Pasture and Range Management

Kurt Murray
kmurr@okcareertech.org
(405) 743-5489

Introduction to Agriscience

Unit RMG1: Importance of pasture and rangeland management (8 hours)

Benchmark RMG1-1: Students will explain the meaning and importance of pasture, rangeland, and grassland.

Benchmark RMG1-2: Students will distinguish between introduced pastures and native rangeland.

Benchmark RMG1-3: Students will distinguish between permanent and temporary pastures and give examples in the local area.

Benchmark RMG1-4: Students will list and explain the uses of rangeland.

Benchmark RMG1-5: Students will explain carrying capacity and identify factors that influence carrying capacity of pasture and rangeland.

Unit RMG2: Career entry and advancement in pasture and rangeland (4 hours)

Benchmark RMG2-1: Students will identify occupations in pasture and rangeland areas.

Benchmark RMG2-2: Students will name and describe important personal skills for success in pasture and rangeland careers.

Unit RMG3: Pasture and rangeland safety (4 hours)

Benchmark RMG3-1: Students will assess safety situations in pasture and rangeland work and choose appropriate safety practices.

Benchmark RMG3-2: Students will properly select, use, and maintain personal protective equipment in pasture and rangeland work.

Unit RMG4: Pasture and rangeland biology (15 hours)

Benchmark RMG4-1: Students will identify pasture and rangeland plant species found in the local area by common and scientific names.

Benchmark RMG4-2: Students will classify local native plant species as grasses, forbs, and shrubs and assess the productive potential of each.

Benchmark RMG4-3: Students will identify major parts of grass and legume plants.

Benchmark RMG4-4: Students will explain how grasses, forbs, and shrubs grow and reproduce.

Benchmark RMG4-5: Students will discuss the importance of genetics and heredity with pasture and rangeland plants.

Benchmark RMG4-6: Students will explain the role of photosynthesis in the capture of energy by pasture and rangeland plants.

Unit RMG5: Pasture and rangeland ecology (15 hours)

Benchmark RMG5-1: Students will list and explain plant dynamics on rangeland.

Benchmark RMG5-2: Students will relate the role of climate in rangeland ecosystems.

Benchmark RMG5-3: Students will explain the meaning and importance of nutrient cycling in rangeland ecosystems.

Benchmark RMG5-4: Students will describe the roles of precipitation, evapotranspiration, and irrigation in pasture and rangeland ecosystems.

Benchmark RMG5-5: Students will discuss the role of pasture and rangeland as habitat for wildlife.

Unit RMG6: Introduced pasture (17 hours)

Benchmark RMG6-1: Students will explain site preparation for establishing pastures.

Benchmark RMG6-2: Students will identify and explain seeding methods and rates for local grasses and legumes.

Benchmark RMG6-3: Students will describe fertilization and other soil improvement practices.

Benchmark RMG6-4: Students will explain weed, insect, and rodent management in permanent and temporary pastures.

Unit RMG7: Rangeland management (19 hours)

Benchmark RMG7-1: Students will explain how grazing programs are important in rangeland management.

Benchmark RMG7-2: Students will explain the importance of fire as a management tool with rangeland.

Benchmark RMG7-3: Students will discuss fertilization and moisture management practices on rangeland.

Benchmark RMG7-4: Students will explain the importance of the proper use of pesticides in rangeland management, including requirements to become a certified pesticide applicator

Benchmark RMG7-5: Students will describe the meaning of the Conservation Reserve Program, including its economic and environmental impact on agriculture.

Unit RMG8: Surveying and describing land (17 hours)

Benchmark RMG8-1: Students will explain the meaning and importance of land surveying.

Benchmark RMG8-2: Students will demonstrate kinds and methods of making land measurements.

Benchmark RMG8-3: Students will explain how land is described and the use of the base line system.

Benchmark RMG8-4: Students will demonstrate general procedures in making property, construction, and topographic surveys.

Benchmark RMG8-5: Students will explain the meaning and use of remote sensing, global positioning systems, and geographic information systems in surveying rangeland.

Unit RMG9: Fences and other facilities (14 hours)

Benchmark RMG9-1: Students will explain why fences are needed and identify types of fence materials.

Benchmark RMG9-2: Students will explain the importance of property lines and demonstrate laying out fence.

Benchmark RMG9-3: Students will demonstrate the installation of posts and wire, including brace techniques.

Benchmark RMG9-4: Students will demonstrate the construction or selection and installation of gates.

Benchmark RMG9-5: Students will demonstrate the layout and construction of corals and other facilities.

Unit RMG10: Agricultural education (7 hours)

Benchmark RMG10-1: Students will manage an appropriate supervised experience in pasture and range management.

Benchmark RMG10-2: Students will identify opportunities for participation and advancement in the FFA related to pasture and range management.

Natural Resources: Range & Soil – CTTC

http://www.okcareertech.org/testing/Skills%20Standards/Agriculture_Career_Cluster.htm

Career Cluster Resources for Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Natural Resources: Range & Soil – CTTC

Supplemental VHS and DVDs - CIMC www.okcimc.com

Environmental Science and Technology, 2nd edition. Porter, Lee, Turner, Hillan.  2003. Interstate Publishers, Inc.
www.pearsonschool.com

Pasture and Range Plants, Centennial Edition. 2002. Fort Hays State University.  11th edition.