Grain and grazing combo a work in progress

By Martha Hoffman Kerestes

Kernza continues to gain traction as a perennial grain crop, with about 2,400 acres grown in the U.S. today. Kernza is the trademark owned by The Land Institute for intermediate wheatgrass varieties (IWGs) developed for grain harvest.

But long before it was selected for that use, IWGs were being used as forages. A number of studies have been done recently on utilizing Kernza both ways. Since the last article in Graze (February 2020), more data has become available on the topic.

One such trial was conducted by Alan Kraus of Clean River Partners in cooperation with Jacob Jungers and others at the University of Minnesota, along with southeastern Minnesota farmers Kaleb Anderson and Dan Honken.”

Continue reading “A Kernza research update”

They don’t cost much, either

By Allen Williams

Interest in regenerative agriculture is growing exponentially. With the rapid rise in almost every conceivable input cost coupled with ongoing weather extremes, we are seeing more farmers and ranchers express significant interest. The flood of inquiries is often overwhelming.

This interest is coming not only from farmers and ranchers here in the U.S., but from farmers around the world. Weather extremes continue to be the norm. Drought in the Extreme to Exceptional categories continues in many areas in the western U.S., while others are experiencing flooding conditions.

For all of us, the time to reinvigorate our regenerative efforts is now. We simply cannot afford not to.

The question for all of us is: “Are we doing enough, both on our own farms and to persuade our neighbors to make positive changes?”

In order to know where we are and to track our forward progress, we need measurement tools that allow us to quickly, easily and simply make progress. Within Understanding Ag, we use four simple tools to monitor our soils and conditions on a routine basis.

Anyone can use these tools. Anyone can afford these tools. They do not require collecting samples and shipping to a laboratory and waiting days or weeks for results. They do not require ongoing expenditure.

Continue reading “Four simple tools for measuring progress”

Trees can offer much more than shade

By Austin Unruh

In looking to add trees to a grazing operation, the first thing on most people’s minds is shade.

Shade helps growing animals gain weight faster, give more milk and conceive at higher rates. The value of shade is quite well established.

Yet a grass farm needs more than just shade. Among those needs is supplemental feed at times of year when forages are in short supply. For most folks that means winter and the peak of summer.

For summer, tree leaf fodder can be an alternative to hay. Leaf fodder can come from trees that have nutritious, palatable leaves, grow back readily, and put on a lot of leaf biomass. Mulberries are probably the best at this, followed by willows, poplars, black locust and others.

Continue reading “Figuring the dollar value of fodder and pods”