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

[NZDan]

http://agknowledge.co.nz/uploads/fert-review/FertReview42.pdf

Doug's latest. I'm a fan of his. Tells it like it is

I'm a fan of Regenerative Agriculture but I also think we need to be pragmatic about it disappearing up its own bottom when scrutinised

@martian - another cracking guy for Groundswell although he doesn't totally fit the mould in some ways

Interesting read, I've always been a fan of RegenAg but the passionate hatred of fertilizer and Glyphosate always puzzled me, the refusal to consider that there were situations that both had a place seemed blinkered. In one discussion where I pointed out some trial data showing a lift in biological activity with increased Fert use had the abuse really flowing at me. As doug points out much of what RegenAg promotes is already done commonly in NZ(and other places), in some way at least.

 

[n.w]

What sort of tonnage/area have you got?

Im thinking theres about 10 ton and for an acre of spuds after oats, this is how sandy it is

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Interesting read, I've always been a fan of RegenAg but the passionate hatred of fertilizer and Glyphosate always puzzled me, the refusal to consider that there were situations that both had a place seemed blinkered. In one discussion where I pointed out some trial data showing a lift in biological activity with increased Fert use had the abuse really flowing at me. As doug points out much of what RegenAg promotes is already done commonly in NZ(and other places), in some way at least.

Did you happen upon the article damning regen ag by Jacqueline Rowarth, it seems that the NZ fert industry is in fear of their cash-cows using less product, in a nutshell.

No real surprises from Doug, either, always the salesman; I attended an interesting talk at Telford polytech many years ago and he was on his "fire and brimstone" pulpit there as well, although mostly advocating the use of urea to enable lambing dates to be pushed forward 6 weeks.
... It went down like a cup of cold sick as one of the previous speakers had just been saying the complete opposite... somewhere in between the two is probably where most attendees already sat, but the smoko provided was very good.

 

[onesiedale]

Im thinking theres about 10 ton and for an acre of spuds after oats, this is how sandy it is
View attachment 838496

I thought life in the Western Isles was rugged and harsh. Looks more like a walk on the beach!
Meanwhile, in the Peak District, grazing mud bath is becoming the norm down here. Fancy wintering some heifers???

 

[Samcowman]

@onesiedale I had a piece like that last week. Soon washes off with a bit more rain and wouldn’t know the difference now.
Could do with getting some cows back to wean the calves only problem is I need to bring them across a field which has 2 ft of water across the bottom end of it.

 

[BobTheSmallholder]

Evening all, I'm hoping to be able to contribute a lot more to this thread soon I'm in the early stages of helping out on a local organic farm which was bare fields a few years ago. The farmer has a mixed herd of 20+ native breed cattle which currently get moved around 80 acres. He is very open to the idea of mob/rotational/HP grazing but is very sceptical about the time and labour required for daily moves as they have another business on site and kids to look after.

I follow all the usual suspects like Greg Judy, Gabe Brown, Joel Salatin, Richard Perkins etc etc and I've read this entire thread from the start! I'm trying to think of a handful (1 to 3) key videos to send him that could really help him get his head around the whole thing. Suggestions would be much appreciated...

 

[Farmer Roy]

 

[Farmer Roy]

sorry @BobTheSmallholder - I wasn't trying to be a smart arse, the above video wasn't aimed at you, I posted it before I saw your post

there are so many good videos out there, but I can only think of Australian or North American ones at the moment - would be much better to show UK ones that maybe could resonate a bit more in a similar landscape / climate

I'm sure there will be plenty of suggestions here soon from the locals

 

[onesiedale]

Evening all, I'm hoping to be able to contribute a lot more to this thread soon I'm in the early stages of helping out on a local organic farm which was bare fields a few years ago. The farmer has a mixed herd of 20+ native breed cattle which currently get moved around 80 acres. He is very open to the idea of mob/rotational/HP grazing but is very sceptical about the time and labour required for daily moves as they have another business on site and kids to look after.

