#135, In Practice, Jan/Feb 2011

healthy land. sustainable future.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2011

NUMBER 135

The Power of Paradigm Change

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

ANNUAL GRASSLANDS

by Tony McQuail

O

ne of the great strengths of Holistic Management is its ability to help us examine and change our paradigms.

Sharing these experiences of paradigm change can be a powerful tool as we seek to help others appreciate the value and effectiveness of Holistic Management.

Don Campbell’s paradigm shift from feeling that he and the bank had to own all the cattle he was grazing to being willing to custom graze cattle and the $50,000 difference it made to his bottom line that year is a wonderful story.

Two paradigms which shifted for me after we had taken our training in 1995 were: “farmers can’t take summer holidays” and “you have to have a snow blower to keep the lane clear.”

No Holidays When we had been working on our farm and family holisticgoal, our daughters had made it clear that while they generally liked life on the farm, they wanted to take a summer family holiday the way their friends at school did. I had always assumed that farmers couldn’t take a summer holiday. I felt there was just too much to do during the summer and no way someone else could look after things if we went away. My initial thought when the girls talked of a family summer holiday had been “NO Way!! Can’t do that!!” But the Holistic Management training had encouraged us to listen and value everyone’s concerns and goals. We had also been introduced to a toolbox of new tools for making decisions and planning, so Fran and I thought: “Well, wouldn’t this be a good test of Holistic Management’s effectiveness. Let’s see if we can use what we’ve learned to plan a family holiday next summer.”

So we started our planning with what we wanted. We decided we would plan to take off the month of August to go hiking and visiting in British Columbia. There was a weeklong Quaker youth gathering that our daughters wanted to go

WWW.HOLISTICMANAGEMENT.ORG

to which was occurring before the week Canadian Quaker Yearly Meeting both being held in British Columbia.

Planning Backward We then started to plan backward from this goal. In some ways it was similar to planned grazing. What did we need to do or have in place to be able to leave the farm for a month in August? We had to have someone able to look after the farm for that month. We were approached by a woman who wanted to learn from us so we made a deal that we would teach her for a week a month (this was the time she had available) through the spring and summer and then hire her for the month of August to look after the farm while we were away.

Having the Holistic Management grazing chart made me much more confident that I could leave reasonably clear instructions of how to do our grazing moves and return to a fairly clear description of what had actually happened. We used the planning charts to look at all the different things we wanted to do that summer on the farm, plotting out different categories like cutting wood, pruning apple trees, planting crops, moving livestock, raising chickens, harvesting hay, harvesting grain, butchering, marketing, picking apples, replacing a greenhouse on the south wall of the house. We estimated how much time each activity would take during the different months of the year. We discovered that we were hoping that two people (us) could do the work of at least four people based on our time estimates. It also helped us identify things we would normally do in August when we were now planning to be away.

Now it was time to do some refiguring and plan out how to change our work demands and free up August to a work load manageable by one apprentice with less experience than us. Normally August is when we would be doing grain harvest.

We didn’t want to leave this to an apprentice, and CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

On page 8, Richard King tells of his experience bringing perennial grasses and forbs back to degraded annual grasslands. His wife, Cynthia, has enjoyed the great increase of native perennial poppies on Poppy Hill Farm.

FEATURE STORIES Teaching Youth Basic Grazing Principles— A 4-H Grass Program

BY BLAIN HJERTAAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Namibia Rangeland Forum— The Power of Evidence

BY WIEBKE VOLKMANN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

The Data Mine Podcasts, Tweets, and our Facebook Status

BY FRANK ARAGONA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Holistic Management Canada DON CAMPBELL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

LAND and LIVESTOCK Effects of Holistic Planned Grazing on Annual Grasslands RICHARD J. KING

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

What’s your Grazing IQ? BEN BARTLETT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

If You Grow It, Please Don’t Hay It! GREG JUDY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

NEWS and NETWORK Texas Regional Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Grapevine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 From the Board Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Certified Educators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

healthy land. sustainable future.

Holistic Management International works to reverse the degradation of private and communal land used for agriculture and conservation, restore its health and productivity, and help create sustainable and viable livelihoods for the people who depend on it.

STAFF Peter Holter . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chief Executive Officer Tracy Favre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Senior Director Kelly King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chief Financial Officer Ann Adams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Managing Editor, IN PRACTICE and

Senior Director of Education Frank Aragona . . . . . . . . . . Director, Data/Documentation Amy Normand . . . . . . . . . . . Regional Director, Texas Tom Levine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Development Advisor Donna Torrez . . . . . . . . . . . Manager: Administration & Executive Support Peggy Cole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Regional Project Manager, Texas Brady Gibbons . . . . . . . . . . Field Advisor Mary Girsch-Bock . . . . . Communications Associate Valerie Grubbs . . . . . . . . . Accounting Associate Carrie Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . Education Associate

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Sallie Calhoun, Chair Ben Bartlett, Past Chair Gail Hammack, Vice-Chair John Hackley, Secretary Christopher Peck, Treasurer Ron Chapman Judi Earl Jim McMullan Jim Shelton

Lee Dueringer Clint Josey Jim Parker Kelly Sidoryk

The David West Station for Holistic Management Tel: 325/392-2292 • Cel: 325/226-3042 westgift@hughes.net Joe & Peggy Maddox, Ranch Managers

HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE (ISSN: 1098-8157) is published six times a year by: Holistic Management International 1010 Tijeras NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102, 505/842-5252, fax: 505/843-7900; email: hmi@holisticmanagement.org.; website: www.holisticmanagement.org COPYRIGHT © 2011

HMI was originally founded in 1984 by Allan Savory and Jody Butterfield. They have since left to pursue other ventures.

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The Power of Paradigm Change our earlier experience had been we couldn’t rely on neighbors to do it while we were there. So we made the decision not to grow grain, but instead to buy it. I had also been assuming we would rebuild the greenhouse after first cut hay, and during August but buying grain freed up time in the spring that would have been spent preparing fields and seeding. However, we normally would have our transplants in the green house at that time of year, but if we got a friend to raise our seedlings that spring we could tear down the green house early in the spring and get the rebuilding going before the haying.

We kept working on our plan that winter thinking about how to sequence our work to do what was most important and keep August free for a family vacation. It worked!! We had to do a little replanning as our daughter was accepted for a French Exchange program, and we had to arrange to meet her exchange partner at the airport in Vancouver after we had been in British Columbia for a week, but that worked. She joined us for the last three weeks of our vacation.

I learned something else from our family holiday besides the power of Holistic Management Planning. I had never really enjoyed summer holidays that we had taken before when we would get away for a weekend or maybe even a week. I was always cramming two weeks of work into the week before we went away, worrying about how things were going back on the farm while away and then trying to cram two weeks of work into the week we got back. It never felt very restful and it seemed it would be easier not to go away. I was always trying to cram four weeks of work into three weeks—no wonder it wasn’t much fun.

With a four-week holiday I could still try to cram two weeks of work into the week before we left and the week we got back, but it still meant that during those six weeks there were at least two weeks of actual holiday in the middle. I also found that being gone that long and that far away, I stopped worrying about how things were going on the farm after about the first week and only started making to do lists for what I needed to do once we were home in the last couple of days before our return. That was pretty restful.

And I learned that I wasn’t as indispensable as I had thought. The livestock had not died; the barn had not burned down; the house was still there, as was the apprentice—feeling pretty proud of what she had accomplished in the month. Now not everything had been done quite the way we’d have done it if we had been there—but it was good enough and we’d had a holiday. That experience certainly helped us appreciate the power of Holistic Management planning and

January / February 2011

continued from page one paved the way for longer family holidays every couple of years as our daughters were growing up.

I think it helped them appreciate the farm more for not feeling trapped on it. It certainly helped us appreciate it too since travel helps you see home from different perspectives and recognize what we often take for granted.

Keeping the Lane Clear Another early paradigm shift occurred the winter after we had taken the course. Our old snow blower bought at a bargain price at a summer auction sale 12 years before died when the main bearing seized during the second snow of the season. Before Holistic Management training I would have bit the bullet and rushed out to buy a new blower from a dealer at the height of the season—no chance to wait for a summer auction sale.

But with Holistic Management training we defined the problem, and it wasn’t lack of a snow blower. It was winter access to our farm. We started considering various options. Could we hire a neighbor to blow the lane? Could we leave the car and truck at the end of the lane and just hand shovel space for them (we’d done this for 9 years before we had the tractor and blower)? Could we use a horse powered snow scoop to clear the lane?

Should we replace the snow blower? We started exploring the options.

We called the neighbor but they weren’t keen on adding our lane (which is long and hilly) to their list of lanes they were already custom blowing. We borrowed a neighbor’s snow scoop and tried it with our horses. We took all the options through the testing questions. The horse powered snow scoop ended up the choice that best fit with our holisticgoal and we were able to purchase one with a savings over a replacement snow blower that was more than the cost of the Holistic Management course we’d taken. That’s how Holistic Management is helping us make win/win/win decisions.

Tony McQuail is a Certified Educator who lives near Lucknow, Ontario, Canada. He can be reached at: mcqufarm@hurontel.on.ca or 519/528-2493.

Teaching Youth Basic Grazing Principles— A 4-H Grass Program

by Blain Hjertaas

D

uring 2009, I worked with a local 4-H group near Redvers, Saskatchewan to teach young people basic grazing principles and to help set up a site to test these principles and demonstrate these principles to the public as fairly as possible.

This project was done under the framework of Sask 4-H. It was called a self determined project, as there were no guidelines for a project like this.

To meet the requirements of a 4-H club, each member needs to complete a record book, be involved in judging and participate in public speaking. This was a new project, so we made it up as we went along. I was very fortunate to have 3 very committed leaders: one parent who is a Holistic Management practitioner and two young women from Ducks Unlimited (agroecologists) who were very much into grazing and kids.

Meeting Schedule Vicki from Ducks Unlimited (DU) had written a proposal to Go Green SASK for funding for this idea and it was approved, so we had money before we began which certainly made thing easier. It allowed us to pay for the fencing, maps, some advertising for the achievement day as well as the meal and a couple of pizza parties. Go Green needed us to teach about riparian areas and BMP’s (best management practices).

We went to existing 4-H Beef Clubs in the area

and asked if there were any senior members (15 and up) who would be interested in learning more about grass. We got 7 young people to give it a try.

On November 1, 2009 we had our first meeting. I did a PowerPoint on grazing principles, and we talked about what we could do and set up next meeting for January 24th. The members wanted to learn more about grazing and have fun doing it.

We met a week before each meeting as leaders to figure out what was next. This worked very well.

Here’s how are schedule ran.

■ January 24 Meeting We reviewed grazing principles from the last meeting, set up the executive of the club, and picked the name for the club. The SE Greener Pastures 4-H Grazing Club was up and running.

We began learning the concepts of land planning and gave members aerial maps. We did group planning on several maps to give them some idea of what it was about. We then gave them each a map and the assignment: go home, design a land plan, and bring it back for next meeting to talk about their ideas for infrastructure development of water, fences, etc.

■ February 8th Meeting Each member did a presentation on how they would have laid out fences and water systems.

Group discussion followed each presentation, and they began to understand the basics of land planning. This time we assigned them land

The continuous graze area across from paddock 6 shows how the cattle were not utilizing this portion of the 59 acres.

This portion of the continuous graze area was over utilized as is evidenced by the amount of bare ground and the shortness of the forage.

planning for their own land.

■ March 6th Meeting We identified criteria for our project site. It needed to be uniform, close to a highway, and have a willing farmer. Members then presented their land plans on their own farms to the group.

Based on the presentations, we began to narrow down where our site would be located. We also contacted parents to see if they would be interested in participating ■ April 3rd Meeting Two sites would meet the criteria. We looked at the land plan for each and made the decision for the site close to the highway. We finalized our plan and made sure we were all comfortable. We then determined the fencing supplies list and each member was to get quotes from their local vendors for the package of materials required.

They forwarded their quotes to Vicki before May 2nd so we could determine where the best deal was. The supplier chosen delivered materials to the site.

