- Location
- somerset
a lot of the time, weather dictates what options there are.
"Improving Our Lot" - Planned Holistic Grazing, for starters..
- Thread starter Kiwi Pete
- Start date
- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
This goes two ways - a lot of the time, our choices put us more (or less) at the effect of the weather we get.
Notice I said our choices, these are limited to what's in our context.
If we change out farming for something we're not expert in, it can be easier to see what I mean:
Say we're interviewing a master within a martial arts discipline, they will generally reflect that they know/have mastered hundreds of potential moves, but only use one or two to win a tournament. Take that back to grazing and it's very much like that, one or two things largely make us or break us when we are challenged.
- Location
- somerset
not many industries are completely reliant on the weather, to the extent farming is, and no other industry is so important to maintain life.
and despite those two points, a large number of people seem to think they can manage without us. Ironic, isn't it ?
quite like the martial arts master comment, as farmers, we seem to have innumerable ways to do simple farming processes, at least according to TFF !!!!!!! But each different weather pattern, requires a slightly different action. And then, we look to the older generations
- Location
- Glen Clova, Angus, DD8 4RD
And the analogy can be extended to resilience as well.not many industries are completely reliant on the weather, to the extent farming is, and no other industry is so important to maintain life.
and despite those two points, a large number of people seem to think they can manage without us. Ironic, isn't it ?
quite like the martial arts master comment, as farmers, we seem to have innumerable ways to do simple farming processes, at least according to TFF !!!!!!! But each different weather pattern, requires a slightly different action. And then, we look to the older generations
By choosing actions that offer you greater resilience to weather (or combat) impacts then you have more options open when that impact occurs....
- Location
- Glen Clova, Angus, DD8 4RD
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01414-9
Death of a soil health pioneer
www.nature.com
Death of a soil health pioneer
Diana Wall obituary: ecologist who foresaw the importance of soil biodiversity
Environmental scientist who revealed the crucial role of underground animals in sustainability.
www.nature.com
- Location
- east mids
If you were re-designing all your grazing infrastructure from scratch…
Permanent vs temporary stuff, water pipes / systems, layout etc.
What would you do differently?
Permanent vs temporary stuff, water pipes / systems, layout etc.
What would you do differently?
- Location
- somerset
permanent fencing can be very 'restrictive', temp gives you flexibility, to stock available grass, which differs through the season.
best thing we did, was to put a network of cow tracks in, not so viable for beef though.
water, pipe on top of ground, and portable troughs, unless you can afford lots of troughs !
completely different subject, we made the decision to plough out the temp cover crop of grass, between maize crops, having silaged it. We suspect a degree of compaction, after the wet winter and heavy silage tackle.
spread dung on 1st field, last ploughed 7/8 years ago, tine worked for maize last yr, w/wold dd into maize stubble.
soil was in ideal condition, no panning, nice and friable, turned over a treat. Tells a story, doesn't it. The next piece will be ploughed, mainly because it is close to a very full lagoon, and is going to get a severe dosing of slurry. Not ideal, but time is a factor. Another 14 ml of rain today