"Improving Our Lot" - Planned Holistic Grazing, for starters..

[Tyedyetom]

good sister in law, got me this far, hope it's sunk in !
stream should be 7/8 ins deep, right across.
calf shed showing our outdated, non modern system, which works so well, it won't be modernised ! actually took several snaps, only this one in the 'box', so ..........44 calves here, all single pens, they go from here, to pens of 5 or so.
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Have you had much less rain than a normal autumn?

 

[som farmer]

Have you had much less rain than a normal autumn?

l wouldn't say less rain, but heavier rain that runs off.
we have sward lifted, subsoiled, ground covered, to try and improve absorption, that has made no difference, so probably got to put up with it.
We do dry out on our banks, so can we reverse this changing climate, no.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Yes!
However as Einstein is often quoted as saying, you cannot solve a problem with the same type of thinking that caused the problem..

 

[som farmer]

Yes!
However as Einstein is often quoted as saying, you cannot solve a problem with the same type of thinking that caused the problem..

then we should have no problems, and an easy life.

 

[som farmer]

had another play, think l have the hang of it now, this is from the other end, on the right hand side, we put a solid hurdle, every 5 pens, to stop draught, you can see one. Son and l, built the shed for cubicles, but so light and airy for calves, got hijacked. There's a solid gate behind me, that stops draughts, and we actually had to put a sheet of plyboard, over the bottom door, last winter, 1st time in the 10 yrs since we built it, and off asap, shed works a dream. It's all tied together with string, as well, so easy to take down.
will snap a few leys, before sheep come, as requested

 

[Kiwi Pete]

then we should have no problems, and an easy life.

Yes, it is actually that simple

The trouble with conventional thinking, is that it tends to bring us more of what we suffer, and less of what we seek - eg we can grow any type of plant or plants, but that won't fix the limiting factor or root cause of the problem unless we change the thinking, that changes the management practice

 

[Treg]

Why soil is one of the most amazing things on Earth - BBC Ideas

Soil is underappreciated. But it's vital in so many ways. Here's a look at the magic of soil.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Nsoiled]

Tow n fert?

By removing management practices that suppress broadleaves I presume you mean letting the sward grow out and recover for a decently long recovery? Not spraying and spreading artificial fert?

….or disturbing the ground in some fashion to create germination conditions

 

[Nsoiled]

One way to see about over seeding is just to broadcast a few handfuls in a swath. You can mark these by GPS also.
The shape that this spread makes is normally quite easy to see in this sward
Otherwise just going down on your hands and knees and looking in the base of the sward to see if you have germination
If this is successful then you can look at fieldwide applications.
I would always suggest treating seed with compost and bio stimulants prior to application

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Yes, it is actually that simple

The trouble with conventional thinking, is that it tends to bring us more of what we suffer, and less of what we seek - eg we can grow any type of plant or plants, but that won't fix the limiting factor or root cause of the problem unless we change the thinking, that changes the management practice

That is in no way meant to be diminishing, either, sorry if it reads that way,

I know all too well about banks that burn off as our home farm was about 50% "that"

 

[Henarar]

The ewes back in the wilderness, enjoying the sunshine this morning

 

[Henarar]

Took this out the kitchen window this morning.

Keep lambs doing a good job in this dry weather, about 100 on 4 acres,
You can just see our heifers in the background

 

[Kiwi Pete]

We're just about at the end of the rotation

Will start again where the bike is in 25-30 days, not exactly how long it will take to graze the other bit of the farm as there is a fair bit of it to wade through.
Looking forward to putting the heifers all in one mob for a bit more

 

[Rob Garrett]

had another play, think l have the hang of it now, this is from the other end, on the right hand side, we put a solid hurdle, every 5 pens, to stop draught, you can see one. Son and l, built the shed for cubicles, but so light and airy for calves, got hijacked. There's a solid gate behind me, that stops draughts, and we actually had to put a sheet of plyboard, over the bottom door, last winter, 1st time in the 10 yrs since we built it, and off asap, shed works a dream. It's all tied together with string, as well, so easy to take down.
will snap a few leys, before sheep come, as requested
View attachment 1001524

Now you're on it!

Here's another challenge to get your head round; open the link below & copy the text from the top box by typing into the bottom box, see what score you get. Only last 90 seconds, I've not managed to complete it yet! 21 words/min 93% accuracy. My good lady is at 102 wpm 98% acc!

Kaz: Flying Start

 

[som farmer]

someone wanted photo's of grass, pre sheep, these are all different fields, no 1 is overseeded with r/clover. Anything showing no clover, has been overseeded with w/clover and timothy,
As you can see, loads of grass. Interestingly, driving around, the soil has stopped 'absorbing' the water, just making it 'slippery' on the surface, can still slide sideways, in 4x drive, and exactly why we cannot out winter cattle on it, they just 'seal' the surface, and ruin the sward, sheep, do not, lighter animal, not sure if ewes, or lambs coming, but can guarantee, they will put weight on ! It just shows what we can grow, given the right weather. Or is it due to the 'new' regime, we have set up, the basics being learnt from this thread ?