■ May 2nd Meeting

After all our planning it was great to be out on the land. We split our quarter section (160 acres/64 ha) in half (80 acres/32 ha) and then split the half into six paddocks (13.3 acres/5.3 ha). Members learned how to anchor and tie wire as well as pound staples, and most important put planning into effect. By early afternoon we had the fence up and the wires tight and it looked good. A pipeline was planned, but until it was installed, a truck and tank would be used to get water to cattle. The area was surveyed using GPS. ■ May 30th Meeting

Today was cattle weigh day. We hired a scale and weighed cattle. This was a small herd of 37 pair. Due to management concerns, the owner wanted the six that had not calved on the paddock side for easier monitoring. We got two total weights and moved cattle to the two areas. The project had begun.

This piece of land is owned by the government of Saskatchewan and is administered by the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority. They have very specific rules to follow in grazing. As the farmer had overgrazed badly the year before, we had to deal with a fairly short grazing period. We could graze from June 1 till August 18. We decided to do a one-pass system and simply divided days available by the number of paddocks to determine moving days. We further split the paddocks with a portable reel to give 12 paddocks (6.65 acres/2.67 ha) for 6 days in each one. The farmer’s responsibility was to move his cattle according to the schedule. The other side was a conventionallyCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Number 135

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4-H Club Results 1. The 4-H members judged grass plugs on August 17th. They did a super job of rating them, using good grazing words, and most picked the correct plug as the best.

2. Each member turned in a record book which was judged. They all had a good grasp of grazing concepts and understood what we were doing.

3. One of the requirements of 4-H is all members participate in public speaking.

These young adults did this numerous times throughout year. They presented their land planning projects to the group. Each of them prepared the information in their own way for their station and had to present it four times to a group of adults. They all are a lot more confident young adults because of that experience and good feedback from the adults present.

4. I think all our young people were convinced that in order to graze properly you need to have recovery.

The farmer was also convinced. The total production was 3,696 lbs (1,663 kg) on the paddock side versus 2,177 lbs (980 kg) on the continuous graze side (an almost 75% increase in production!). Several of the boys have their fathers talked into subdividing some pasture at home to “try it.”

5. On achievement day we had a nice crowd. Many veteran graziers were there, but also people I have never seen out to grazing meetings before.

I believe everyone learned something as the networking was fantastic at the station sites. It was unfortunate we had to keep moving to maintain a schedule.

6. I believe this is a very powerful way to teach people. Kids can teach their parents much faster than any other existing method of extension.

7. We had excellent press coverage as the event was mentioned on a local radio station. The provincial forage association had their editor out, and they had a nice write up in their e newsletter. We also had a freelance journalist in attendance who wrote an article for the Western Canadian paper “The Western Producer.” Our regional beef specialist from Saskatchewan Agriculture & Food was also in attendance.

8. We hired a photographer/writer to do an article on the project for the local papers. All of the local weekly papers carried the article he created.

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Teaching Youth Basic Grazing Principles continued from page three managed continuous graze system.

■ June 27th Meeting

This was a late afternoon meeting. We wanted members to observe and note what was happening and show grazing principles. The regrowth on the first two paddocks was very evident so it was quite easy for members to fully understand the concept of recovery time. The continuous graze side looked good, but patchy grazing was evident with little utilization far from water. Following the pasture time we had pizza at a grange hall and talked about how we could do the achievement day and what requirements they needed to finish up in order to complete their 4-H year.

■ August 5th Meeting

We had this meeting at my place where we showed three-day riparian grazing impact versus season-long riparian grazing impact. We also looked at the impact of litter. At the spot we stopped on a cool evening we had four degree Celcius difference in soil temp within 4 inches (10 cm) from litter covered to bare, so they better understood the importance of laying litter down.

We did a pasture assessment by lying down and having total quiet for five minutes, then gathered in a circle to see what people had noticed. We talked about achievement day and what we were going to do. We decided to do stations and each member would explain a concept. We handed out

some material for reference and determined who was responsible for what, then had a barbeque to end the evening.

That same day, due to the dry summer, our farmer got a call from Saskatchewan Watershed Authority. They said he would have to take cattle out of the continuous side as there was no grass left. To be fair we took cattle off both sides on August 7th and weighed them out.

■ August 17th Preparation Day We met at the site at 8 a.m. They practiced their presentations, observed the site again, and did pasture clippings to determine total production. We also reviewed a powerpoint one of the girls did as an overview of the project as well as completing last minute logistics.

■ August 18th Achievement Day

We had a good crowd of about 50 people.

Members showed their powerpoint, and I did a brief overview of the project. We went out to the land and broke into groups for the four stations. The first station was an overview of the project and basic grazing principles. The second station was about litter. This station demonstrated the importance and uses and how to measure litter. The third station focused on dung beetles and soil temperature. We had dung beetles working and showed soil temperature differences. The fourth station was about riparian areas, what they are, why they are so important, and how to manage them to prevent ecological damage.

We had originally budgeted 15 minutes total between the presentations and the moves, but it

Paddock 1 had the most recovery (almost 60 days) and opportunity for regrowth.

Paddock 2 shows good regrowth after 45 days recovery.

January / February 2011

was closer to half an hour. The members did an excellent job of presenting their topics and sharing was fantastic as there was a good mix of very experienced grazers as well as novices.

I believe we achieved our goals. Members did judging, record books and a great job of public speaking. I believe they understand the basic concept of rest and recovery, riparian areas and their importance to the ecosystem. Some excellent teaching happened at the achievement day because it was easy to ask questions when kids are teaching. The farmer on whose land we had the demonstration project is very convinced.

It was very powerful for him that the continuous side was out of grass. Most of all, we had fun doing it.

We have one member off to college, but the rest have expressed a willingness to do it again.

We have had several parents ask if we could start another grass club in their area. Saskatchewan 4-H may be interested in writing a curriculum. I think we will be better off to go to a new site and start over rather than continue on with this one.

At this point no decisions have been made about sites or continuing. Before anything is done, the four leaders will meet and evaluate our past year.

If the decision is to go ahead, it will be much easier to do again, and I believe we will be able to do it without a government grant.

Blain Hjertaas is a Certified Educator who lives near Redvers, Saskatchewan, Canada. He can be reached at bhjer@sasktel.net or 306/452-3882. All photos credited to Tim Lofstrom

Paddock 6 has had no recovery time when this picture was taken.

The SouthEast Greener Pastures 4-H Grazing Club learned a lot about land planning, grazing planning, and infrastructure development from this grazing project.

Paddock 3 also shows good regrowth after 33 days recovery .

Paddock 4 shows the need for further recovery with 21 days recovery.

Project Results

Continuous Grazed Side Calculations

This was a very dry and cold spring and early summer with considerably below normal precipitation

Continuous grazed side calculations were based on 128.5 grams for 6 sq ft/6= 21.41 grams /454 grams/lb=0.047 lbs/ft sq X 43,560 sq ft/acre =2,057 lbs/ac of wet residue. We assumed 50% moisture = 1,023.5 lbs/acre (1,152 kg/ha) of residue.

Assuming that cattle eat 3% of their weight per day in dry matter, then using weight in and out and taking the average of those weights, we can determine grass production during the time cattle were feeding. 28,115 lbs in + 37,707 lbs out = 32,910 lbs average weight X 3% = 987 lbs x 69 days= 68,103 lbs dry matter consumed/59 acres =1,154 lbs/acre production plus residue 1,023=2,177 lbs/acre (2,450 kg/ha) of total production.

If we then take the weight average and convert to Standard Animal Units (SAU), then we can determine the Animal Days per Acre (ADA) produced: SAU=32.9 x 69 days=2,270 AD/59 acres=38.4 ADA.

CONTINUOUS GRAZED SIDE

Size Days Grazed Cow Numbers Weight In Weight Out Wt. Difference

59 acres 69 days 19 pairs 28,115 lbs / 12,652 kg 37,707 / 16,968 kg 9,590 lbs / 4,316 kg 19 pairs Wt. Difference/pair 504 lbs / 227kg Total Production 2,177 lbs / acre (2,450 kg/ha) ADA 38.4 ADA

PADDOCK SIDE

58.4 acres 69 days 18 pairs 28,665 lbs / 12,899 kg 37,300 lbs / 16,785 kg 8,635 lbs / 3,886 kg 18pairs 479 lbs / 216 kg 3,696 lbs / acre (4,158 kg/ha) 39 ADA

We clipped residue on August 17th from one sq ft of growth in 6 places on each side (determined beforehand for both sides)

Paddock Grazing Side Calculations The residue on this side was 5,052 lbs wet or 2,526 lbs dry/acre with consumption on average weight at 1,170 lbs/acre (28,665 lbs + 37,300 lbs / 2 = 32,983 lbs X 3% = 990 lbs X 69 days = 68,310 lbs/58.4 acres). Total production was 3,696 lbs/ acre (4,158 kg/ha). Using average weight for SAU then the ADA is 39 (SAU 33 x 69 days=2,277AD/ 58.4 acres =39 ADA).

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Namibia Rangeland Forum— The Power of Evidence

by Wiebke Volkmann

T

he Namibia Rangeland Forum is an annual gathering of individuals passionate about rangeland management. Each year for the past 14 years the forum is organized and hosted by a different group of people and organizations. It all started at an information day held in 1996 on a government research farm where rangeland and livestock scientists, farmers and Holistic Management educators (Dick Richardson, then from South Africa, and Gero Diekmann) engaged in highly charged debates. Despite (and maybe due to) the then conflicting viewpoints, the people present decided that they wanted to exchange practical experiences from academic research and onfarm production more regularly. It was decided to hold the 2010 gathering in the Ghanzi district of neighboring Botswana as the production results achieved on the farm Oasis had been referred to repeatedly over the past three years.

Together with the Namibia Centre for Holistic Management, the Ghanzi Beef Producers Association agreed to host this year’s proceedings. The theme “Results and Requirements for Dynamic Rangeland Management in the 21st Century” was a dialogue of current insights from scientific research, livestock farming, and marketing with special focus on practical results achieved in the Kalahari bushveld savannah.

The Minister of Agriculture from Botswana in his opening speech pre-empted the multi stakeholder involvement in the event when he said “May I take this opportunity to advise you, when discussing the move from in-

formal/communal to formal and commercial production and marketing processes, to solicit for input from those affected communities and farmers.” The three day program included powerpoint-illustrated presentations and panel discussions, but most importantly two field visits to farms outside Ghanzi.

The second day focused on the management and results achieved through the practice of Holistic Management. Ian Mitchell-Innes, by now known not only in Southern Africa but also the USA for his thorough investigations of all processes that support a healthy ecosystem, optimal agricultural production, and personal satisfaction inspired and challenged some members of the audience with his combination of scientific knowledge and personal farming experience. Both he and Wayne Knight, educator from Polokwane, South Africa, provided a takehome message for many participants: Manage for what you want, not for what you do not want.

Sharing their experiences around bush encroachment and enhancing grass growth by using livestock as a tool, these two men amazed other farmers and scientists alike with their knowledge of micro-organisms and soil life.

Wayne Knight also addressed the relevant topic of degradation on game farms and the great contribution planned grazing with livestock can make to bringing back perennial grasses and reducing bush encroachment that he links to the effects of partial over-resting.

These and other presentations served as valuable background to the main reason why many people had come to Ghanzi. Dudley and Denise Barnes, together with sons Sheldon, Who makes up the bigger herd?

Participants of the Namibia Rangeland Forum enjoying the large herd of healthy cattle during the farm tour of Oasis, Botswana.

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January / February 2011

Quinton and Jason and their wives, have managed the 47,000 acre (18,800 ha) cattle ranch by practicing all the Holistic Management planning procedures since the 1990s. Their presentations in the hall and on the farm tour inspired the visitors through their clarity of purpose and triple-bottom line evidence of success.

Despite our visit at the end of the non-growing season, there was green leaf all over—the wide distribution of Black-Footed Signal Grass (brachiaria negropedata), considered the most nutritious and palatable grass of Southern Africa, left many farmers standing in disbelief. To not have to feed urea in the dry season suddenly became a comprehensible possibility many farmers still cannot belief. A highlight was witnessing the release of 1,600 cows out of the holding facility at one of the water points. The shiny coats and excellent condition of the animals at this “challenging time of season” put a smile on everyone’s face. Discussions around the principles of Beefmaster breeding, of disease control, calving rates, and practical animal handling followed.

A contingent from the recently launched Community Based Rangeland and Livestock Management program for the Northern Communal Areas of Namibia found valuable firsthand information and evidence of success from applying the principles of animal impact, herd effect, and planned grazing. While the Barnes manage animal movements through fenced camps (pastures), Community Based Rangeland and Livestock Management in Namibia has shown that the same principles and tools can be engaged by herding large herds of livestock. Next year’s Rangeland Forum may well visit the communal farmers in the Northwest of Namibia.

