Jason Leavitt is the fourth generation to work his family farm situated between the Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxent River in Owings, Maryland. Leavitt transitioned from mostly grain to grassfed beef, but with no trees in his pasture, he needed shade. “I tried to construct my own with hay wagons, but once we had a […]
Dr. Paul Dettloff on protecting your livestock from the sun. From conception to maturity, your cattle need protection from the hot summer sun. “Anytime the air temperature reaches 85 degrees an animal will enter some heat stress,” notes Organic Valley staff veterinarian Dr. Paul Dettloff, considered one of the top holistic veterinarians in the country. […]
It’s time to start planning for the next grazing season. Could you use some cash for your pasture or animal health improvement project? The options listed below could help fund your project, whether it’s for portable shade structures, movable fencing or something else. Option #1 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) – […]
Rotational grazing returns nutrients to the paddock for improved pasture fertility, without the need for costly inputs. Mobile shade adds further pasture-improving benefits by distributing nutrients evenly throughout a paddock, even under a blazing summer sun. “The issue on those hot summer days is not the addition of nutrients, it’s the distribution of nutrients,” […]
Shade Haven mobile shade systems can increase profitability for livestock graziers through better pasture management and healthier, more productive livestock. Grazing is not only healthier for the cattle, it also results in a healthier product for consumers – both beef and dairy. We caught up with Dr. Guy Jodarski, lead veterinarian for Organic Valley, to […]
Optimal Dry Matter Intake (DMI) results in optimal production for grazing livestock. If you’re a grazier, that impacts your bottom line. But how do you achieve optimal DMI? Grass Fed Beef, LLC founder and grazing expert Dr. Allen Williams outlines five ways to boost DMI to maximize production and profits. #1 Graze at Mid-Stage For […]
Pasture management tips for successful grazing Farms that practice smart pasture management spend less on feed and realize greater production from their herd. We caught up with dairy pasture management expert Sarah Flack for some tips on getting the most out of your pasture. Spring is finally here, time to get grazing. But when […]
A grass-based farmer is an ecologist. He is concerned with the whole world he is creating, the interplay of plants and animals, microorganisms and weather. He strives for a system that is balanced on its own, without any need for purchased inputs, able to tolerate extremes of rain and drought. The ultimate grass farm is the […]
Savings Bump: Boot the Hay Habit As appeared in DTN Progressive Farmer 3/26/2018 | 8:57 AM CDTReprinted with permission, copyright 2018, Progressive Farmer/Telvent DTN, LLC By Becky Mills, Contributing Editor If you want proof Keith Tuck’s rotational-grazing system works, take a look at his hay equipment. Oh, wait. It’s gone. He sold it in 2016. […]
Regardless of which side you are on in the climate change debate, there’s no denying that weather is becoming more and more unpredictable. Extreme rain, heat and drought in the Midwest and throughout the country present new challenges for farmers. Rotational grazing is a solution that can enhance a farm’s ability to withstand the effects […]