Proper mix of warm weather, precipitation will renew grasslands

By TIM HEARDEN

Capital Press

California's abundant December rain has provided a dramatic improvement in livestock producers' rangelands and stock ponds.

Two years ago, a prolonged drought left 95 percent of the state's grazing lands in poor or very poor condition, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's rating on rangelands.

Now beginning their second winter of receiving ample precipitation, most of the state's grassy hillsides and meadows have made it back to good health, notes Matt Byrne, the California Cattlemen's Association's executive vice president.

"The start this year has been strong in terms of the amount of water out there on the ground," Byrne said. "The timing has been good -- when cattle are beginning and getting on to historic winter pastures.

"The start this year ... points to a good base," he said. "What's going to be critical to seeing that turn into a good year is continuing to see rain on a regular basis and then getting some warm weather in between to really get the grass growing."

The state's record-setting precipitation in December pushed many areas well above their seasonal averages while filling reservoirs and piling lots of snow atop mountains.

The rain -- along with releases from several reservoirs -- has helped swell the creeks that feed many ranches, and more water is on the way. The water content in snowpack is at more than twice its normal levels for this time of year.

The West has been in a La Niña pattern with lots of storms aimed at the Pacific Northwest and Northern California, and the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center expects the pattern to continue at least into the spring.

The center's outlook for the next three months envisions above-average precipitation in the north and at least an equal chance of above- or below-average rainfall in Central California. Temperatures should be cooler than normal in much of the West.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of the West has emerged from the recent drought, except for parts of Nevada, which along with much of the Southwest is still abnormally dry.

Having healthy forage lands and ample stock water supplies is critical for controlling ranchers' input costs. Byrne said the plentiful rainfall is beginning to be reflected in cattle sales and prices, as ranchers gain confidence they'll have sufficient grass to support a larger herd.

"The market for cattle going on the grass has been hot," Byrne said. "All told, the rain for us is a good thing, and we're eager to see it continue through the rest of the season."

Online

U.S. Climate Prediction Center: www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov

U.S. Drought Monitor: www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html