Further presentations focused on creative marketing through a conservation beef production initiative by the Masaai pastoralists from Kenya. The beef market and related price structures in Namibia and Botswana are very dependent on export to Europe at this stage.

Although the market conditions in Kenya are different in that the local demand for beef is so much higher, Michael Kibue and Wilfred Ondungu from the keekonyoikie Maasai slaughter house and the Kenya Livestock Working Group inspired through their “whole chain thinking”.

The common sense expressed in Michael Kibue’s words amused and inspired the audience: “We operate along a hot chain. We don’t need the cold chain of storing and transporting meat. Meat in our country is eaten the same day as the animal is slaughtered.” Besides initiating a pastoralist-owned slaughter and marketing facility, they facilitate rangeland management

education and exchange visits between producers to improve the quality of the slaughter animals. Clearly seeing through the workings of a long market chain with too many actors and the low price and stifling production demands it usually puts on producers, they look for creative ideas to keep the distance between producer and consumer as close as possible. The pride and joy they experience from their achievements and self-reliance was infectious.

Siegfried Schneider was asked to share the Namibian experience where livestock producers initiated the development of a national rangeland policy and strategy. He described how a great diversity of stakeholders from government, the private sector, farmers’ unions, support agencies, teaching institutions, and independent consultants came together and, in a remarkably short time with consensus, drafted a policy and strategy. The draft document’s core messages are based on listing and describing “principles of sound rangeland management”, rather than prescribing management strategies. These principles include: • Know your resource base • Manage for effective recovery • Manage for effective utilization of plants (grasses and shrubs) • Enhancing soil condition • Addressing bush encroachment • Drought planning • Monitoring of the resource base • Planning land use infrastructure The ecological literacy and principles of Holistic Management have had a great influence on the above guidelines even though the wording may still lead to different interpretations and long discussions. The commitment of the diverse stakeholders involved in the drafting has caused the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Namibia to request that this work group become a formal organ that can help to spread awareness on sound rangeland management and issues of bush encroachment, and that can help in the design of suitable legislation and support strategies to farmers.

Some participants of the Namibia Rangeland Forum returned from Ghanzi still saying “Oh yes, there in the Kalahari it seems to work well, but will it work where we are, with the different rainfall and soil?” However, most farmers, from Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa realized that while there are great challenges ahead, the possibilities are many too.

Already there are plans to expand the exchange visits and to share case studies. The detailed case study of Oasis (Barnes family in Botswana) tracks management decisions and observation over the past 10 years. Another case study from Namibia that speaks convincingly of ecological resilience and sustainable wealth creation was recently written up by Judith Isele and Ekkehard Kuelbs of the farm Springbokvley, also on the Kalahari Sand, but on the Namibian side of the border. Although they are different in that they combine large herds of cattle and sheep, the operation on Springbokvley mirrors that of the Barnes especially through the art of keeping things simple and enjoying a desired quality of life. These role models are vital to creating momentum among institutions and individuals who support the regeneration of rangelands.

To obtain the case study of Oasis, Barnes family, Botswana contact wiebke@mweb.com.na. For the case study of farm Springbokvley, Namibia contact Judith Isele and Ekkehard Kuelbs at iselkuel@iway.na.

Podcasts, Tweets, and our Facebook Status

by Frank Aragona

I

n this brave new world of techno-complexity, HMI is seeking new ways to collaborate and share information both within the organization and with our broader community. One persistent problem has been finding the best way to share the results of monitoring and research. In this day and age, people produce and consume information in many different ways, so our communications strategy must reflect and embrace this diversity.

The print medium you are holding in your hands has been, and will continue to be, an important means of communication. In this column, several researchers have shared their results with our community. Moving forward, The Data Mine will remain an important source of information.

The Internet has opened a whole new realm of possibilities and synergies for developing and sharing information. Over the past several months, HMI has published seven different interviews as part of the Holistic Management Podcast series. These interviews are available via HMI’s Data and Documentation Blog. These interviews include many familiar names: Dr. Judi Earl, Dr. Keith Weber, and Dr. Richard Teague are amongst the researchers sharing their results and opinions. We have also included interviews with innovators, like pasture cropping pioneer Colin Seis, or journalist and ecosystem restorer Dan Dagget.

Essentially, podcasts are akin to radio for the Internet, usually available for download in MP3 format. Users can listen to podcasts anytime directly through the Internet, or they can download podcasts to their iPod or portable listening device.

In addition to these audio interviews, you can also find freshly developed video content. For example, now available for viewing is a 20minute YouTube video on the management of weeds and invasive species.

This video is based on the research of range scientist Dr. Tony Svejcar. In addition, a 40-minute audio-visual presentation developed by Dan Dagget will take you on a visual tour of how cattle are being used throughout the American West to restore degraded land and protect critical wildlife habitat.

HMI is using newer tools like Twitter and Facebook to share this content with our growing community. If you haven’t already, please check out our Twitter feed, which is available at twitter.com/hminternational. Using Twitter, you can get updates on our latest blog posts, workshops, and other news.

Likewise, HMI’s Facebook page includes similar information. Using Facebook, you can comment on upcoming events, or share your experiences with us as we continually post analysis and news relevant to Holistic Management. To find our Facebook page, just visit your own Facebook account and type “Holistic Management International” into the search box. If you haven’t already, click on the “Like” button to receive updates from HMI in your Facebook news feed.

HMI is moving forward in our strategy of engagement and collaboration. We are looking for ways to build powerful information management tools that will help us and our community to practice Holistic Management more effectively. With the interactive technologies now at our disposal, we hope that our community will be an integral part of that process. So please join us online as the conversation continues to unfold.

Number 135

IN PRACTICE

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& Effects of Holistic Planned Grazing on Annual Grasslands

by Richard J. King

I

have practiced holistic planned grazing on 40 acres (16 ha) near Petaluma, California since 1992 on a part of my family’s larger farm.

In this article I will share some of the results I’ve observed on the land over an almost 20-year period. My family had used 30 acres (12 ha) for cropland hay production (oat/ryegrass/vetch mix) on unirrigated rolling hills for well over 50 years. The remaining 10 acres (4 ha) had been pastured annual grassland. The last crop of hay was disked and planted in summer/fall 1989, cut and baled in spring 1990, and then all fields rested until I began grazing beef cattle on the 40 acres (16 ha) in early March 1992.

The growing season in this part of California’s Mediterranean climate is typically around six months in length, with most rainfall occurring during winter months when plant growth is very slow. Rainfall averages 24 inches (600 mm) and rapid plant growth occurs in April as soil temperatures warmup and rainfall simultaneously becomes unreliable.

Soil Health Two major soil types exist both in the former cropland (30 acres/ 12 ha) and long-time annual grassland (10 acres/ 4 ha)—‘high shrink-swell clay’ and ‘loamy’ (i.e. typically clay loam with clay subsoil on hillslopes). Soil organic matter, aggregate stability, compaction/ productivity, and the shade of green differed greatly between the former cropland and long-time grassland. Since 1992, all these factors have slowly improved on the former cropland, although compaction initially became very significant after tillage stopped due to livestock trampling during the rainy season. No obvious soil changes have been observed on the adjacent 10 acres (4 ha), however no baseline information was collected other than photos.

A transect across representative areas of both major soil types was done in 1994 and repeated again in 2007, both on the former cropland. Soil samples were collected along a transect by removing 12 surface samples to a depth of four inches (10 cm) and combining them into one bag for each transect. Lab data for the two composite samples indicated that the clayey soil surface organic matter increased from 2.5 to 3.0% during that time, and loamy soil surface organic matter increased from 2.4 to 2.7%.

Removing uniformly shaped core samples with a spade in 2007 was surprisingly difficult because soil aggregate stability had definitely changed for the better, causing the excavated samples to readily crumble apart, unlike in 1994. This supports the lab data indicating surface soil organic matter had 8

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increased.

Despite improvements in former cropland surface soil organic matter, soil compaction/productivity differences are still apparent when compared with the 10 acres (4 ha) of long-time grassland. Even after 20 growing seasons without tillage, the former cropland still “feels” more compacted when walking across it than on the adjacent long-time annual grassland. The greater volume of decomposing litter cover and simply “feeling” greater sponginess underfoot remains superior on the long-time annual grassland.

Exploring Recovery Periods In recent years I focused on shortening recovery periods between paddock grazings to determine the minimum recovery periods needed by the perennial grasses to remain vigorous. Shorter recovery periods during slowgrowth meant I could more frequently move the stocker herd to fresh pasture that had fully recovered from the last grazing. I found perennial grass recovery periods could be as short as 40 days during winter’s very slow plant growth rates and still maintain perennial grass vigor.

However, shortening the recovery periods was causing a new problem— compaction/productivity seemed to be getting slightly worse. Was it just the normal variation in weather each year that was causing this perceived increase in compaction and decrease in overall productivity, or was it due to shortening the slow growth recovery periods from about 60 to 40 days?

Shortening the growing season recovery periods for several years meant that the number of grazings in each paddock shifted from 2-3 times to 4-5 times during the growing season. Soils are moist or wet and subject to

This fence line contrast shows summer growth harvested by livestock and the power of providing recovery periods even during slow growth.

Mediterranean climate summers are incorrectly perceived as a non-growth period under conventional season-long livestock grazing and palatable late-season perennial species typically suffer from continuous grazing.

compaction during the growing season. More frequent grazing meant more frequent trampling by the herd, shortening the length of time that life underground can un-compact soil. For example, one of the most dramatic changes I’ve observed on the former cropland soils since 1992 has been the tremendous increase in worm castings on the former cropland. Shorter recovery periods was giving worms, and the great host of other underground life, less time to do their work.

Inadequate stock density results in partial rest of non-native orchardgrass and other perennial species.

Compaction Challenges The bulk of available forage on the 40 acres (16 ha) is annuals. Since they develop completely new root systems in the growing season, annuals could well have suffered much more difficulty trying to grow into frequently compacted soil than the established perennials. And seedling perennials faced the same difficulty as annuals, even if their parents seem to be vigorous.

During the growing season of 2008/2009, I doubled the length of the recovery period during the slow-growth portion of the growing season from 40 days to 80 days. Stocker performance improved earlier in spring than normal based on observations of body condition. Although animal performance notes from all grazing plans since 1992 were scant, I found a similar note indicating performance was definitely above par during the winter/early spring when a longer than normal plant recovery period was provided (85 days vs. 60 days).

Two possible causes of the compaction/productivity decline come to mind.

I left comparable soil/plant cover when leaving a paddock, regardless of the recovery period provided. Do annuals actually need longer recovery periods from defoliation stress than perennials to recover their vigor and productivity?

Or do they simply have more difficulty (less productivity) growing into compacted soils than the perennials with established root systems? Or both?

Regardless, holistic planned grazing experience on a number of continents and in a great variety of environments recommends using longer growing season recovery periods whenever in doubt.

I was finding this recommendation applied to animal performance and soil compaction/productivity as well as perennial plant vigor. And because perennial seedlings would have the same difficulty growing into compacted soil as annuals, it seems likely that recovery periods, both during the very slow growth and fast growth periods of plants, may also affect the rate of succession from annual grassland to perennial grassland.

Some Australians manage comparable annual grasslands and suspect annuals may well need longer recovery periods than perennials after defoliation. They have found by maintaining much more soil cover during the entire dry season than under their conventional practice, and by also providing long recovery periods during the growing season, annual grassland productivity and profitability has improved.

Providing better soil cover has also eliminated the costly reliance on phosphate fertilization to maintain ranch productivity. Soil cover improves soil microbial life and its ability to transform nutrients unavailable for plant growth into plant available forms, whereas exposed soil tends to kill soil life.

No erosion problems caused by livestock management occurred on the 40 acres (16 ha) because good soil cover remains at all times. Likewise, no livestock trails with bare soil can be found in any of the paddocks. Planning adequate recovery periods and having more than just a few paddocks keeps grazing periods relatively short so that any short-term trailing remains vegetated.

The gradual change in soil health spoke loud and clear to me in 2005 when, after 15 growing seasons without tillage or fertilizer application, the light green color of the 30 acres (12 ha) of former cropland finally matched the darker green color of my family’s adjacent 120-acre grassland. That neighboring grassland also had a long cropping history, but annual tillage for hay production was stopped in the 1970s. These depleted former cropland

soils can rebuild organic carbon and fertility over time even if annuals predominate. Will my side of the fence develop an even darker green color over time because of my focus on both providing adequate plant recovery periods during the growing season and maintaining better soil cover even during the non-growing season? Time and management will tell.

