A couple weeks ago – about mid-July – it started raining. We’ve had some 7-8 inches of rain in a month and what a blessing, especially made so by having it come in increments instead of all at once. Our properly grazed pastures had mouths wide open backed up by spongy soil to absorb nearly every drop. The ditches barely got wet, however, with several acres of watershed area, our ponds did catch some drain although they weren’t super low.
Although Linn County, Missouri is still considered in a drought, (D1-moderate) it’s hard to tell now.
Before I left for Hungary and Scotland on May 30 (returning June 30), i asked my neighbor to brush hog about 140 acres. It may seem counterproductive to mow during a D3 drought, but the brush had encroached to the point of being out of control. My cows had grazed the full season tall forages during the past winter, so all plants had deep roots, though very little growth by late May so i knew i wasn’t going to hurt it by mowing. Athough, i was surprised that it didn’t grow back as i thought it would (due to deep roots), once the rains came, the forage production is phenomenal. Anything along a ditch (good soil and higher water table) was already 2-3 feet tall despite the drought. These acres will be grazed during the winter again. It is not the right order for #totalgrazing, but with inadequate grazing pressure, i simply have nothing to graze it. It will be very high quality and quantity for winter.
I just now (mid-August) had him mow another 80 acres. I was getting a little nervous because he didn’t get to it quite as quickly as i would have done, but it will be okay. Again, the brush and sprouts were out of control on only one paddock, but i had him do the whole place anyway. The grass had already started growing substantially these past couple weeks, but there is plenty of time to grow before a killing frost.
When i’m home, I ‘ve been able to strip graze 3-4 times per day and cut hedge and locust sprouts in the grazed areas right behind the cows. However, once again, i had to be gone and now it’s forecasted to be about 100F for this coming week, so once a day and cows walking a lane to water and shade. It’s all working very well. However, in about 10 days, i will have to be gone again for 2 weeks, so I’ll move the cows across the road to the Bowyer Farm and start grazing it so that paddock sizes can be increased to moving them only every 3 to 4 days.
I had just about 10 days ago moved the cows to a very tiny segment of the Bowyer farm to graze around all the tornado damaged barns so as to make it easier for cleanup. However, now that it’s going to be sunny and 100F for the next week, i’m sure not going to be loading old tin into the trailer. Anyway, it’s no big deal to move them back – just a bit extra time spent. I’m very thankful for cows which are easy to handle and eager to cooperate. (training is important)
I have to express great appreciation for Yah bringing Jaime Elizondo into my sphere of grazing schemes. This drought really showed that Real Wealth Ranching protocol of total grazing shines after only approaching my 4th year of grazing in this manner. Previously, MiG was moving me backwards from my goals.
As I transition to a sort of retirement by leasing out my farm to my cousin who lives much closer to the farm than i do, i hope to impart what i’ve learnt through the years. It will give him the opportunity to learn about proper grazing and build his own herd. It will give me a much-needed break from so much driving and hard labor. Will i completely quit? Unlikely, to be sure, but life is pretty janky right now, so it’s hard to know what the immediate needs will be.
Create something beautiful today.
Missouri claims the mantra of being only 2 weeks from a drought – that is because when the rain turns off, the clay soil turns into concrete. Impossible for short roots to grow or even stay alive. Proper grazing creates deep roots, giving native and desirable species the best opportunity to thrive as well as give safe harbour to wildlife.
Tannachton Farm 