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ARS Home » Plains Area » Sidney, Montana » Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory » Agricultural Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #169223
Title: THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF SHEEP IN DRYLAND GRAIN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Author
item GOOSEY, H - MSU-BOZEMAN, MT
item HATFIELD, P - MSU-BOZEMAN, MT
item Lenssen, Andrew
item BLODGETT, S - MSU-BOZEMAN, MT
item KOTT, R - MSU-BOZEMAN, MT
item SPEZZANO, T - MSU-BOZEMAN, MT

Submitted to: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/14/2005
Publication Date: 8/2/2005
Citation: Goosey, H.B., Hatfield, P.G., Lenssen, A.W., Blodgett, S.L., Kott, R.W., Spezzano, T.M. 2005. The potential role of sheep in dryland grain production systems. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 111:349-353.

Interpretive Summary: Small plot trials conducted in Montana have documented that grazing sheep on fallow fields can reduce over wintering Wheat stem sawfly larvae and improve weed management compared to conventional farming practices without impacting soil bulk density. We conducted field-scale trials examining wheat stem sawfly (WSS) larval mortality, weed density, and soil bulk density in grazed and ungrazed areas. Sheep grazing increased WSS mortality and decreased weed density compared to non-grazed controls. Soil bulk density, a measure of compaction, did not differ between sheep grazed and non-grazed areas.

Technical Abstract: In dryland farming areas of Montana annual precipitation is not sufficient for annual planting of cereal grains. Instead, a crop-summer fallow farming system is used to conserve soil moisture and increase available nitrogen for subsequent crop growth. Six fields, located on four commercial Montana grain operations, were grazed by sheep and goats from October, 2002 to May, 2003 to determine the impact grazing has on wheat stem sawfly populations, weed and volunteer cereal growth, and soil compaction. Percent wheat stem sawfly larval mortality and percent reduction of weed biomass was greater in grazed compared to non-grazed areas (P<0.01). No differences in soil compaction were found between treatments (P>0.73). Grazing fallow with sheep and goats appears to successfully improve wheat stem sawfly and weed management in grain production systems without impacting soil compaction.