.
• Location and condition of existing and planned structural improvements such as fences, water developments, etc., including seasonal availability, yield and quality of watering sites.
• Forage inventory of the expected forage quality, quantity and species of forage in each management unit(s) during the grazing period.
• Forage – Animal balance developed as a sustainable grazing plan for the management unit(s), which insures forage produced or available meets forage demand of livestock and/or wildlife of concern.
• Grazing plan developed for livestock that identifies periods of grazing, rest and other treatment activities for each management unit. The plan identifies type and location of any structural practices needed to facilitate the grazing system.
• Contingency plan developed that details potential problems (i.e., severe drought, flooding) and serves as a guide for adjusting the grazing prescription to ensure resource management and economic feasibility without resource degradation.
• A monitoring plan with appropriate records to assess whether the grazing strategy is meeting objectives. Refer to Prescribed Grazing (Code 528) Standard and Specification in Section IV of the FOTG for the minimum requirements for monitoring.

When is prescribed grazing considered to be planned?

Prescribed grazing is considered planned when the eight bulleted items listed above are properly documented.

When is prescribed grazing considered implemented/applied?

Prescribed grazing is considered to be successfully implemented/applied when all planned and/or contracted facilitating practices have been implemented and certified and the eight bulleted items listed in the practice standard have been properly documented, with at least one year of the rotation completed and supported by the documentation.

How will prescribed grazing be contracted?

Prescribed Grazing (Code 528) will be contracted when it has been properly planned.

Practice payments are not paid until the practice is certified as implemented.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Ronald Nadwornick, State Resource Conservationist
Phone: (406) 587-6998
Email: Ronald.Nadwornick

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Last Modified: 09/24/2008