Declining Invasive Annuals Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), and hairy vetch (Lathyrus hirsutus) with toxic seed are invasive annuals on the former cropland, but none are behaving invasively in the adjacent 10 acres (12 ha) nor in the neighboring 120-acre (48-ha) family property taken out of crop production 30 years earlier. Interestingly, yellow starthistle rapidly invaded loamy soils on the former cropland in the first few years after 1992. Then, I noticed the species began declining substantially after 6-8 years. Yellow starthistle now remains present only in scattered patches.

I did not observe other species crowding out yellow starthistle; rather, I suspect change in soil microbiology caused it to become more poorly adapted to the site when at the seedling stage. Medusahead and hairy vetch are still spreading, creating new and enlarging existing patches on the former cropland. Minor medusahead increase has occurred on the 10 acres (4 ha) of long-time grassland, but those very few and small patches have always remained very rich in annual plant species diversity, unlike on the former cropland where medusahead density often increases until few other species are even present.

The largest such patch of medusahead had a soft 3-4 inch (75-100 cm) thick layer of litter smothering the soil surface. As a field trial, portable electric fence was used to concentrate stockers onto this patch to heavily trample, not graze, the patch litter for about 15 minutes. Species diversity greatly improved the following year and remained this past year, suggesting physical animal impact may shift the site toward improved species diversity by accelerating decomposition of excessive dead plant litter not in good contact with the moist soil surface. Perhaps medusahead will diminish over time if soil organic matter and soil biological diversity continue to increase on the former cropland, similar to the decline of yellow starthistle observed.

Unlike medusahead, hairy vetch, while continuing to spread only on the former cropland, has varied considerably from year to year in both number of patches and plant density. Their extent has increased so that when the seedpods swell with seed by late spring, almost all of the former cropland paddocks can no longer be safely grazed. Very few plants have appeared on the 10 acres (4 ha). Small populations exist on the neighboring 120-acre (48-ha) cropland, but they have not similarly increased.

Why do these three invasive species behave invasively only on the 30 acres (12 ha) of former cropland? Having seen the yellow starthistle shrink dramatically over time, and having seen the encouraging results of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

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more species are not readily increasing into annual grassland. On the other

continued from page nine hand, the more rapidly increasing perennials, both native and non-native,

physical animal impact trial on medusahead, soil succession (i.e. increasing soil organic matter and soil life) may best explain why the two invasive species have been observed declining on the 30 acres (12 ha). And, it may also explain why these species are not very invasive on adjacent grasslands with much longer recovery from tillage.

My family’s neighboring 120-acre property, cropped until the 1970s but not experiencing the same invasiveness by these three species as on my former cropland, suggests another 15-20 years may be required to further build soil health on my side of the fence to further reduce and replace their populations. Or, I could spray, disc, overgraze, burn, mow, or even sell the farm to be rid of the invasive species. But from my observations, these species are symptoms of the loss and recovery of biodiversity on my former cropland, rather than problems.

Perennial and Woody Species Both native and non-native perennial forbs and perennial grasses have variously increased on both the long-time pasture and former cropland.

Increases are often restricted to patches within paddocks. Perennial plant density increases within a patch has ranged from slow to fast, depending on the species, and no woody species occurred on the 40 acres (16 ha) prior to my moving onto the property in 1991.

Two non-native perennial grass species that are increasing in area and plant density most quickly are orchardgrass and hardinggrass. Bindweed is the most widespread non-native perennial forb throughout the 40 acres (16 ha), but monitoring has been inadequate to determine if it has increased or simply been a long-time resident even on the former cropland. Non-native species less aggressively spreading include strawberry clover, narrowleaf trefoil, two dock species, sheep sorrel, wild fennel, and velvetgrass.

Native perennial grass species that are increasing in area and plant density most quickly are California oatgrass, creeping wildrye (by rhizomes), meadow barley, and what may be a native bentgrass. Some species have spread and increased relatively little, if at all, including purple needlegrass, blue wildrye, pine bluegrass, and saltgrass. Native perennial forbs significantly increasing include lupine, buttercup, and Brodiaea (cluster lilies). A number of other native forb species have spread very little, if at all, except where remnant populations existed prior to 1992.

Holistic planned grazing can minimize overgrazing of all perennial species, so it seems unlikely that inadequate recovery periods explains why

seem limited to forming certain patches within paddocks. Patches often have very sharp boundaries where the species readily reproduces and fills within the patch. Some patches are not expanding outward into the predominant annual grassland. Few and scattered perennial plants outside of patches mostly increase at a very slow rate. Surprisingly, this strong patchiness occurs within the former cropland that had many decades of plowing and disking in various directions that would tend to smear any sharp mineral soil differences present.

Furthermore, whether or not perennials increase more aggressively sometimes correlates with whether the site is the former cropland, the longtime pasture, or a 0.1 acre (.04 ha) “relict area” rich in many native perennial grasses and forbs. It is within and adjacent to the relict area that nearly all of the native perennials more readily spread or increase. Some have appeared cyclical, increasing for a couple of years and then decreasing.

Some perennial species aggressively spreading on the grazed relict area (blue wildrye, purple needlegrass, yampah) did not spread aggressively on the adjacent long-time pasture. Yet, the native California oatgrass is aggressively increasing on the long-term pasture and less aggressively spreading on the former cropland. Some native perennial species are not surviving or spreading when seed is broadcast or plants transplanted onto the former cropland, yet all 40 acres (16 ha) have had the same planned grazing management since 1992. This suggests to me that soil biology differences due to different land use histories may explain some of these dynamics. And as described above, soil health, which includes productivity, fertility, and biology, is complex and changing.

Oak acorns, a few willow cuttings, and some eucalyptus potted saplings have been planted. Only the native coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), nonnative Himalayan blackberry, and a single volunteer plum tree arrived without being planted. Overbrowsing was more problematic when the shrubs and trees were very young and accessible to cattle browsing. Over the years, the severity of browsing has declined. Protective electric fencing is required less than in the past for small and fully exposed woody plants. Some plants, however, still require protection, but only during times of the year when cattle are selecting for them. Recovery periods needed for woody vegetation appears to be much longer than for perennial herbaceous species. Some woody plants have never been protected, and they either die from gopher damage to their root system or cattle overbrowsing. Some unprotected oaks and coyote brush plants have remained alive as short stubs and are browsed closely at certain times of the year when cattle return to the paddock.

Most oak acorns were planted on the former cropland. Acorns were planted along straight electric one-wire fences so that a second temporary electric fence could be easily built to protect seedlings if some were found growing. Interestingly, trees grew most aggressively where perennial grass patches of orchardgrass were simultaneously developing and thickening.

Oaks continue to grow fastest where present with a perennial grass patch.

Where the aggressive perennial grass growth ends, the oaks are relatively slow growing, sometimes appearing stunted by comparison, despite being the same age. Are there soil differences with sharp boundaries below the old plow lines that would explain such abrupt changes in oak vigor? Or do soil microbiology differences explain the abrupt changes in both perennial grass patch boundaries and oak vigor?

Stock Density and Animal Impact

When cattle trample green leaves and mature “litter,” they become soil cover and feed soil microbes.

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January / February 2011

In the stocker enterprise during the last 10 years, stock density has been only about 12-14 head per acre (30-35 head/ha), and considerable standing dry matter has been present through summer and well into the winter rainy season. Adequate decomposition has occurred by late winter. Little if any livestock are present during the summer and early fall in most years. Soil

It is critical to leave ample soil cover in these annual grassland cover seems excessive for several reasons. The fire hazard throughout the dry season along a heavily used public road is very high until the rainy season is well established. Excessive dead grass suppresses new fall and winter growth when the rains begin because decomposition of standing litter is relatively slow during winter. Improving stock density or extending grazing into the non-growing season would reduce excessive dry litter, help accelerate decomposition of old litter, improve mineral cycling, and improve plant growth during the dead of winter, when the least available forage occurs.

Native perennial grass seedlings, known for their slow seedling growth when compared with annuals, suffer primarily from shading by the more aggressive growth of annuals. They turn yellow and die before they can develop secondary roots and energy storage capable of surviving the upcoming dry season—6 months of drought. Excessive shading of perennial seedlings can occur whenever annuals have the moisture and temperature needed for modest to strong growth or when annuals or perennials form excessive standing litter.

While studies by M.R. Love note that defoliation by grazing can benefit survivorship of such seedling perennials, trampling standing litter can similarly create a more desirable seedbed and reduced competition for sunlight at the seedling stage. Ranches reporting the greatest and most rapid improvements in productivity, soil health, and vegetation have stock densities as high as 300,000 to 500,000 lbs of live animals per acre (337,500-562,500 kg/ha), while maintaining good soil cover at all times and providing adequate plant recovery periods when grazed during the growing season. The current stock density of 12-14 head per acre is equal to 7,000-14,000 lbs/acre (7,875-15,750 ha) on 40 acres (16 ha) pales in comparison, and it may well be limiting the rate of improving land health and productivity with livestock.

Increasing the current stock density on 40 acres (16 ha) would require a sound financial plan, land infrastructure plan, adequate time/labor, as well as using planning the grazing on the chart to meet livestock, plant, wildlife, and the quality of life desired.

Vegetation monitoring currently includes only one transect on a loamy hillslope of the former cropland and has focused on change in perennial plant populations. Additional data should be collected on the clayey soil, the various sites on the long-time pastured area, and even on the neighbor’s property that is managed differently. Because all three invasive species continue to change spatially and temporally, I will need more careful monitoring other than digital photographs to better document these changes.

Holistic grazing plan charts and step-by-step instructions provide an excellent planning and implementation tool. They also provide a monitoring tool, since actual recovery periods, actual grazing periods, livestock numbers, weights, time, place, production, utilization, precipitation, plant growth rates, and any desired field notes are recorded easily on one piece of paper.

Nevertheless, additional monitoring of land changes and related effects will be necessary to more effectively offer credible data to others.

This article is an excerpt from an article published in the Fourth National Conference on Grazing Lands Proceedings, sponsored by the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative and the Society for Range Management. Richard King is a Holistic Management Certified Educator and can be reached at: richard.king@ca.usda.gov or 707/794-8692 x120.

What’s your Grazing IQ?

by Ben Bartlett

H

ow fast do your cows eat? How can your grass tell you when it’s OK to graze? Do your cows come one at a time or all at once to drink? Why? These are just a few of the things you should know if you manage a grazing operation. Grazing is a complex relationship between plants, the grazing animals and you. The more you “know,” the more likely you will be able to achieve your desired results. Because you will always be learning new things via personal experience and others’ research, and the highly variable weather will be always be giving you a unique situation, you will not consistently get it all right.

However, the more you know, the better chance you have of making the grazing management decision that will make your grazing program successful. Here are some basic grazing principles for forage and grazing animals that can assist you in formulating your grazing plan and practice and taking into account your holisticgoal.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Monitoring Actions and Results Photographs and hand written notes on the back of the grazing planning chart currently provide considerable information about changes occurring on the land and animal performance. Soil analysis has occurred only on two major types of former cropland soils. Additional soil monitoring should also begin on the long-term pasture 10 acres, the small relict area, and even my neighbor’s grassland to determine whether changes in soil organic matter are occurring over time and whether the rate of change differs based on history or management.

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them to spend as little energy as possible getting the nutrition they need to

continued from page eleven survive and reproduce. Cattle graze for about 8-9 hours a day (and also

Forages Plant growth is driven by solar energy (sunlight) and then modified by water, temperature, soil fertility, and past grazing experiences. The first growth in the spring comes from the nutrients stored in the roots or plant crown. As that first growth generates a green leaf, the plant’s rate of growth increases and grows more leaves to collect more sunlight. This growth varies between plant species.

But between the 2- and 3-leaf growth stage, the plant also starts replenishing its reserve system. After the 3-leaf stage or after the plant forms a seed head, the plant growth stops or slows down. Any new leaves are replacements for a dying leaf lower on the stem. The growth pattern you usually see is slow first growth in spring or when no or little green leaf is present, fast growth with maximum amount of number and size of green leaves, and then slow to no growth as the plant has fully replenished its root reserves and started a new generation of plants.

