Keep livestock out of streams
Pictures from days gone by of cattle cooling off in a creek or shallow pond make a pleasing scene, but the image violates a major concept of conservationists. If you want to protect all natural resources, including streams, you need to keep animals out of the creek or stream.
Otherwise two things happen. First, cattle may defecate in the creek. Second, cattle are notorious for turning banks into mud. Norman Schue, Ferdinand, has found a better way to handle his small cattle herd. He provides water for them to drink so they no longer need to be in a creek.
• Cattle can defile creeks and streams in two ways.
• Removing cattle from streams protects banks from erosion.
• Cost-share funds for fencing are available from USDA in some areas.
Schue also fenced off his woods to keep cattle out. Foresters insist that cattle and timber don’t mix. If you’re raising land for potential timber sales, which Schue is, then you don’t want cattle in the woods. Instead, he intends to practice timber stand improvement.
Some Farm Service Agency programs offer cost-share funds for fencing animals out of creeks, streams and other bodies of water. Sometimes fencing cattle out of streams is one of the practices included in a multi-year EQIP agreement. Visit your local Natural Resource Conservation and FSA offices for more details.
This article published in the April, 2011 edition of INDIANA PRAIRIE FARMER.