Link to article from allon savory on usa drought

[PATB]

How soon after being grazed plants show regrowth in your area and how long before they are recovered from grazing should be your guides to length of time on a pasture and time untill regrazing the pasture.

 

[okfarmer]

I may disagree on some points, but I probably come off harsher than I intend with this form of communication. If so, I don't intend to.

I think one thing should be remembered, letting land rest is not a new idea. It is recorded in Leviticus as being mandated for the Jews.

I don't doubt for a minute it helps with increased growth the following year/s. A plant that is not stressed will survive better than one that is overstocked.
What needs to be considered also is the amount of total production for a 10 yr period on the same ground with and without the proposed changes. This means including the total loss of the fallow years.

It makes sense that if your not taking a crop of whatever, there should be more nutrients and nitrogen left. So having a good year the next isn't a surprise to me.

One thing i do have a problem with is the accounting of intensive grazing/haying or whatever the correct term is. When cattle are used to build up the soil by feeding them in a concentrated area. The issue is that you have robbed Peter to pay Paul. The hay your using for build up fodder is coming from somewhere so the nutrient and nitrogen levels there are being consumed.

Matter is neither created or consumed in our universe, it is just redistributed. Some places may need it, we built up some sand hills like that. But I know that it's not without having to replenish what I'm taking elsewhere.

 

[PATB]

The recovery period for the pasture/paddocks is driven by your enviroment and moisture. Where I live the recovery period ranges from 30 to 50 days for full recovery during the main growing season. One of the goals of savory's rotataional grazing is to have the animals eat the grass once but move them before regrowth starts then let it fully recover before grazing it again. I would suggest that everyone read Allan Savory's book "Holistic Management- A New Framework for Decision Making". It may take you most of the winter to work your way thru it.

Planned rotational grazing has allowed this farm to grow more grass on the same land while adding extra pounds to the calf crop due to constant source of high quality feed. The pastures stay greener longer in periods of no rain and recover quicker once it rains again. We have had to develop a more comprehensive water system so the cattle have water in each paddock. The water system is still evolving with the pasture management to deal with the increased forage availability.

 

[Angus 62]

The idea that millions of acres of agricultural monocultures are sustainable is a very new one if looked at in a historic context. The idea that we can always ''outsmart'' nature through increased technology really is unproven. What happens if the current drought that covers much of this country proves to be a multi year event? Farmers are already being told here that they won't qualify for crop insurance next year without a proven source of irrigation water. Because much of that irrigation relies on runoff water from mountain snowpack we already are well behind where we need to be. Even in a bad drought scenario limited rainfall can produce some forage growth if the land is in a situation to utilize it. The alternative is the possibility that a lot of acres will produce nothing at all.

Savory's beliefs are centered around what we know is true. That agriculture always has been and always will be centered around the capture of sunlight and moisture. In many scenario's the most direct method will generally be the most efficient. Greater leaf area throughout the growing season better captures sunlight. More ground cover and organic matter increases water retention in the soil.

 

[C Thompson]

I am once again with PatB on this one. Our biggest challenge since doubling our grass production has been water development and distribution in all paddocks. Particularly in the growing season. This winter we are finding that it is unusually mild and although the grass the cows are grazing is dormant so we can take more than we would when still growing,the ground is still pouring or seeping water so they are getting water out of the low spots in the paddocks on their own and not having to walk back to troughs in pre-grazed paddocks. It just keeps getting better! The other point Savory was making in the photos was the problem in grasslands that had too much rest or were excluded from grazing. We get similar results especially in brittle environments. This is the stuff that the extension folks are late in figuring out and frustrating if they get to make the rules on management.

 

[PATB]

Pat,

Could you provide a link to the North Dakota water infiltration videos? Or more info on where to find them.

Doug

I finally found the link and it was south Dakota that had the rain fall similater.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_74LeiuwhvM

sorry about the confusion

 

[PATB]

texas water infiltration videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_74LeiuwhvM

part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO5NZJmw_oQ

 

[PATB]

2 interesting articles

CPA's Views on Holistic Ranch Magagement

http://cnrit.tamu.edu/cgrm/IRR2/1983/C.P.A.'s%20View%20of%20Holistic%20Ranch%20Management.pdf

GRAZING PLANNING

http://www1.foragebeef.ca/$foragebeef/frgebeef.nsf/all/frg37/$FILE/grazeplanning.pdf