What does this mean to you the grazing manager? A very general rule of thumb is that you will have as much root growth as you allow for top growth. If you graze too early or too short, you will experience slow growth and over time plants that are not allowed to replenish their root reserves will grow slow, be weakened and invaded by other plants, and be more susceptible to drought. This balancing act of allowing the plant to maintain itself while also providing you with livestock feed is especially complicated by the differences in day length or amount of sunshine.

We have lots of sunshine for the plant to grow a seed head and reproduce in the early part of the grazing season, but less sunshine, slower growth and often overgrazing in the fall when the plant is trying to build root reserves for winter and then spring regrowth. Pastures grazed hard, short and close to the ground, in the fall will be slow growing the next spring. A long book can be written on just what we know so far about plant growth, the relationship of the plant to the underground bug and bacteria community, and how plants respond to harvest by grazing, various environmental conditions, etc., but the point is that the more you know what affects the growth and well-being of your grazing plants (solar collectors), the better you can plan your grazing.

Livestock Grazing animals go for dessert (the good stuff) first and are driven by the law of “least effort.” Grazing animals are not lazy; it just makes sense for

ruminate 8 hours and rest 8 hours), take about 60 bites per minute, and, therefore, the thing that really controls their feed intake is the size of the bite.

The ideal sward of forage is dense, composed of palatable plants, and has green growing plants in it.. This will provide the maximum bite size and, therefore, the most feed intake. Short pastures may be great quality, but the bite size is too small, the energy and protein is out of balance, and, especially in the spring, the animals can actually lose weight on what looks (to us) like great pasture. People often make the mistake of thinking that if I just give the animals a bigger area of short grass that it is the same as a smaller area of taller grass. While the math may say it’s the same, the grazing animal will not.

You need at least 1,200 pounds per acre of dry matter (approximately the same for Kg /Ha) to approach optimum intake. Remember the grazing animal “eats the best and leaves the rest.” In a steer trial, if 770 lbs (350 kg) residue was left, the steer growth rate was .75 lbs (.34kg) per day. At a residual level of 1,380 lbs (627 kg), the growth rate has increased to 1.7lbs (.77kg) per day. Pre-grazing levels were about 2,355 lbs (1070 kg) in both cases. At the ideal plant height, we also have a plant that has a better balance of protein and energy.

Can you have too tall a grass? Yes and no. It depends on your animal performance expectations and how “hard” or what percentage of the total feed available you harvest and how much you want to put on the ground to feed the microbes. For maximum performance from pasture, (.ie. an early lactation high producing dairy cow), pasture height will have to be optimal to get the most milk possible from the pasture. But, if you allow the grazing animal to sort out what it wants and leave behind a lot of residue (that is hopefully knocked to the ground), you can still achieve good animal performance. In a sheep trial where sheep grazed a paddock with 2/3 dead material, the sheep actually ate 85% green grass.

When grazing animals are on pasture, they interact with the forage they are eating, but there are also herd /flock dynamics to consider.

Research has shown that if grazing animals are about 900 feet (275 meters) or more from a water source, they will tend to come as a herd /flock to drink.

When they are closer to water, they come one or two as at time. This can have a big impact on the size of water tank you need especially when you have fewer but larger grazing mobs.

Do animals instinctively know how to graze or is it a learned activity?

Both. If animals are barn raised, they will instinctively start grazing, and in three to five days be doing a pretty good job of grazing, especially if there are not a lot of grazing options (i.e. a uniform improved pasture). However, when we get to more extensive pastures with more options, young animals do learn a lot from their dams and the herd on what, where, and when to graze.

If you have a variety of paddocks, animals new to your farm will not perform as well as animals that “know” your place. Next time you move animals to a new paddock, watch for an old cow or ewe to head for a certain spot where she remembers the best grazing.

This short article is only meant to give you some examples of how knowledge of plant growth and animal behavior can impact your grazing management and grazing plan. When you walk out into your pastures or watch your animals grazing, there’s a book’s worth of information you can gain. If you combine your observations and experience with what others have researched and written, knowledge will become one of your most important and valuable grazing tool. Have fun grazing!

Ben Bartlett is a Holistic Management Certified Educator, a DVM, and an Extension Educator at Michigan State University. He can be reached at: bartle18@msu.edu.

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If You Grow It, Please Don’t Hay It!

by Greg Judy

O

ne of the hardest things to do in the spring is to stay off your pastures until the plants are close to maturity. I understand the reasoning very well because I was in that same boat for many years myself. When folks see the green grass coming, and they have been feeding hay all winter, I understand 100% why they want to turn the cows out. After months of feeding hay who wouldn’t want to turn out the cows when they see green in the spring.

This is a fatal mistake for your pastures for the entire growing season. You are effectively guaranteeing that you will be feeding hay the next winter as well. One of the questions that I get asked a lot is, “How do I buy enough time for my pastures to recover in the spring if they look like a parking lot coming out of winter?” This is a very tough spot to be in, and I do remember what it felt like to be there.

It is going to take some brainstorming on your part to come up with some strategies of buying time for your spring plants to be recovered before grazing them off. I am going to go over some of the things that you can try to get your plants fully recovered before grazing. The very first year will be the toughest to implement. If you learn to do your grazing planning right you will never have to start with a parking lot pasture in the spring again.

“I remember before I switched to holistic high density planned grazingfour years ago that it was perfectly normal to feed hay for 3-4 months every winter. Over the last four years we have averaged 8 days of hay feeding for the entire winter.”

Worms need lots of downed litter for feed and maximum production of castings.

Strategies for Growth The first thing we did entering late fall was to combine our cow herds into one mob. This pays huge dividends in the spring by not having 3-4 herds grazing across the entire farm during early spring growth. By having multiple herds you simply will not have the recovery period that is needed.

You have to remember that your roots under your parking lot pasture are stressed due to overgrazing the previous year. These plants will be slower growing to reach maturity the following spring.

Look around your neighborhood for some idle land that is not being grazed. What if you could move your cows off your farm for 30-45 days? That would go a long ways toward building your recovered sward for the upcoming growing season. Do you have any hayfields on your farm that are off limits to grazing? Why? You must figure out how to incorporate those hayfields into your grazing operation. I have heard every excuse under the sun why people cannot graze their hayfields. Here are some of them: no fence, no water, grazing makes my field rough, grazing brings in weeds to my hayfield, lowers my hay yield, my dad said it was a hayfield, not pasture!

Brainstorm ideas to covert the hayfield into grazed pasture and just do it.

Remember that cutting hay off of land promotes single species of plants; grazing promotes diversity of plants. When the animal reaches out with its tongue and rips off the leaves on the plant, it also pulls on the roots of the plant. This tugging action actually wakes up the microbes that are living on the root hairs and they get to work immediately. The result is that the grazed plant will always grow back faster than a mechanically mowed plant.

We all know that the more varieties of plants that we have in our pastures, the stronger they are. Every plant species has a unique growing window during the season that it performs best in. The more growing windows that you have in your pastures, the better selection your animals will have. The last resort that you use on your farm to buy your pastures the recovery time

You need to be careful not to lose people in stockpiled forage.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Number 135

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spring. By not stressing the new plants you have a very healthy root system under your whole farm during the entire growing season. We used to encounter the summer slump on our farms every year when we were needed is to feed hay longer. This is also the most costly method, but concentrating on keeping our plants vegetative by keeping our grazing sometimes you may not have any other choice. rotations shorter. When we were custom grazing cattle and we encountered a drought, we could ship them back to the owner. I always wondered how folks Feel the Fear and Don’t Mow managed that actually owned the animals and their pastures dried up during After talking and consulting with a fellow on how to build his recovery droughts.

With our focus on keeping plants young and vegetative, the plants period on his own bare pasture farm he brainstormed some ideas and did it. would just dry up and turn brown. The ground cracked open and the In mid July he called me and had a tone of panic in his voice. He told me grasshoppers ate most of the remaining plants. We no longer have that he got scared because the grass was so tall and mature that he mowed it grasshopper plagues because we have no bare soil exposed. all off and baled it. I about dropped the phone, I was silent for a minute We do not have summer slumps anymore; because no words would come out of mouth. I there is always something actively growing was simple horrified that he had mowed off and green down in the massive pasture sward. his farm and put it into hay bales. I was very We now have a nice layer of pasture litter that direct with my reply, “You have made a grave is trampled daily by the mob. If you mistake”. concentrate on keeping your plants vegetative, When the animal reaches out with Here was a guy that was moaning about you will never have adequate ground litter. having to feed hay all winter because he had its tongue and rips off the leaves on The cattle cannot trample the vegetative plants no stockpile to winter his cows on and he ran onto the ground as well as mature plants. out of grass every year in the summer slump. the plant, it also pulls on the roots Remember, all your livestock have to do is He was turning out every spring when he saw of the plant.

This tugging action bend the blade of grass over on the ground; green and his pastures were weakened for the the earthworms take care of it after that. Our entire growing season. Now this year he had actually wakes up the microbes that earthworms are in heaven at the litter done what he needed to do to let his pastures smorgasbord everyday and thank us for their are living on the root hairs and recover in the spring before grazing them. I food by leaving new soil made from castings guess I forgot to tell him that he would get they get to work immediately. every day.

If you wait till August to decide what scared and be tempted to bale it. Anyway two you want to stockpile for winter grazing, you The result is that the grazed plant months later the same fellow called me up are late to the game. again; he was in a major dry hot spell, and he will always grow back faster than was out of pasture.

The Pain of Hay He wanted me to tell him how to fix his a mechanically mowed plant.

I simply cannot think of anything in the pasture shortage. I told him he either had to livestock business that is more dreadful than sell some stock or feed the hay that he rolled having to put out hay everyday during the up in July. He told me that once he mowed off winter to keep your animals alive. It is much all his pasture, the rains stopped. It never grew easier to move a wire and let the animals feed back the entire summer, and there was no fall themselves.

Feeding hay is like sitting on a thorn; it hurts and it is hurting stockpile grown for winter either. Folks, when you remove that canopy above the profitability of ranchers. your plants with a mower, you are in trouble when it gets hot and dry.

I remember before I switched to holistic high density planned grazing Do a simple test to imprint what exposing your soil surface to the sun can four years ago that it was perfectly normal to feed hay for 3-4 months every do. Take a thermometer and measure the temperature of the ground under a winter.

Over the last four years we have averaged 8 days of hay feeding for the thick canopy of forage. Next find a bare spot of ground that is reasonably entire winter.

Those days of hay feeding were during ice storms that had the close and record that temperature. It will shock you the difference in stockpiled sward covered with thick ice. Our cattle are a lot more satisfied and temperatures. Unprotected ground loses 90% of its moisture! This is not the actually perform better grazing stockpile than eating hay. Once you are in the way to grow lots of forage when there is minimal precipitation. Once the hay feeding mode, your cattle are on welfare. They become lazy and wait for ground gets hot and dry, all microbial activity stops completely. Earthworms you to feed them. go deep into the soil to survive. There are no more earthworm castings being It does not seem to matter where you live, people still feed hay. From Texas deposited on your pasture surface daily. I compare it to having a well tuned to Wisconsin, hay is destroying any chance of turning a profit on most engine and running it until you run out of oil; all activity stops. livestock operations. I really have a bad sense of where fossil fuel prices are headed, and it is not south. If fuel hits $10 a gallon in the future, how many Avoiding the Summer Slump ranchers are going to be able to stay in business? It will be devastating to There are worse things in life than having a farm full of mature forage in ranchers that are focused on feeding hay. If we change our grazing July-August when all the neighboring farms are grazed or baled off short and management practices to grazing fully recovered healthy grass swards, feeding have turned brown. Look at this mature forage that covers your farm as a hay will be a distant memory. Your soils, plants, microbes, earthworms, savings account. The feed is still there, has not gone anywhere, and you can savings account and quality of life will improve as well. Raising livestock can make a withdrawal on it anytime you need it. Just get the mindset that you be very profitable when you remove hay from your operation. Just make a are going to bank it and use it at a later date. Promise me that you will not mental note to yourself: bank those pastures, don’t hay them! mow it and I will make a bet that you will have more days of summer and Greg Judy operates Green Pastures Farm near Rucker, Missouri. He winter grazing this coming year than you had previously.

The secret to winter stockpiling is to start out your grazing correctly in the can be reached at: gtjudyhighdensity@live.com.

Please Don’t Hay It!

