Destiny is not a matter of chance, it's a matter of choice, it is not something to be wished for, it is something to be attained.
—William Jennings Bryan
Below you will find timely messages on a variety of topics relating to ranching. They are intended to encourage thought, provide information, or maybe even bring a smile!
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In the future we hope this might become a virtual coffee shop where you can discuss issues with like-minded producers!
Terry Gompert, Certified Holistic Instructor, talks to the students about knowing how fast grass grow-back is occurring.
Terry and the class examine the soil organic layer to determine past management practices. Having a 4” litter two layer is a good indication that the soil is growing, accumulating and will sustain plant growth in the future.
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Mark Brownlee – Owner, host and grazier. |
Terry Gompert, University of Nebraska, extension grazing specialist, Steve Hefner, Water Quality NRCS, Mark Brownlee, speaking, Doug Peterson, NRCS Missouri State Grassland Specialist, Curtis Gooch, NRCS Grassland Conservationist listen to the experiences of Mark.
Thanks to Doug Peterson, NRCS State Grassland Specialist, for posting a link to view Allan Savory’s presentation of saving soil and the world with grazing livestock. You can view the presentation here http://vimeo.com/8239427. It will be an hour well spent. There are always some things I don’t totally agree with, however most of what he says is correct.
I have been watching some webinars put on by Nebraska Extension and thought others might be interested. The url to enter for the first webinar is http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/p63586080/
This webinar covers soil health and cover crop cocktail seedings. I will post others as they become available.
Here we are just before presenting at the American Forage and Grassland Council conference in Springfield, Missouri.
When we went out to check on the cows after our return we were happy to see that we had two new calves. That’s the great thing about these old cows, they’ve had enough calves you don’t need to worry much about them having problems! In the process of moving them to a new break of grass, we let them water up. This last cow was drinking when we got to looking and saw her calf very actively kicking around! We thought maybe we’d finally found a video which might go “viral” on YouTube!
The entire group at the Fred Provenza Short Course out at the Lewiston research facility.
Three stockmanship educators out standing in their field!
Fred, Richard, Tina, and Bruce
After driving for four days and visiting some great spots like Mt. Rushmore and Independence Rock, we arrived in Logan, UT to begin the Fred Provenza Short Course at Utah State University. One of the main reasons we wanted to come was to visit with Bruce Maynard of “Stress Free Stockmanship” of Australia who is teaching stockmanship at the Course. We’ve corresponded for some time, and this was a great chance for us to visit as well as learn from Fred and the others here.
Here’s the group out at the Green Canyon facility where we are received instructions on the several experiments the students will be doing during the Course.
And here’s Bruce instructing the first group on basic stockmanship tools on a group of ewes.
On our drive through Wyoming today we spotted two cowboys driving this herd of bulls along the highway against the backdrop of these mountains. What a great world we live in!
Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson