Ranchers invited to view range re-vegetation plots

Range re-vegetation plots at the Figure 50 ranch between Lamont and Ritzville will be available for viewing on Wednesday, May 15 from 9–11 a.m.

The plots are part of a long-term collaboration on managing Crooked Calf Syndrome between WSU and USDA ARS Poisonous Plant and Forage and Range Research Laboratories in Logan, Utah.

Crooked Calf Syndrome is a calf skeletal deformity caused by toxins in native lupine plants when cows graze them in early pregnancy.

The idea behind the plots is to determine what forage species might be suitable for re-vegetating rangeland to entice cows away from lupine in early summer when their fetuses are vulnerable to the toxins in lupine that cause Crooked Calf Syndrome.

Plots were seeded in the fall of 2010 and have changed considerably since the first public viewing in the spring of 2011.

Kip Panter from the Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory and Kevin Jensen from the Forage and Range Research Laboratory will be on hand to discuss their current and future research on Crooked Calf Syndrome, range re-vegetation, and Medusahead. They are working on models to predict crooked calf outbreaks and to entice cows away from lupine by re-vegetating rangeland to provide alternative, high quality forage. This is the beginning of the third growing season for range plots that are replicated locally at Spencer’s Figure 50 Ranch, Coon’s Bar U Ranch, and at Nave’s.

Another topic of interest is the 5-Star Watershed Stewardship Program being developed by ranchers in Whitman County. Rancher and farm supply store owner John Pearson from Colfax will discuss the program, which is intended to assist ranchers in improving soil and water quality on private lands and riparian areas and in documenting those improvements to meet scrutiny from outside environmental organizations and regulatory agencies.

An announcement and map to Spencer’s Figure 50 Ranch is posted at http://www.lincoln-adams.wsu.edu/agriculture/Range-field-tour.html.

The ranch is on Harder Road, four miles east of its intersection with the Ritzville-Benge Road and 13 miles southwest of Lamont. The ranch sign is on the south side of Harder Road.

Enter the ranch at the sign, drive south about one half mile, and turn west for another one half mile on the ranch road. WSU Extension programs are offered without discrimination.

For accommodation of special need, or for more information, contact Tom Platt at 509-725-4171.