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continued from page thirteen

January / February 2011

Texas Regional Report Land Planning Workshop & Mimms Ranch Field Day

O

n September 27-29, 2010 HMI held a Holistic Management Land Planning Workshop in Marfa, Texas which explored new ways to combine aspects of Permaculture and Keyline Design in envisioning a whole farm plan ideally suited to the ecosystem, the landscape and the activities of humans and animals for greatest ease, health and productivity.

Certified Educator trainee, Owen Hablutzel flew in from California to present a vast array of knowledge he has gained studying with masters of all three modalities. Most of the class of 25 had previous experience with Holistic Management and were very excited by the new ideas to include in planning for their future landscape description. The group exercise had all working on paddock planning using Art Roane's maps of the Double T Ranch in Ozona.

The Land Planning class, plus 40 additional people, attended the free field day at the Dixon Water Foundation's Mimms Ranch. The event drew many who have been Holistic Management practitioners for over 25 years, as well as new practitioners and some local folks just stopping by out of curiosity. Short talks by Dixon president Robert Potts, Founder Clint Josey, Manager Robbie Tuggle and HMI CEO Peter Holter gave background and orientation to the guests.

The Dixon Water Foundation has owned this ranch only two years and already has most of the infrastructure in place. Robbie, who oversees management on all of the Dixon Ranches, led the group on a tour and explained the strip-grazing being used as part of the planned grazing. The primary goal is to increase diversity of plants and litter, while decreasing the plant spacing over time. All this is monitored both by the ranch and by a research monitoring program established by Dr. Bonnie Wornock at Sul Ross State University. The Sul Ross monitoring demonstrated at the field day is quite extensive and involves transects all over the 11,000-acre ranch, as well as specific comparisons of continuous graze versus Holistic Management Planned Grazing. The U.S. Department of State was also there with a film team from Namibia, producing a documentary on food security and climate change.

Dr. Bonnie Warnock, department chair of Natural Resource Management at Sul Ross State University in Alpine explains the grazing lands research projects her department is conducting on the Dixon Water Foundation's Mimms Ranch.

Owen Hablutzel adds Keyline Design considerations to the Holistic Management Land Planning Process during the workshop in Marfa, TX An additional component of this course was a presentation by Christopher Gill who had excellent photographs of the results of his first year experimenting with the Yeoman’s Plow. He also invited participants to visit his ranch, The Circle Ranch, to see for themselves what the plow is accomplishing. NRCS, Soil and Water Conservation agents and soil scientist Dr. Pat Richardson got very excited when they dug up a blue grama grass plant from the plowed area and from the adjacent unplowed area. The difference in root mass, residual moisture, leaf size and overall robustness was significant.

Thanks to all who helped make this educational event a success!

Luke Meader, left and Brady Gibbons, right, describe to the rest of the Holistic Management Land Planning class what overlays they have made for Luke's family ranch south of Marfa.

Number 135

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T he New HMI Board Members

news from holistic management international

H

MI held its annual Board of Directors meeting at the beginning of November in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Among other decisions, new BOD members and officers were accepted. HMI’s new Board Chair is Sallie Calhoun and Vice-Chair is Gail Hammack. HMI’s Secretary is John Hackley and Treasurer is Christopher Peck. The Board gratefully acknowledged the efforts of Past Chair, Ben Bartlett for all his efforts on behalf of HMI. HMI would also like to thank outgoing Board members Ian Mitchell-Innes, Roby Wallace, Dennis Wobeser, and Mark Gardner for all their efforts as well.

people, programs & projects

on the Board of Directors as Director for Holistic Management International in Albuquerque, N.M. In his “spare time,” Jim is active in various community activities. Upon retirement from full time banking, Sara and Jim leased a part of her parents' ranch northwest of Vinita, and added that to their stocker cattle operation.

SALLIE CALHOUN attended Rice University and graduated with a BSEE in 1977. She moved to the Bay Area immediately after graduation and worked at a variety of high-tech firms from 1977-1991, primarily in the fields of medical imaging and real-time control. From 1994 to August, 2000 Sallie served as VP Operations and CFO for Globetrotter Software, Inc. , which was owned by Sallie and her husband and fellow Rice alum, Matt Christiano. Since the sale of Globetrotter to Macrovision in 2000, Sallie has been involved in a variety of activities in the fields of local, sustainable agriculture and philanthropy, including managing member of Doodlebug Ranches in Paicines, California; serves on the Board of Directors as Chair for Holistic Management International in Albuquerque, NM; founder and president of the I Have a Dream Foundation, Clio, South Carolina, working with at-risk youth in rural South Carolina; and Trustee of the Hillbrook School in Los Gatos, California. Sallie is an avid tennis player and hiker and enjoys traveling. Matt and Sallie have two children who are in college. They live in Saratoga, California.

JUDI EARL has been operating Agricultural Information and Monitoring Services (AIMS) in partnership with Lewis Kahn since 1998. The business provides services to producers and producer groups, State agencies, local government and registered training organizations in the area of natural resource management. A core business activity of AIMS is assisting graziers to more effectively manage their natural resources to simultaneously increase productivity and ecosystem health through the adoption of appropriate grazing management principles. Judi is active in providing training and project management to the grazing industries in elements of the agricultural ecosystem such as grazing management, plant identification, animal production, soil health, water use efficiency, and pasture production.

Judi has been based in Guyra in northern NSW since 1990, completing a degree in Rural Science and then a PhD in grassland ecology at the University of New England. She has been associated with Holistic Management since 1994 and entered the educator training program in 2002. In 2006 Judi established the not for profit organization Holistic Management International Australia and served as a Director of that company until September 2010. Judi serves on the Board of Directors as an International Director for HMI.

Born and raised in Vinita, Oklahoma, JIM SHELTON is the 4th generation to own and operate a family ranch east of that locale.

Jim and his wife, Sara, have a commercial cow-calf and stocker cattle operation, with Sara currently developing a local grass-fed beef business. Jim graduated with a B.S. in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University and completed the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. He and Sara have four children. Jim retired from the Oklahoma State Bank in January 2010, but continues to serve on the bank's board of directors. He is also President of the Vinita Public Schools' Board of Education, as well as a member of the Long Range Capital Planning Commission for Oklahoma. Jim also serves

KELLY SIDORYK is involved in a family ranching operation at Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada. Along with her brother and father, they run a grass based cattle enterprise.

Kelly has been a Holistic Management Certified Educator for close to 20 years and serves on the Board of Directors as an International Director for HMI. Kelly and her husband, Mike, have three teenage children, Tess, Leah and Carter. She is also involved as a volunteer with the local agricultural association. The principles of Holistic Management have greatly influenced the management of their ranching operation. When time permits she also enjoys riding, writing, photography, and cooking, and is currently developing a local food event.

GRAPEVINE CONTINUES . . .

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IN PRACTICE

January / February 2011

New Mexico Ranchers win Award Tom and Mimi Sidwell won the Quivira Coalition’s 2010 Outstanding Leadership Award. The Sidwell’s own and operate the 7,000 acres JX Ranch located in northeastern New Mexico. They raise all-natural grass-fed beef and sell it through their website www.leannaturalbeef.com.

Over the years, they have won awards for their stewardship management including: Society for Range Management—Excellence in Range Management Award; Upper Hondo Soil & Water Conservation district— Outstanding Rancher 1991 & 1994; Goodyear/NACD Conservation Awards—Award of Merit for Outstanding Accomplishments in Resource Conservation 1991 & 1994; and New Mexico Cattle Grower’s Association— Salt of the Earth Award 1993 & 1995. Congratulations, Tom & Mimi!

Carbon Ranch Conference HMI was a prominent exhibitor at the Quivira Coalition’s “The Carbon Ranch Conference” in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Holistic Management speakers included: Dr. Christine Jones, Dr. Constance Neely, Greg Judy, John Wick, and Nancy Ranney.

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Investigator Meeting Dr. Ann Adams travelled to Washington, D.C. to present at the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program (BFRDP) Project Director Meeting held in the National Agricultural Library. All of the 29 Project Directors presented information about the outcomes achieved in the first year of this program. Guest speakers included Dr. Suresh Sureshwaran, Roger Beachy, the Director of the National Program Leader for the BFRDP. National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Dr. Kathleen Merrigan, the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Dr. Merrigan noted that Tom Vilsack, the Secretary of Agriculture for the USDA has tasked the USDA to provide services to beginning farmers and ranchers so that the U.S. produces 100,000 new farmers or ranchers a year. Almost 60 people attended this two-day meeting, which featured 8 panel discussions and 6 breakout sessions. The National Agricultural Library and the American Farm Bureau hosted this meeting and Suresh Sureshwaran, the National Program Leader for the BFRDP, organized the event.

Beginning Women Farmer Educator Training The “Empowering Beginning Women Farmers in the Northeast through Whole Farm Planning” Project, which was supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, also includes a component for training 9 farmers and government personnel in that region to be Certified Educators. Due to high interest and demand, we accepted 11 trainers. These educators will be the primary instructors for the Beginning Women Farmer as it moves forward as well as a resource to the larger Holistic Management network. The lead instructor for this program is Certified Educator and New Hampshire Extension educator, Seth Wilner.

These trainees will complete their program in 2012. The trainees are:

(Top right) Greg Judy spoke on holistic high stock density grazing.

(Middle) HMI staff Brady Gibbons and Peggy Cole staffed the HMI booth.

(Bottom right) Many Holistic Management educators and practitioners attended this conference including:(top right going clockwise): Kelly Mulville, Peggy Cole, Cindy Dvergsten, Bill Gardiner, and Tom Walther.

FSA Financial Planning Class HMI is now an approved vendor for the Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Dr. Ann Adams taught a Holistic Financial Planning class for the FSA office in Las Cruces, New Mexico as part of their Borrower’s Training. Any producer who borrows money from the FSA, must attend a financial planning course. For many states, the only approved vendor is through a distance learning course, with no face to face option available. If you know of an FSA office near you that is looking for site specific instructors, please contact Ann Adams at 505/842-5252 or anna@holisticmanagement.org.

• Jessie Schmidt, Agriculture and Community Programs Coordinator, University of Vermont • Calley Hastings, Fat Toad Farm, Vermont • Elysa Bryant, Stone Wall Homestead, Connecticut • Barbara Link, Agraria Farm, Massachusetts • Gail Chase, Women’s Agricultural NetworkCertified Educators Seth Wilner Maine and Ann Adams (center) • Diane Schivera, Organic discuss forage assessment tools Livestock Specialist, with the educator trainees at Maine Organic Farmers East Hill Farm near Troy, and Gardeners Association New Hamsphire.

• Ellen Gibson, Sterns Hill Farm, Maine • Dean Bascom, NRCS District Conservationist, New Hampshire • Kate Kerman, Phoenix Farm Learning Center, New Hampshire • Mary Johnson, Agricultural and Permaculture Consultant, New York • Rachel Schneider, Hawthorne Valley Farm, New York Number 135

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From the Board Chair

Holistic Management Canada

by Sallie Calhoun

by Don Campbell

This is my first article for IN PRACTICE as Board Chair for HMI, so I thought that I would share a little bit about myself and why I agreed to take on this role after three years on the Board.

Editor’s note: As Holistic Management Canada prepares for its 5th Annual Conference we asked Certified Educator Don Campbell about how Holistic Management has been so successful in Canada. To learn more about the Western Holistic Management Canada Conference, see the ad on page 23.

I came relatively recently to ranching after an engineering career in the Silicon Valley. When my husband and I bought a ranch in Paicines, California, about 10 years ago, I knew that I was interested in biodiversity and native perennial grasses and was never going to own any livestock. My introduction to Holistic Management by a neighbor a few months later radically changed my views on livestock and began the journey that lead me here.

I decided that we should manage the livestock on the ranch, rather than leasing the ground, and my ranch manager and I took the HMI Ranch and Range management course together a few years later. My peers in the course teased me that it was too easy for me, with no previous ideas about ranching. I claimed that figuring out how Holistic Managmenet concepts apply in an annual grassland with only winter rain more than made up for that.

We have spent several years improving our management and are now beginning to see exciting changes on the ranch.

Last spring we worked with Frank Aragona from HMI to set up monitoring protocols for native perennial grasses and oak trees.

That week was more fun than I have had in a long time, in spite of the unseasonal rain and slippery clay.

