When this blanket of snow at the end of February melts gently into the landscape the steady crescendo into the symphony of spring will paint an idyllic image of green abundance. If only the real world were that simple. Simple may be adequate and elegant but it misses the opportunities found in nuance, diversity and productivity.
What I’m hinting at is that since we live in a place where drastic change in weather is the norm, maximize the potential for positive productivity while improving the ecosystem and landscape with proper processes. A healthy and resilient grazing landscape has a diversity of grasses, forbs and useful woody species which interact with each other for positive mutual effects. Appropriate grazing management is effective at putting the spent biomass from grazing animals in the form of manure back into the soil bank which holds moisture and nutrients and allows for upward succession of higher quality forage with faster regrowth/regeneration and lower external off-farm inputs. Better forage equals better gains and animal health while lowering overhead expenses. Now you’re getting synchronized with nature’s well oiled machine instead of fighting against her. Nature always wins, I prefer to be on her team.
Simple moves you should make:
- Graze smarter, not harder Set stocked, continuous grazing is killing your productivity and biodiversity. You won’t regret planned grazing.
- Plant seasonally appropriate food plots Take advantage of high energy seasonal crops that maximize potential gains and lower inputs.
- Feed your soil microbes and increase microbial diversity with bio-inoculants.
