Missouri Farmers Advocate for Increased Planting of Native Grasses to Enhance Ecosystem and Economic Stability
Farmers in Greene County, Missouri, are being urged by the Missouri Native Grasslands Collaborative to plant more native grasses, moving beyond the prevalent non-native fescue. Mark Green, a local cattle farmer, has dedicated 10.5 acres of his property to native grasses, which are thriving after just a year and a half. While fescue has historically been crucial for cattle farming in southwest Missouri, it struggles in hot and dry conditions. Native grasses like Big bluestem and Indiangrass, however, are well-adapted to Missouri's climate, having evolved with droughts and fire on the prairies. Bill White, a coordinator with the Collaborative, emphasizes that these native species, with their deeper root systems, offer significant environmental benefits, including reduced chemical runoff into waterways and improved water retention during heavy rainfall.