The two reasons I joined the Board three years ago are the same reasons that made me accept the position as chair. I believe that the concepts of Holistic Management, along with all of the great work being done by practitioners, have the potential to change the world in a myriad of positive ways. My former colleagues in the Silicon Valley are busy developing high-tech solutions to climate change, but, to me, none of them compare to the possibilities offered by improving our soils, sequestering carbon, and restoring the health of the world's grasslands all at the same time, without huge capital investment or unintended consequences. I believe that we cannot even imagine the possibilities for positive change, and this is incredibly exciting.

Of course, it's great to try to make the world a better place, but it's also important to have fun doing it. Over the years I have tremendously enjoyed getting to know other Holistic Management practitioners, including my fellow Board members. Holistic Management people are curious, openminded, constantly learning, and supportive. They make the process incredibly enjoyable, and I look forward to my trips to Albuquerque.

In short, I am here to work with all of you to affect real positive change in the world and have a great time doing it. I believe that it is a wonderful moment to be associated with HMI and the larger movement to stop and then reverse the environmental degradation we see around us. I can't wait to see what happens.

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IN PRACTICE

January / February 2011

1. Holistic Management in Canada has always been presented as people, land and finances. People leave the course with a written holisticgoal, some understanding of the testing questions, and a basic knowledge of the financial and grazing planning after our six-day course. Most people come to the course with their main interest on grass, but they are required to take the people and financial portions as well.

2. There is no formal structure or organization in Canada, and no membership fees or dues. Everyone who has ever taken a course belongs.

People have benefited from Holistic Management and have good feelings towards Holistic Management.

3. Since there is no organization, there is no leader. We have a shared leadership with different people providing leadership at different times. This same structure is used in the management clubs.

4. Holistic Management has enjoyed excellent support from some of the provincial departments of agriculture, particularly in Manitoba where we enjoy our greatest success. Many government employees have taken the sixday course as participants.

5. Holistic Management Canada holds an annual convention with usually 200+ attending. This is great for education, motivation and networking.

6. We have held a lot of field days and tours, usually organized by a management club.

7. Most of our Certified Educators have taken the six-day course and used Holistic Management on their own places for 5 to 20 years before becoming Certified Educators. This greatly increases the effectiveness and credibility of our Certified Educators as they share their personal experience while teaching Holistic Management.

8. Holistic Management Canada has a monthly e-mail newsletter, which provides news on upcoming events, education, and a sense of belonging.

9. Courses are usually held in local communities, with most people within an hour of the course. This helps us establish a management club, which provides ongoing support, motivation, and encouragement.

10. Holistic Management Canada has made an effort to support and encourage the management clubs following the course.

11. There is a strong emphasis on the people side. Personal growth, better marriages, stronger families, and local communities are all encouraged and lifelong learning is stressed. The people portion is not more important than the land or finances, but it is often the most neglected and the hardest to address.

12. Since Holistic Management works, people who take the course have benefited. They go home and encourage others to take the course. Holistic Management has an excellent image in this country because of the results that have been achieved and the support that practitioners give to each other, especially new producers.

13. Holistic Management in Canada has been blessed with a diverse group of talented people from different walks of life. We work well together and each person has contributed to this growing, successful movement.

UNITED STATES

Certified Educators

PENNSYLVANIA

The following Certified Educators listed have been trained to teach and coach individuals in Holistic Management. On a yearly basis, Certified Educators renew their agreement to be affiliated with HMI. This agreement requires their commitment to practice Holistic Management in their own lives and to seek out opportunities for staying current with the latest developments in Holistic Management.

For more information about or application forms for the HMI’s Certified Educator Training Programs, contact Ann Adams or visit our website at: www.holisticmanagement.org.

◆ These educators provide Holistic Management instruction on behalf of the institutions they represent. associate educators provide * These educational services to their communities and peer groups.

UNITED STATES CALIFORNIA Richard King 1675 Adobe Rd., Petaluma, CA 94954 707/769-1490 • 707/794-8692(w) richard.king@ca.usda.gov * Christopher Peck 1330 Gumview Road, Windsor, CA 95492 707/758-0171 Christopher@naturalinvesting.com ◆ Rob Rutherford CA Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 805/756-1475 • rrutherf@calpoly.edu COLORADO Cindy Dvergsten 17702 County Rd. 23, Dolores, CO 81323 970/882-4222 hminfo@wholenewconcepts.com * Katie Belle Rosing 22755 E. Garrett, Calhan, CO 80808 970/310-0852 heritagebellefarms@gmail.com GEORGIA Constance Neely 1421 Rockinwood Dr., Athens, GA 30606 706/540-2878 • clneely@earthlink.net MAINE Vivianne Holmes 239 E Buckfield Road Buckfield, ME 04220-4209 207/336-2484 vholmes@umext.maine.edu

* Cliff Montagne

P.O. Box 173120, Montana State University Department of Land Resources & Environmental Science, Bozeman, MT 59717 406/994-5079 • montagne@montana.edu NEBRASKA Terry Gompert P.O. Box 45, Center, NE 68724-0045 402/288-5611 (w) • tgompert1@unl.edu Paul Swanson 5155 West 12th St., Hastings, NE 68901 402/463-8507 • swanson@inebraska.com Ralph Tate 1109 Timber Dr., Papillion, NE 68046 402/932-3405 • Tater2d2@cox.net NEW HAMPSHIRE

◆ Seth Wilner

24 Main Street, Newport, NH 03773 603/863-4497 (h) • 603/863-9200 (w) seth.wilner@unh.edu NEW MEXICO ◆ Ann Adams

Holistic Management International 1010 Tijeras NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 505/842-5252 anna@holisticmanagement.org Kelly Boney 4865 Quay Road L, San Jon, NM 88434 575/760-7636 • kboney@plateautel.net Kirk Gadzia P.O. Box 1100, Bernalillo, NM 87004 505/867-4685, (f) 505/867-9952 kirk@rmsgadzia.com

MICHIGAN

* Ben Bartlett N4632 ET Road, Traunik, MI 49891 906/439-5210 (h) • 906/439-5880 (w) bartle18@msu.edu * Larry Dyer 1113 Klondike Ave, Petoskey, MI 49770-3233 231/439-8982 (w) • 231/347-7162 (h) dyerlawr@msu.edu MONTANA Roland Kroos 4926 Itana Circle, Bozeman, MT 59715 406/522-3862 kroosing@msn.com

NORTH DAKOTA Wayne Berry 1611 11th Ave. West, Williston, ND 58801 701/572-9183 • wberry@wil.midco.net Joshua Dukart 2539 Clover Place, Bismarck, ND 58503 701/870-1184 • Joshua_dukart@yahoo.com OREGON Jeff Goebel 52 NW Mcleay Blvd., Portland, OR 97210 541/610-7084 goebel@aboutlistening.com

Jim Weaver 428 Copp Hollow Rd. Wellsboro, PA 16901-8976 570/724-7788 • jaweaver@epix.net TEXAS Guy Glosson 6717 Hwy. 380, Snyder, TX 79549 806/237-2554 glosson@caprock-spur.com Peggy Maddox P.O. Box 694, Ozona, TX 76943-0694 325/392-2292 • westgift@hughes.net ◆ R. H. (Dick) Richardson University of Texas at Austin Section of Integrative Biology School of Biological Sciences Austin, TX 78712 • 512/471-4128 d.richardson@mail.utexas.edu

WASHINGTON Sandra Matheson 228 E. Smith Rd., Bellingham, WA 98226 360/398-7866 • mathesonsm@frontier.com Doug Warnock 1880 SE Larch Ave., College Place, WA 99324 509/540-5771 • 509/856-7101 (c) dwarnock@charter.net WISCONSIN Andy Hager, 715/678-2465 W. 3597 Pine Ave., Stetsonville, WI 54480-9559 Larry Johnson, 608/455-1685 W886 State Rd. 92, Brooklyn, WI 53521 LarryStillPointFarm@gmail.com * Laura Paine Wisconsin DATCP N893 Kranz Rd., Columbus, WI 53925 608/224-5120 (w) • 920/623-4407 (h) laura.paine@datcp.state.wi.us

INTERNATIONAL CANADA

AUSTRALIA Judi Earl 73 Harding E., Guyra, NSW 2365 61-2-6779-2286 judi@holisticmanagement.org.au Mark Gardner P.O. Box 1395, Dubbo, NSW 2830 61-2-6884-4401 mark.gardner@vbs.net.au * Paul Griffiths P.O. Box 3045, North Turramura, NSW 2074, Sydney, NSW 61-2-9144-3975 • pgpres@geko.net.au George Gundry Willeroo, Tarago, NSW 2580 61-2-4844-6223 • g.gundry@bigpond.com Graeme Hand 150 Caroona Lane, Branxholme, VIC 3302 61-3-5578-6272 (h) • 61-4-1853-2130 (c) graeme.hand@bigpond.com * Helen Lewis P.O. Box 1263, Warwick, QLD 4370 61-7-46617393 • 61-7-46670835 helen@insideoutsidemgt.com.au Brian Marshall P.O. Box 300, Guyra NSW 2365 61-2-6779-1927 • fax: 61-2-6779-1947 bkmrshl@bigpond.com Dick Richardson Bonnie Doone 1497 Little Plains Road, Boorowa NSW 2586 61 0 263853217 (w) • 61 0 263855284 (h) 61 0 429069001 (c) • dick@bdynamic.org Bruce Ward, Holistic Results Pty Limited PO Box 2426 • Bowral, NSW 2576 Phone 02-4861 5114 • Fax 02-4862 3587 blward@the-farm-business-gym.com Brian Wehlburg Pine Scrub Creek, Kindee, NSW, 2446 61-2-6587-4353 brian@insideoutsidemgt.com.au Jason Virtue P.O. Box 75, Cooran, QLD 4569 61-2- 07 5485 1997 jason@spiderweb.com.au

Don Campbell Box 817 Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1Y6 306/236-6088 doncampbell@sasktel.net Linda & Ralph Corcoran Box 36, Langbank, SK S0G 2X0 306/532-4778 rlcorcoran@sasktel.net

* Allison Guichon

Box 10, Quilchena, BC V0E 2R0 250/378-4535 allison@guichonranch.ca Blain Hjertaas Box 760, Redvers, Saskatchewan SOC 2HO 306/452-3882 bhjer@sasktel.net Brian Luce RR #4, Ponoka, AB T4J 1R4 403/783-6518 lucends@xplornet.com Tony McQuail 86016 Creek Line, RR#1, Lucknow, ON N0G 2H0 519/528-2493 mcqufarm@hurontel.on.ca Len Pigott Box 222, Dysart, SK, SOH 1HO 306/432-4583 JLPigott@sasktel.net Kelly Sidoryk P.O. Box 374, Lloydminster, AB S9V 0Y4 780/875-9806 (h) 780/875-4418 (c) sidorykk@yahoo.ca

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INTERNATIONAL KENYA Richard Hatfield P.O. Box 10091-00100, Nairobi 254-0723-506-331; rhatfield@obufield.com Christine C. Jost International Livestock Research Institute Box 30709, Nairobi 00100 254-20-422-3000; 254-736-715-417 (c) c.jost@cgiar.org * Belinda Low P.O. Box 15109, Langata, Nairobi 254-727-288-039; belinda@grevyszebratrust.org MEXICO Ivan A. Aguirre Ibarra P.O. Box 304, Hermosillo, Sonora 83000 52-1-662-281-0990 (from U.S.) 51-1-662-281-0901 Rancho_inmaculada@yahoo.com.mx

AFFILIATES NEW ZEALAND John King * P.O. Box 12011 Beckenham, Christchurch 8242 64-276-737-885 succession@clear.net.nz

Holistic Management® Certified Educator Training Program

Usiel Kandjii P.O. Box 23319, Windhoek 264-61-205-2324 • kandjiiu@gmail.com Colin Nott P.O. Box 11977, Windhoek 264/61-225085 (h) 264/81-2418778 canott@iafrica.com.na Wiebke Volkmann P.O. Box 9285, Windhoek 264-61-225183 or 264-81-127-0081 wiebke@mweb.com.na

* Philip Bubb

32 Dart Close, St. Ives, Cambridge, PE27 3JB 44-1480-496-2925 (h) +44 7837 405483 (w) philipbubb@onetel.com

PENNSYLVANIA Northern Penn Network Jim Weaver, contact person RD #6, Box 205 Wellsboro, PA 16901 717/724-7788 jaweaver@epix.net

NEW YORK TEXAS

Central NY RC&D Phil Metzger 99 North Broad Street Norwich, NY 13815 607/334-3231 ext 4 phil.metzger@ny.usda.gov

HMI Regional Texas Office Peggy Cole 5 Limestone Trail, Wimberley, TX 78676 512/847-3822 pcole@holisticmanagement.org

NORTHWEST West Station for Holistic Management Peggy Maddox PO Box 694, Ozona, TX 76943 325/392-2292 westgift@hughes.net

HMI GRAZING PLANNING SOFTWARE

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TO LEARN MORE, CONTACT: Ann Adams • hmi@holisticmanagement.org • 505/842-5252 http://www.holisticmanagement.org/n7/Certified_Educators/CE9_ITP.html

IN PRACTICE

Colorado Branch For Holistic Management® P.O. Box 218 Lewis, CO 81327 www.coloradoholisticmanagement.org Cindy Dvergsten, webmaster 970/882-4222

• Save Time!

