Native warm-season grasses fair well during drought, and livestock and forage producers are turning to them for these benefits, NRCS scientists say.
Many landowners are converting a portion of their land to these grasses and other native plants, taking advantage of their benefits, including tolerance to drought, food for livestock, habitat for wildlife and other ecosystem services.
A native plant is one that has grown in an area since before human settlement and was not brought in more recently from other parts of the world. Natives, when planted in the right place, grow stronger and yield more benefits than non-natives.
“They are the ultimate multi-use range and land management tools because of their tremendous capabilities,” said Kyle Brazil, USDA’s Farm Service Agency National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative Agricultural Policy coordinator. Read more about the benefits of native grasses to producers and wildlife HERE.
