Improved Pastures

back to pasture management | semi-native pasture | sod production

Improved pastures comprise about 44% of the ranch landscape.  Most of the Bahia grass pastures have been established on the higher elevation, better drained soils of “Buck Island,” although some are established in lower lying areas.  These improved pastures were established probably starting in the 1940s and continuing into the 1970s.
Other pastures grasses that were planted in the past include Pangola or Digitgrass (Digitaria eriantha), limpograss (Hemarthria altisimma), and torpedo grass (Panicum repens); these grasses persist to this day in some areas but Bahia grass is the dominant currently dominates in  most of improved pastures.  Bahia grass pasture are also used for sod production which provides an additional source of income, while keeping pastures in production for grazing.