Pasture Management

Pastures at Buck Island Ranch consist of two main types, “improved” Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum) pastures and “unimproved” or semi-native pastures.  Improved pastures were established by removing native vegetation, tilling the soil and establishing exotic forage grass species through seeding or vegetatively.  These pastures are usually fertilized annually (~50 lbs N per acre), are limed regularly, and mowed or chopped to control weeds as necessary.  Semi-native pastures consist of a mixture of improved and native grasses, are never fertilized, are chopped every few years to control woody plant establishment, and burned to promote new growth and also to control woody species.  Buck Island ranch is committed to maintaining its current native areas and concentrating more intensive management on the current improved pasture areas.