How To Optimize Spring Grazing On A Regenerative Ranch
Have a plan with options, observe closely, and be ready to adjust as needed.
Noble Rancher Articles
Pasture and Range category
Six Lessons I Learned When Setting Up Temporary Fences
Devlon Ford, ag consultant for Noble Research Institute, shares how he’s applied regenerative practices at home.
Diversity is Key When Planting Cool-Season Forages During a Drought
The pitter-patter of raindrops on a roof is music to a rancher’s ears. Unfortunately, those moments have been few and far between in 2022. But all is not lost when it comes to growing forage for the winter.
How to Decide Which Brush Management Method is Right for You — And Why It’s So Important
Brush encroachment is a common problem for land managers, and it’s often a struggle to know how best to respond to the unwanted trees, vines and shrubs invading your land. On the other hand, there are times when a manager may want to increase brush or a particular brush species in certain areas.
Top 3 Benefits of Plant Diversity on Your Ranch
For farmers and ranchers considering a transition to regenerative agriculture, there may be no more important consideration than increasing plant diversity.
Track Annual Changes in Range Vegetation With Online Tool
Vegetation monitoring is of great importance to land managers. But it’s difficult to accomplish. It’s tedious and time-consuming, requiring personnel trained in ecology and range plant identification. Once the data is collected, it has to be entered into a database, processed further to obtain estimates of biomass or quality, then analyzed. Most often, vegetation data is collected for limited seasons or years, so you only gain an understanding into the current conditions, and nothing about what direction things are headed. Knowing something about the past can provide a great deal of insight into what may happen into the future, but that can only be done if the data exists.
Invasive Plants Are a Threat to Agriculture
Properties managed for livestock and wildlife have plant communities that are manipulated to accomplish specific goals. When an accidental, or intentional, introduction of an invasive plant species happens, those goals can become difficult or impossible to accomplish.
How to Evaluate Property for Raising Cattle
When buying land for cattle production, there are some unique characteristics to consider before signing a contract. These characteristics include: stocking rate, forage quality and type, soil type and fertility, terrain and slope of the land, water sources in each pasture, number of pastures and traps, working pen availability and condition, fence condition and type, and other infrastructure (overhead bins, interior roads, etc.) availability and condition.
Pasture management plan prepares producer for year
Now is the time for cattle producers to develop their pasture management plans to achieve the best possible outcomes this year.
Grazing affects plant root growth
Over the years I have seen many grazing operations in many parts of the country. I have seen places that never seem to grow as much grass as they should, and I have seen places that always seem to have lots of grass. Likewise, I have seen places that have been hurt by the extreme weather of the past several years, and I have seen places that have tolerated the extreme weather quite well. The places that have lots of grass and are doing well don’t necessarily have better soil or get more precipitation, and they may not be stocked lighter or rested more days per year. So what is the difference? Roots and the effects that management has on the roots.