Scott Grazing Demonstration Project Details

2001 Report Scott Grazing Demonstration Project
Back to Scott Homepage Grazing on Tom Scott's system was initiated in May, 2001.The Scott system is different from many other traditional grazing projects in South Dakota because the area being grazed is seeded to an alfalfa/grass mixture converting the land from cropland to pastureland. The site is 315 acres in size and is located along the James River north of Redfield in Spink County. The area consists of 80 acres of alfalfa and smooth bromegrass and 235 acres of former cropland seeded in 2000 to 40% alfalfa, 20% orchardgrass, 20% intermediate wheatgrass, and 20% meadow brome. Tom leases the area seeded and rent is based on cropland rental rates.
	Pictured here is a young orchardgrass plant - the second most common species on the grazing system. Orchardgrass is a cool-season, perennial bunchgrass, that exhibits rapid regrowth. It grows from 24-48 inches tall. Being highly palatable when young it was the cows forage of choice early in the grazing season.
Alfalfa composed the greatest portion of the seeding mixture. Alfalfa fixes nitrogen from the air putting it into the soil for use by other plants such as grasses. Alfalfa is high in protein, regrows more rapidly than grasses, and can be hayed if not grazed during early rotations. This was the first year of implementing this grazing system which required the installation of electric fences and an above ground waterline system. Tom is running 160 head of bred cows (calving on the system in May and June).
	Electric fencing for the system included permanent electric fencing consisting of five wires (alternating hot and cold wires) around the perimeter and a two wire electric fence to divide the 1/2 section into four 80 acre permanent paddocks. One strand of polywire electric fence and step-in posts could then be used to further divide the 80 acres paddocks into desired sizes for grazing.
A pipeline of 160 psi black PE pipe was installed down the center of the half-section from north to south. WEB rural water system was the water source. Quick connectors were used to splice the lengths of pipe together. Eleven quick connect couplers were installed along the one mile pipeline to distribute water to portable 150-gallon heavy-duty water tanks.
	More details and photos...