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A dying world

6/21/2020

4 Comments

 
Wondering thru Wyoming last week, Eve and I took note of some amazing effects humans have had on their ecosystems. 

If you've been around SonRise for more than 5 minutes, you know we are zealots for environmentally conscious, personally responsible food production.  To be honest, I never thought I would find myself here. Our type - the Cowboys - don't usually stop to see a flower in bloom, or take the time to frolic in wheat fields.

Its usually "boots and spurs". Big diesel trucks and spittoons - "yeh haw"... "get them dawgees in" and ropen' calves.

Were sort of weird here at SonRise - we don't fit the cowboy, rough and tumble mold (but we are Cowboys, none-the less), nor do we fit into the "envro-wako" mold either (but, just for the record, I do love trees). We are a hi-bred mixture of libertarian-environmentalist, lunatic Ranchers.

My philosophy is one of balance. We are big on personal responsibly, liberty and care for the creation. I feel a deep concern for were "we" are going. I am not a full-on "Green New Deal" type, nor do I believe we should coat the earth in glphosate. I think we need to take a real hard look at our food systems and make a difference at the ground level - no pun intended. And if you know nothing else about my philosophy, know this - I firmly believe Government does not have the answers! You needed look any farther than the USDA's disastrous polices thus far, to know and understand that real healing of our earth will not happen at the hand of the bureaucrat or legislators. You wont get change, like we want, with more rules - you will get it with dollars spent in the right direction. Don't like Cargill, or Perdue or Tyson's raping of the earth - well then, don't give them a single red cent. Invest in a ecologically minded, non-chemical, non-industrial Farm or Ranch.

Ok. Rant over... sorry.

Anyway, the trip last week was really productive. We originally ventured out to see a unique irrigation system located at a friend's Ranch in Wyoming. He is one of the few Ranches that operate like we do and we really enjoyed seeing him. ​Our upcoming San Diego operation will use his irrigation system to grow grass for our finishing operation, and you (our beloved customers and followers) will be able to come out and see it in real time. Imagine that - getting to see where your food is grown! 

We can't wait... it's going to be great.

So then, all the destruction of our grasslands in Wyoming and the abysmal failures of the Forrest Service in Yellowstone, got me to thinking about our Saticoy grazing unit (Unit IV) just north of L.A. It burned this last summer and it was a huge blessing. The following videos will explain why.
Before the burn this unit carried 16 Cows - SIXTEEN! On 240 acres... now, with our grazing management it is carrying 34 Cows and their calves... Look, I don't do this to toot my own horn here, I am just saying that we can have healthy ecosystems and healthy people and... healthy cows if we just put in the work do manage correctly. 

Here is how this works.

Burn. Manage with Cattle. Re-grow the ecosystem. Remove the Cattle. Re-balance (add or subtract Cow to balance growth)

Its really simple and requires thought, effort and vision, but, it works. 
What we are seeing in the growth of grass at Unit IV is nothing short of miraculous. The cattle, if used properly, gently caress the seed bed to instigate growth. Some species of grasses can be dormant for up to 150 years. That means, that if we manage this properly, we can re-generate the grassland on this unit back to, or near, pre-European times (think West Coast here). The cattle will preform the same function as the bison did.

How we do this is half "Art", half "Science" and a whole lot of "figure it out as you go". We move the entire herd, water, fence, electric charges, hoses, etc - all at once. We rebuild it in the next rotation without allowing the cows to "back Graze" or re-trample the area they just left. 

This ecological messaging is the perfect method to keep the grass healthy and vibrant. 

Think of it like this... you have some money in the bank (your grass base) and you make interest on it each month (your grass growth). You want to purchase something, so you have two choices; first, you can empty your account and spend it all... but that creates a problem. If you do that, you will not be receiving interest payments any longer. 

Nature is a neat creature. In this case she will be kind enough to replace your base savings amount each year. But it will only be enough to barely get by - about the same as all the interest combined. You'll never get ahead. 

Option two: Try just living off the interest. Reduce the number of Cows to match just what the growth is on the pastures. Don't try to graze all the grass. Leave a whole bunch. In fact, I tell my students to feel like they are "wasting grass" when they leave a pasture. A little too much is better than not enough. 

The next year (during the rebound/regrowth season), when nature makes her annual deposit, it will just add to your nest egg. This is a mentality shift from cattle management (being a Cowboy) to grass management (being an "environmentalist") 

Back to the task at hand. We want Ranchers to act like Ranchers. Work. Move your cattle. Make a difference. Think. Behave globally. Stop leaving cattle on pasture to compress soil, create erosion and destroy the ecosystems they were created to enhance. 

And for Pete's sake - if it burns, get cattle on it within the next growth cycle so the brush doesn't come back to create another burn hazard.
4 Comments
Ken
6/25/2020 09:36:06 am

I think this is great. I understand why most over graze,.. I’ve never had issue with ranchers grazing on blm or other lands,.. it’s just that they seem to utterly decimate the ecosystem. I was actually reading the generic cow/calf grazing rule of thumb and it seemed pretty unbalanced. As you have suggested - correct balance is important. We are always pleased picking up your products at the Farmers Market and thoroughly enjoyed the steaks. Keep up the good work. I know it’s rough work. My grandpa had a small ranch in the high desert of central Oregon. He loved being a cowboy. It was rough up there. Not much grass so the cattle had huge areas to roam. He was just beginning to realize the demand people have for grass fed beef being raised well. He did love his cows and was always there watching for the calves to be born as it almost always required someone to get all they way up in there to pull them out. I did 1 cattle drive and that was my 1st and last. Hahaha! Never ridden a horse to get up there and help us out. Ooooh man. That horse drug me up under EVERY low hanging branch. 🤣🤣. Thanks for your blog - keep up the good work.

Reply
Hans Norden
6/25/2020 09:57:28 am

Great content Doug! Are your videos on YouTube?
I saw similar explanations from someone in Africa bringing in cattle and rotating them to fight erosion. Very fascinating. Keep up all your hard work and keep educating us city slickers and suburbians.

Reply
Heather Koermer link
8/27/2020 10:19:19 am

Awesome post! Your way of thinking is the direction everyone needs to think. Take care of the soil and it takes care of you.

Reply
Cynthia Weber
2/20/2021 03:36:03 pm

Just came to this site because of a Facebook advertisement.
I have enjoyed reading your website. I have suggested similar ideas to my friends about raising or have someone raise a cow or two for ourselves. That way, we would know what and where they were raised.
I personally don’t eat much beef.or meat for that matter. But when I do, I want something I can trust. My body causes havoc anymore with all the GMOs etc. I sure miss the days when a steak tasted like a steak. Ah, good times.
Anyway, I will come back to your site to see your progress and wish you the best. God bless and take care.

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