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

[Kiwi Pete]

"A bit precious " I've noticed that , I think it's the smell of fear .
What would you change about the cover crop KP?

I'd probably simplify the mix a little in future Treg, and probably strengthen up my "herbicide" a little as well. Sure, a 9 inch rainfall was welcome post-drilling but it really helped the old pasture come back quickly.

Hard to say as this whole area has been utterly raped for silage and what's there will be well adapted to a low-fertility soil, but I haven't seen any phacelia during my walks so I wouldn't buy it again. Buckwheat, ditto, not hugely impressive; I'd maybe try millet instead of those next time.
They were really added as pollinator attractants and for an experiment, but, being totally honest there's that much clover in there (seeded the year before) that they're redundant in that respect.

 

[Farmer Roy]

Are there plants growing where you are that are unusual, given the length of time you've been in drought?

I'm amazed at what's around, even shutting tame grassland up for a few extra weeks there are a bunch of new species showing up.
Haven't seen that app, I did have Plantsnap for a while though

not really, tbh

all the usual suspects have emerged, the pioneer, succession plants that always dominate after extended dry periods or that fill the vacuum that bare / degraded land affords

the only real surprise is the “Island” on the lease block - I a rocky little mound on the plain. Apart from a few box trees ( a eucalypt ) & a lot of regrowth black pine, the actual soil was basically bare, from a combination of years of dry & being hammered by the Roos ( touching on the wildlife grazing here. They are worse than farmers & set stocking . . . ), but I was having a look the other day & was amazed at the amount of grasses & how high they were, but also that there was a lot of what appeared to be Buffel Grass - an imported tropical grass very popular in Queensland extensive “ranch” grazing . . . Not sure where that came from ?

 

[Farmer Roy]

This is why it’s called the Island

a bit like the Isle of Ely in Cambridgeshire

 

[Rob Garrett]

I'd probably simplify the mix a little in future Treg, and probably strengthen up my "herbicide" a little as well. Sure, a 9 inch rainfall was welcome post-drilling but it really helped the old pasture come back quickly.

Hard to say as this whole area has been utterly raped for silage and what's there will be well adapted to a low-fertility soil, but I haven't seen any phacelia during my walks so I wouldn't buy it again. Buckwheat, ditto, not hugely impressive; I'd maybe try millet instead of those next time.
They were really added as pollinator attractants and for an experiment, but, being totally honest there's that much clover in there (seeded the year before) that they're redundant in that respect.

Try some Borage seed @Kiwi Pete , large seed and competitive plant, as good as Phacelia if not better for nectar. The hairy leaves may not be best for grazing, but good for your compo. tea, plus you can freeze the flowers in ice cubes and use in your G&T!

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

"Soil health in NZ needs more work"

"We're not as flash as we thought we were"

(Except the regenerative folk)

Farmers Weekly |

farmersweekly.co.nz

 

[CornishTone]

not really, tbh

all the usual suspects have emerged, the pioneer, succession plants that always dominate after extended dry periods or that fill the vacuum that bare / degraded land affords

the only real surprise is the “Island” on the lease block - I a rocky little mound on the plain. Apart from a few box trees ( a eucalypt ) & a lot of regrowth black pine, the actual soil was basically bare, from a combination of years of dry & being hammered by the Roos ( touching on the wildlife grazing here. They are worse than farmers & set stocking . . . ), but I was having a look the other day & was amazed at the amount of grasses & how high they were, but also that there was a lot of what appeared to be Buffel Grass - an imported tropical grass very popular in Queensland extensive “ranch” grazing . . . Not sure where that came from ?

