This is a bit of a controversial topic: science versus practice. Dear Reader, if you feel comfortable with a passionate examination of a controversy, please read on. Because I’d like to visit about an emerging situation in the grazing world.

Dairy farmers are a breed apart. There aren’t many other occupations – and lifestyles – that can compare to the experiences raising and milking cows, and producing a commodity that is closely regulated, has a long history of volatile pricing and demands excellence in animal husbandry and environmental stewardship.

The largest expense for most stockman is winter feed or supplements. The more time that cattle can graze without needing hay, the better.  Today there are new forage varieties that can fill some gaps in the grazing calendar, enabling cattle to graze for more of the year.

In Oklahoma and other surrounding states, summer prescribed fires are a common form of mitigation for cedar trees, which hinder cattle producers. Along with cedar-tree control, prescribed burns offer a number of benefits to livestock producers and wildlife habitats, says John Weir, associate extension specialist of prescribed fire at Oklahoma State University (OSU).

Times are tough across the agricultural sector. The dairy subsector is particularly vulnerable after five years of low milk prices, and low cattle prices are a cause of concern for beef producers.