Rancher Restores Native Grasslands

The eyes do not decieve. Across the way, its barren soil dotted with low-laying brush that desolate. Then, there's the progress on the other side, perennial native grasses sweeping from the foreground to the horizon, creating an inviting place for cattle & wildlife. This was made by possible by one rancher.

Mike Hayhurst bought Brookline Ranch, located about 45 miles southeast of Tucson 19 years ago, & it was in pretty bad shape. Previous generations of ranchers had overgrazed the land & fire suppression had caused brush species to double in numbers from what should have been in a semi-desert grassland. “The cows would have died – it was that bad,” said Hayhurst. He runs 100 head of cattle on 40 acres of his own, & leases 10,800 acres state & federal land.

Hayhurst is no stranger to USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). Shortly after he bought the ranch, NRCS helped him implement a grazing management plan. But by 1999 the drought had taken its toll, even with using rotational grazing. “The brush roots go deeper than grass roots, & the brush sucks up every drop of water,” he said.

So he went back to NRCS. Together with soil conservationist Art Meen, they developed a comprehensive conservation plan that specified using herbicide to selectively kill invading brush, allowing the native grasses to release & repopulate. A pilot applies it through a high-tech electronic metering system with a Global Positioning System giving exact shape coordinates. Meen gives the pilot the coordinates based on a range inventory that selects areas where the native grass is diverse & will respond best to the treatment. After the treatment, Hayhurst went beyond the standard grazing deferment, giving the range 2 summer growing seasons to recover before allowing his livestock on it. He has treated about 2,700 acres of brush & the native grasses have grown back quickly without having to reseed.

Hayhurst is concerned for the impact to at-risk species that depend on the grasslands, especially with the drought & high density housing developments encroaching 3 miles from his ranch reducing available habitat. The restored grassland helps many of the predator bird species & migratory birds that winter in the area. Those that benefit the most include the scaled quail, Baird’s sparrow, grasshopper sparrow, prairie falcon, northern harrier, Swainson’s hawk & ferruginous hawk.

Hayhurst will treat another 750 acres this fall with help from the NRCS Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) sharing 75% of the cost. “We are a family operation. A ranch like this is not going to be a big money maker, & some years you’re going to lose money,” he said. The Arizona Game & Fish Department has also contributed significantly in helping Hayhurst with his share. The WHIP contract also provides a well & a wildlife watering trough, separate from the cattle & built down low to the ground so small creatures can use it.

He has been a member of the Hereford Natural Resource Conservation District since he started ranching, because he was concerned about using the resources & the soil condition. Today he is the treasurer. “I have success both ways: a lot of grass out there for wildlife habitat and cattle,” he said.