I follow all the usual suspects like Greg Judy, Gabe Brown, Joel Salatin, Richard Perkins etc etc and I've read this entire thread from the start! I'm trying to think of a handful (1 to 3) key videos to send him that could really help him get his head around the whole thing. Suggestions would be much appreciated...

The positive news youtube thread

People keep posting on various threads youtube clips that show agriculture in a positive light. We will all miss most of them, and if we do see them can't then find them later for reference/sharing. This thread has two rules: 1) It is for the posting of youtube clips that in some way promote...

thefarmingforum.co.uk

Here, flick through this thread and you may find one or two that will spark some interest.

 

[Farmer Roy]

 

[Farmer Roy]

 

[Farmer Roy]

 

[Kiwi Pete]

I thought life in the Western Isles was rugged and harsh. Looks more like a walk on the beach!
Meanwhile, in the Peak District, grazing mud bath is becoming the norm down here. Fancy wintering some heifers???
View attachment 838518

That, my friend, is the "how to" of putting carbon into your topsoil during rain events.

I'll readily admit I was expecting some real carnage, especially grazing areas that had been grazed wet last time, but they were much more resilient to hoof traffic than some other areas.
Not downpouring, but steady rain for a week, and it held up well.

a 600kg animal made this print, after 140mm+ of continuous rain

 

[Farmer Roy]

I found a UK one

( its pretty obvious I have nothing else to do )

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Evening all, I'm hoping to be able to contribute a lot more to this thread soon I'm in the early stages of helping out on a local organic farm which was bare fields a few years ago. The farmer has a mixed herd of 20+ native breed cattle which currently get moved around 80 acres. He is very open to the idea of mob/rotational/HP grazing but is very sceptical about the time and labour required for daily moves as they have another business on site and kids to look after.

I follow all the usual suspects like Greg Judy, Gabe Brown, Joel Salatin, Richard Perkins etc etc and I've read this entire thread from the start! I'm trying to think of a handful (1 to 3) key videos to send him that could really help him get his head around the whole thing. Suggestions would be much appreciated...

You deserve a medal already....

I'll try to find a certain video by the late, great Gordon Hazard, he explains well the principles of cattle grazing and grazing management.

It doesn't all revolve around UHD grazing, that's just a tool that can speed up results, the main thing I'd suggest is to match the grazing with the season.
Little point using 3-day breaks when the grass is rapidly growing, you hit regrowth and this is limiting.
Likewise, little point moving them 6 times a day if you can't sustain it, or overcook some breaks and undercook others - it all has to be sustainable before it can be regenerative, ie if an 8 or 80 year old can't manage it, it isn't sustainable

 

[NZDan]

Im thinking theres about 10 ton and for an acre of spuds after oats, this is how sandy it is
View attachment 838496

The western Isles never look like that when I visit them!!!! lol

 

[Farmer Roy]

Did you happen upon the article damning regen ag by Jacqueline Rowarth, it seems that the NZ fert industry is in fear of their cash-cows using less product, in a nutshell.

No real surprises from Doug, either, always the salesman; I attended an interesting talk at Telford polytech many years ago and he was on his "fire and brimstone" pulpit there as well, although mostly advocating the use of urea to enable lambing dates to be pushed forward 6 weeks.
... It went down like a cup of cold sick as one of the previous speakers had just been saying the complete opposite... somewhere in between the two is probably where most attendees already sat, but the smoko provided was very good.

Why farmers should avoid magic and opt for science

Comment: Too much attention is placed on fads say agribusiness consultants, Phil Holmes and Ian McLean.

www.farmonline.com.au

 

[n.w]

The western Isles never look like that when I visit them!!!! lol

Indeed.. never seem to photograph on normal days, heres a pic of the end of my croft after a bit of rain

 

[Henarar]

Why farmers should avoid magic and opt for science

Comment: Too much attention is placed on fads say agribusiness consultants, Phil Holmes and Ian McLean.

www.farmonline.com.au

what a lot of waffle to say nothing

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

I LOVE that one! It sums up our western paradigm completely!