View attachment 869359

Buffel Grass is a Declared Weed in SA. They have control programs up in the north of the state I think. Turns up on the road sides as the Cameleers used to stuff their saddles with it from memory and then imported the saddles, which inevitably leaked as the went along.

https://www.pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity/weeds_and_pest_animals/weeds_in_sa/weed_id/plant_id_notes/buffel_grass?shorturl_buffel-grass

 

[CornishTone]

Try some Borage seed @Kiwi Pete , large seed and competitive plant, as good as Phacelia if not better for nectar. The hairy leaves may not be best for grazing, but good for your compo. tea, plus you can freeze the flowers in ice cubes and use in your G&T!

Not very nice stuff for Pete if he's in the habit of wandering through his cover crops with shorts on. The hairs on the leaves irritate horribly. Spent a summer trying to force the damn stuff through a combine. The result of a blockage is a rash like you'd spent a week on Union Street in Plymouth... but all over the body!

Good stuff if you don't like someone. Chuck a few hand fulls of seed in their lawn. They'll never get rid of it!!!

 

[Karliboy]

Plenty in this mob.
I missed or it didn’t say how big of a area they get.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1486395358201365

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Plenty in this mob.
I missed or it didn’t say how big of a area they get.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1486395358201365

1080 sheep, 240 cattle, I think he said somewhere?
Interesting part of South Otago Hamish is in, as the crow flies he's about 3 miles from where I grew up.
Very challenging in it's own way, because one year (like this) you can get away with rotational grazing and 9 years it bites you in the ass

 

[Farmer Roy]

Buffel Grass is a Declared Weed in SA. They have control programs up in the north of the state I think. Turns up on the road sides as the Cameleers used to stuff their saddles with it from memory and then imported the saddles, which inevitably leaked as the went along.

https://www.pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity/weeds_and_pest_animals/weeds_in_sa/weed_id/plant_id_notes/buffel_grass?shorturl_buffel-grass

yeah, it does have real potential to outcompete native vegetation, especially in sandy arid regions in northern SA. I think that’s why the Queenslanders love it so much.
It can also make for much increased fire risks as well, due to the bulk of dry material

this link is from 2013, but they are still promoting broadscale clearing of “scrub” country

Grazing and pasture management | Business Queensland

www.daf.qld.gov.au

 

[Fenwick]

So we are getting near to the end of the first rotation with the cow herd. Planned 31 days and I think we will be pretty damned close.
24hr shifts, which has been generally going very well. Being the first rotation we have grazed pretty hard not leaving much residual, but its already really dry here so I do wonder if it was the best thing to do.

Having some decent fencing and waterline has made a big difference. A couple of times I have moved them twice a day which is no big deal whe it only takes 5 mins. I found there to be quite a difference in the cattle and the aftermath once we got over 200LWU/Ha.

Here they are at 260LWU/Ha. Doing well.

The transition to grass wasn't so great. I didn't want to follow them around with the tractor to feed hay, so didnt use a back fence for the first week so they could retun to the ring feeders. How do you guys cope with this?

Been building a mobile chicken coop to follow the cows with. Already getting bothered by flies her, and we have never found a good solution that fits our system. Perhaps it might work? Certainly no problem selling eggs.

Anyone have any integrated solutions for flies?

 

[Henarar]

So we are getting near to the end of the first rotation with the cow herd. Planned 31 days and I think we will be pretty damned close.
24hr shifts, which has been generally going very well. Being the first rotation we have grazed pretty hard not leaving much residual, but its already really dry here so I do wonder if it was the best thing to do.

Having some decent fencing and waterline has made a big difference. A couple of times I have moved them twice a day which is no big deal whe it only takes 5 mins. I found there to be quite a difference in the cattle and the aftermath once we got over 200LWU/Ha.

Here they are at 260LWU/Ha. Doing well.
View attachment 869525

The transition to grass wasn't so great. I didn't want to follow them around with the tractor to feed hay, so didnt use a back fence for the first week so they could retun to the ring feeders. How do you guys cope with this?

Been building a mobile chicken coop to follow the cows with. Already getting bothered by flies her, and we have never found a good solution that fits our system. Perhaps it might work? Certainly no problem selling eggs.