 

[Nsoiled]

someone wanted photo's of grass, pre sheep, these are all different fields, no 1 is overseeded with r/clover. Anything showing no clover, has been overseeded with w/clover and timothy,
As you can see, loads of grass. Interestingly, driving around, the soil has stopped 'absorbing' the water, just making it 'slippery' on the surface, can still slide sideways, in 4x drive, and exactly why we cannot out winter cattle on it, they just 'seal' the surface, and ruin the sward, sheep, do not, lighter animal, not sure if ewes, or lambs coming, but can guarantee, they will put weight on ! It just shows what we can grow, given the right weather. Or is it due to the 'new' regime, we have set up, the basics being learnt from this thread ?
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Have you done an infiltration rate test in this pasture?

Infiltration Rate – Soilmentor

soils.vidacycle.com

Also, what does the soil look like and the rooting depth?

How to Take the Perfect Spade Sample - Niels Corfield

nielscorfield.com

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

someone wanted photo's of grass, pre sheep, these are all different fields, no 1 is overseeded with r/clover. Anything showing no clover, has been overseeded with w/clover and timothy,
As you can see, loads of grass. Interestingly, driving around, the soil has stopped 'absorbing' the water, just making it 'slippery' on the surface, can still slide sideways, in 4x drive, and exactly why we cannot out winter cattle on it, they just 'seal' the surface, and ruin the sward, sheep, do not, lighter animal, not sure if ewes, or lambs coming, but can guarantee, they will put weight on ! It just shows what we can grow, given the right weather. Or is it due to the 'new' regime, we have set up, the basics being learnt from this thread ?
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Looks good,. When did those fields last get any Niitrogen?

 

[som farmer]

Have you done an infiltration rate test in this pasture?

Infiltration Rate – Soilmentor

soils.vidacycle.com

Also, what does the soil look like and the rooting depth?

How to Take the Perfect Spade Sample - Niels Corfield

nielscorfield.com

never done a complicated infiltration test, other than for soakaways, normally no need, and we are anal about pans. We get to a stage/time, when our soil stops being 'friable' and absorbing, in the autumn/winter, and this can be very quick, and in the spring, the opposite, we call it 'pitching'. And it does it every year, i've seen it for 50 ! Just need to realise it's a peculiarity of our soil type. There are places where the soil will not let a tractor grip, l learnt them yrs ago with 2 wheel drive tractors, son poha's them, 4 wheel makes it easier, girl killed next door, when her tractor took off.
The rain we get, seems to be more heavy showers, and comes down faster than the soil can cope with, gentle rain no problem, changing climate, rather than climate change !
The lack of water in the stream, does worry me, we have/had a deep spring that fed a reservoir, that used to keep the farm, 400 head, fully watered sept/october to june/July, that now only trickles out, all year. Put a bore in, water from that, will never run out, we hit an underground river.
A spade is an essential bit of kit here, because we know how easily we can pan, and after ;heavy' rain, we follow the cows with an aerator, pays hands down. Really impressed with our new agronomist, had to drive him to some fields, 'hang on, i'll get my spade'
We are lucky enough to have some deep and decent soils, and plenty of 'top soil', but it comes with a price, like a woman, it needs nurturing !

 

[Rob Garrett]

someone wanted photo's of grass, pre sheep, these are all different fields, no 1 is overseeded with r/clover. Anything showing no clover, has been overseeded with w/clover and timothy,
As you can see, loads of grass. Interestingly, driving around, the soil has stopped 'absorbing' the water, just making it 'slippery' on the surface, can still slide sideways, in 4x drive, and exactly why we cannot out winter cattle on it, they just 'seal' the surface, and ruin the sward, sheep, do not, lighter animal, not sure if ewes, or lambs coming, but can guarantee, they will put weight on ! It just shows what we can grow, given the right weather. Or is it due to the 'new' regime, we have set up, the basics being learnt from this thread ?
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Good sheep grass is that. That second photo, be interesting to electric fence off quarter acre & don't graze it. What do you think will happen? Winter kill? Or will the rest let grass put roots down & get you out the crap in a dry spring?

 

[som farmer]

Looks good,. When did those fields last get any Niitrogen?

early sept, we gave a little bit all round, as things have gone, wished we hadn't, been better applied next spring, price wise ! We have booked a load, at £630 ton, mainly for the sulphur aspect, but that's well over double last years, ouch. Going forward, we have to learn how to farm with less, or no N, and we will learn, plenty of articles about how we can, here, it will be clover clover and more clover, rotation, and better/targeted use of slurry/fym, if the weather meets EA strict and stupid new rules.