Low • Does all the Introductofr y grazing planning Price o calculations for you $ • Easy SAU feature • Keep track of rainfall • Easy forage assessment tool • Works on Macs or PC’s that run Excel • Comes with User’s Manual

HMI’s Certified Educator Training Program is an individualized two-year training program developed to produce excellent Holistic Management facilitators, coaches, and instructors. Tailored to meet your needs and interests.

20

COLORADO

Managing Wholes Peter Donovan PO Box 393 Enterprise, OR 97828 541/426-5783 www.managingwholes.com

Want to make the world a better place?

Interested in teaching others about Holistic Management?

OKLAHOMA Oklahoma Land Stewardship Alliance Kim Barker, contact person 35878 Cimarron Road Waynoka, OK 73860 580/732-0244 580/732-0244 oklsa@pldi.net

HRM of Arizona Norm Lowe 2660 E. Hemberg Flagstaff, AZ 86004 928/214-0040 loweflag@aol.com

SOUTH AFRICA Jozua Lambrechts P.O. Box 5070 Helderberg, Somerset West Western Cape 7135 27-83-310-1940 • 27-21-851-2430 (w) jozua@websurf.co.za Ian Mitchell-Innes P.O. Box 52 Elandslaagte 2900 27-36-421-1747 blanerne@mweb.co.za

UNITED KINGDOM NAMIBIA

ARIZONA

January / February 2011

TO SEE A DEMO OF THE SOFTWARE GO TO: http://holisticmanagement.org/store//page8.html

Call 505/842-5252 or order online at www.holisticmanagement.org

T H E

M A R K E T P L A C E

ADVANCED I SOIL FERTILITY WORKSHOP Determining & Calculating Needed Nutrients

January 10-12, 2011 LOCATION: COUNTRY INN & SUITES, ORLANDO AIRPORT, For more info. visit ORLANDO, FLORIDA www.kinseyag.com

DAY 1: WORKING WITH SOIL TESTS AND LIMING —UPCOMING— FEB. 7-9, 2011 INTRODUCTORY SOIL FERTILITY COURSE, FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA

Soil Test Methods, Ideal Soils & Structure, Defining Excellent Soil Fertility, Soil Sampling, Soil pH Studies, Liming Materials, Using Lime Samples & Worksheets, Calculating Previous Lime Applied.

DAY 2: BUILDING FERTILITY LEVELS

—Registration— COURSE: $1,275/person.

Meals & lodging included.

TOUR: $125/person

For consulting or educational services contact:

Cation Displacement Rules, 5 Liming Rules, Calcium & Heavy Soils, Magnesium & Heavy Soils, Magnesium / Heavy Soils, Calcium-Magnesium / Sand, Sulfur, Compost (Analysis & Evaluation), Using Compost or Manures.

WE ACCEPT CREDIT CARD ORDERS (VISA, MC)

Kinsey Agricultural Services, Inc. 297 County Highway 357 Charleston, Missouri 63834

DAY 3: WORKING TO BUILD NUTRIENTS Phosphate, Potassium, Sodium, Boron, Iron, Manganese, Copper, Zinc.

Ph: 573/683-3880, Fax: 573/683-6227 Email: neal@kinseyag.com

Tape and wire you can rely on.

4 2 1

1.. WRAPPER 1 WRAPPER W WIRE IRE w with ith 6 s stainless tainless steel steel strands strands tthat hat d deliver eliver a h high igh s shock hock iimpact. mpact. White White o orr o orange. range.

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3 3.. POWER POWER T TA TAPE APE H High igh v visibility isibility tape tape with with 6 s stainless tainless s steel teel strands. s trands. W White hite o orr o orange. range.

4.. MEGA 4 MEGA TAPE TA T APE w with ith 10 10 s stainless tainless steel steel strands stra rands creating creating an an excellent e xcellent c conductor. onductor. W White hite o orr o orange. range.

.!4)/.7)$% . !4)/.7)$% $ $)342)"54)/. ) 3 4 2 )"5 4 )/ .

s 3AN !NGELO 4EXAS s TWINMOUNTAINFENCE COM s 3AN ! NGELO 4EXAS s TWINMOUNTAINFENCE COM En E nM Mexico: exico : Lada L ad a s sin in c costo o s to 0 01-800-640-3156 1-800-640-3156

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T H E

M A R K E T P L A C E

CORRAL DESIGNS

Resource Management Services, LLC Kirk L. Gadzia, Certified Educator PO Box 1100 Pasture Bernalillo, NM 87004 Scene 505-263-8677 Investigation

kirk@rmsgadzia.com

We improve the way you manage your land, human and financial resources.

On-site Introductory HM Course

By World Famous Dr. Grandin Originator of Curved Ranch Corrals The wide curved Lane makes filling the crowding tub easy.

Durham Ranch*, Wright, WY

Feb. 1-4, 2011

Introduction to Holistic Management Feb. 14-16: $495

Includes detailed drawings for loading ramp, V chute, round crowd pen, dip vat, gates and hinges. Plus cell center layouts and layouts compatible with electronic sorting systems. Articles on cattle behavior.

27 corral layouts. $55.

Low Stress Cattle Handling Video $59.

Send checks/money order to:

Register for this dynamic-participatory course involving the Durham Ranch staff and Roland Kroos, HMI certified educator. *Durham Ranch was featured in the Healing the Earth PBS Documentary.

GRANDIN LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS

(Limited to 15, register NOW!)

2918 Silver Plume Dr., Unit C-3 Fort Collins, CO 80526

Contact

Roland or Brenda Kroos

970/229-0703 www.grandin.com

(406) 522.3862 s kroosing@msn.com

Holistic Goal Setting and Facilitation Services

To learn more, call HMI at

• Elicits key motivators and values 505/842-5252 or from the group for more effective email Tracy at tfavre@ group decision making holisticmanagement.org.

• Improves communication • Improves conflict resolution • Creates a safe environment to have crucial conversations including generational transfer • Creates common ground from which to make management decisions and plans

IN PRACTICE

Feb. 17-19: $495 Comprehensive Holistic Management Training Feb. 14-19: $895

Remember, profitable agriculture is not about harder work.... It is about making better decisions!

For more information and registration, visit our website: www.r msgadzia.com

Ian Mitchell-Innes The Texas Tour 2011 May 2 . . . . . . Ford Ranch, Texas May 3-5. . . . . 3-Day Class Introduction, Financial, and Grazing Overview May 9. . . . . . Bear Creek Ranch, Texas May 10-12. . . 3-Day Advanced Grazing Techniques May 14 . . . . . Phelan Ranch, Oklahoma

HMI provides skilled, objective facilitators to help you achieve your goals!

BENEFITS OF HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT FACILITATION INCLUDE:

Advanced Holistic Management Training (Requires prior attendance at Intro. Session)

Are you ready to make the most out of your resources?

Do you need help dealing with critical human resource issues?

Has change taken you by surprise?

22

Holistic Management Resource Classes February 14-19, 2011

January / February 2011

~ FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO ~ www.holisticmanagement.org or call 505/842-5252

T H E

M A R K E T P L A C E

See the Big Picture ~ Respond to Change ~ Be Sustainable

Get Started Today – Join Our

Holistic Management Distance Learning & Mentoring Program Realize Immediate Benefits Save money on education — and get more for your money with highly personalized training.

All you need is a telephone, a computer is NOT needed. Learn at your own pace; apply what you learn to your situation and get results now!

Don’t change your life to learn.

Let your education change your life!

Visit: www.wholenewconcepts.com Email: hminfo@wholenewconcepts.com Call Cindy at 970/882-4222 for a free consultation!

Cindy Dvergsten, is a Holistic Management® Certified Educator, offering you over 15 years experience in training, mentoring, and facilitation; 30 years in natural resource management; and a lifetime of experience in diversified farming.

Offered By Whole New Concepts, LLC P.O. Box 218 Lewis CO 81327

Western Canadian Holistic LLOYDMINSTER, SASKATCHEWAN, Management CANADA Conference

Save the Date!

February 15-16, 2011

SPEAKERS and PRESENTERS INCLUDE:

PLUS . . .

Kier Barker Dr. Dwayne Beck Dr. Elaine Dembe Dr. Roger Epp Jeff Goebel

MANY HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT PRACTITIONERS AND EDUCATORS

WANTED: More Grass

REWARD: Heavier Livestock and Greater Profit Kelly Boney, Certified Educator 4 8 6 5 Q U AY R O A D L SAN JON, NM 88434 575/760-7636 K B O N E Y @ P L AT E A U T E L . N E T

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healthy land. sustainable future.

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID ALBUQUERQUE, NM PERMIT NO 880

a publication of Holistic Management International 1010 Tijeras NW Albuquerque, NM 87102 USA return service requested

please send address corrections before moving so that we do not incur unnecessary postal fees

HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT MAIL ORDER EMPORIUM Subscribe to IN PRACTICE

Software

_ A bimonthly journal for Holistic Management practitioners

Holistic Management® Financial Planning (single-user license) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $149 Grazing Planning software (single-user license) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100

Subscribe for 1 year for only $35/U.S. ($40/International) 2 years ($65/U.S.; $70/International) 3 years ($95/U.S.; $105/International)

_ Gift Subscriptions (same prices as above). _ Special Edition: An Introduction to Holistic Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5 _ Compact Disk Version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$14 _ Bulk subscriptions available.

Pocket Cards Holistic Management® Framework & testing questions, March 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4

Planning and Monitoring Guides

One year for $17 each/U.S., or $22 each/International ______ Please indicate number of one-year subscriptions

_ Policy/Project Analysis & Design August 2008, 61 pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$17

_ Back Issues: $5 each; bulk orders (5 or more issues) $3 each. List

_ Introduction to Holistic Management

Please indicate issue numbers desired: ___,___,___,___,___,___,___,___,___,___ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$25

August 2007, 128 pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$25

_ CD of Back Issues: #71 - 130

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Books & Multimedia

_ Aide Memoire for Grazing Planning August 2007, 63 pages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$17

Holistic Management: A New Framework for Decision-Making,

_ Second Edition, by Allan Savory with Jody Butterfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $39 _ Hardcover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $55 _ 15-set CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $125 _ One month rental of CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35 _ Spanish Version (soft). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40 _ Holistic Management Handbook, by Butterfield, Bingham, Savory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $29 _ At Home With Holistic Management, by Ann Adams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20 _ Holistic Management: A New Environmental Intelligence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10 _ Improving Whole Farm Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $13 _ Video: Creating a Sustainable Civilization—

_ Early Warning Biological Monitoring— Croplands April 2000, 26 pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$15

_ Early Warning Biological Monitoring—Rangelands and Grasslands August 2007, 59 pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$17

_ Land Planning—For The Rancher or Farmer Running Livestock August 2007, 31 pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$15

Planning Forms (All forms are padded – 25 sheets per pad) _ Annual Income & Expense Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$17 _ Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 7 _ Livestock Production Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$17 _ Grazing Plan & Control Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$17

An Introduction to Holistic Decision-Making, based on a lecture given

by Allan Savory. (DVD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30 Stockmanship, by Steve Cote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35

_ _ The Grassfed Gourmet Cookbook, by Shannon Hayes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25 _ The Oglin, by Dick Richardson & Rio de la Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25 _ Gardeners of Eden, by Dan Dagget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25 _ Video: Healing the Land Through Multi-Species Grazing (DVD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30 _ PBS Video—The First Millimeter: Healing the Earth (DVD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25 TO ORDER

MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION Amount $_____________ Please designate program you would like us to apply contribution toward _________________________________________

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