Anyone have any integrated solutions for flies?

we find our cows won't eat hay or silage once they go out to grass

 

[DanM]

So we are getting near to the end of the first rotation with the cow herd. Planned 31 days and I think we will be pretty damned close.
24hr shifts, which has been generally going very well. Being the first rotation we have grazed pretty hard not leaving much residual, but its already really dry here so I do wonder if it was the best thing to do.

Having some decent fencing and waterline has made a big difference. A couple of times I have moved them twice a day which is no big deal whe it only takes 5 mins. I found there to be quite a difference in the cattle and the aftermath once we got over 200LWU/Ha.

Here they are at 260LWU/Ha. Doing well.
View attachment 869525

The transition to grass wasn't so great. I didn't want to follow them around with the tractor to feed hay, so didnt use a back fence for the first week so they could retun to the ring feeders. How do you guys cope with this?

Been building a mobile chicken coop to follow the cows with. Already getting bothered by flies her, and we have never found a good solution that fits our system. Perhaps it might work? Certainly no problem selling eggs.

Anyone have any integrated solutions for flies?

Have you tried spreading/unrolling the hay onto the next break before you let them in? When weathers set fair you can put out several days worth at a time and the “waste” left behind would help with litter/residual if your drying out.

 

[martian]

This land in the pic has been a bit sheepwrecked...grazed like a billiard table for last 10 years at least. Nice and dry so put 40 odd yearling cattle out in feb and rolled the odd bale of hay down the hill for them.
Took animals off yesterday and will leave it until there's something sensible to eat. Atm the dandelions are flowering at 2 inches high...it seems like everything has adapted to life under continuous nibbling. Even the grass behind the electric fence showing no signs of getting going. Drop of rain wouldn't hurt mind

 

[hendrebc]

A

This land in the pic has been a bit sheepwrecked...grazed like a billiard table for last 10 years at least. Nice and dry so put 40 odd yearling cattle out in feb and rolled the odd bale of hay down the hill for them.
Took animals off yesterday and will leave it until there's something sensible to eat. Atm the dandelions are flowering at 2 inches high...it seems like everything has adapted to life under continuous nibbling. Even the grass behind the electric fence showing no signs of getting going. Drop of rain wouldn't hurt mindView attachment 869613

A lot of here looks like that. It will sit at a couple of inches tall and not get any higher. If you pull up a plant or two you will see they are 5-6 leaf stage and still only 2 inches tall. It's very frustrating. Responds well to grazing and the regrowth will jump back up. But only to be 2-3 inch tall and no more.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Even the grass behind the electric fence showing no signs of getting going. Drop of rain wouldn't hurt mind

Be gone foul fiend, off to the "Drought" thread with you

 

[Blaithin]

Once the short grass has time to rest and build up its root mass it should go taller. Right now its root system is probably so dinky it can't get any taller than 2 inches. Probably has to fight its way through a compacted layer as well.

 

[Henarar]

A

A lot of here looks like that. It will sit at a couple of inches tall and not get any higher. If you pull up a plant or two you will see they are 5-6 leaf stage and still only 2 inches tall. It's very frustrating. Responds well to grazing and the regrowth will jump back up. But only to be 2-3 inch tall and no more.

The grass will change with the management

 

[hendrebc]

The grass will change with the management

It will but it's bloody slow. At least 2 years and it's still small. No compaction stopping it it's just well adapted grass. Is it Pete who said plants have good memories?

 

[Blaithin]

It will but it's bloody slow. At least 2 years and it's still small. No compaction stopping it it's just well adapted grass. Is it Pete who said plants have good memories?

There's places here that need 2 years rest all the time, even when they're managed well. After decades of abuse 2 years is nothing. And by rest I mean 2 years no grazing what so ever. Left to go to seed, left to tuck itself in with residue, left to build up it's root mass and reserves again.

Leave it alone, let it go to seed, reboot it's growth pattern.