Forest Grazing in the South

Abstract

Potential forage production is higher in the South than in other range areas of the United States, although actual production is declining rapidly due to accelerated pine regeneration. The cutover longleaf (Pinus palustris Mill.) pinelands that produced an abundance of forage have been largely regenerated with fast-growing slash (P. elliottii Engelm.) and loblolly pines (P. taeda L.) and these young plantations reduce herbage production drastically within a few years. Few large industrial timber companies encourage grazing, although some allow it, often without fee, as a public relations gesture. Cattlemen who depend on forest range alone seldom own the land their cattle graze, often lease the land under an annual permit, and have little incentive to improve the range. Attempts to promote cooperation among livestock producers through grazing associations have generally been unsuccessful. Public land managers are under pressure from wildlife and environmental organizations to prohibit or curtail grazing. Operational-scale multiple-use research is needed to evaluate compatibility of cattle, wildlife, and other resources.