Pollinator Abundance in Cattle Pastures

landowners are converting acres once used to grow row crops into grasslands for cattle forage. The lower water requirements of perennial grasses offer an alternative business model for acres that are already being used for agriculture while reducing strain on depleted aquifers. When converting from row crops to forage, landowners may choose to use native species, non-native forages that are well suited for the climate, or a mixture of native and non-native species. One perennial forage favored for cattle grazing in the Texas High Plains is ‘WW-B.Dahl’ Old World bluestem [Bothriochloa bladhii (Retz) S.T. Blake]. This cultivar of Old World bluestem (OWB) is palatable to cattle, has high yields and low fertilizer needs, and is well adapted to growing in dry conditions. It is also known to emit essential oils, giving it a distinct smell, which may deter some pests. For example, OWB has been found to reduce colonies of invasive fire ants and harvester ants and to deter horn flies on cattle. In contrast, there is no clear evidence that OWB inhibits canopy arthropods or the soil microbial community.