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Here is what we’ve been reading, watching and writing about over the past week…

Articles

Trees Are Spreading Across the Great Plains. They’re Actually Making Climate Change Worse

According to the researchers quoted in the article below, “…adding trees is negative for the climate in most temperate grasslands, savannas and shrublands globally.”

The primary cause of tree and brush invasion is that herds of grazing animals including bison, cattle, elk, pronghorn, horses and other large herbivores are greatly reduced or missing altogether. Removing animal impact such as grazing, browsing, trampling and depositing dung and urine from rangelands, shrublands and forests always leads to the loss of grasses and forbs and the encroachment of brush and trees.

As their food disappears, animal numbers fall even lower. This further reduces animal impact and accelerates the decline. There are many symptoms of this process including those discussed in the article. While livestock, “overgrazing” of wild and domestic animals, lack of fire, invasive species and “climate change” are often blamed, the root cause is too few animals.

More here →

Study: Bison Herd Removes More Carbon Than World’s Largest CO2 Capture Plant

As discussed below, the grazing of wild animal herds can be cheaper, faster, and more effective at reducing atmospheric carbon than any high tech method. A primary purpose of the holistic planned grazing of cattle and other domestic animals is to mimic this phenomena.

More here →

Videos

Plow and Tractor for Desert Grassland Keyline Subsoiling

What plow and tractor combination is most cost effective for restoring desert grassland with Keyline water practices?

We call our method of desert grassland restoration Drought Busters. It combines: (1) subsoil plowing, (2) water harvesting from eroding gullies and roadbeds, (3) animal impact from holistic planned grazing of cattle, and (4) animal impact from a large, diverse wild animal population.

This video discuss equipment for Keyline subsoil plowing. Over 30 American companies make plows that can be used for Keyline contour subsoiling.

Using different kinds and combinations of equipment, in the last nine years we have treated thousands of acres under Keyline principles. Experience has taught us that “less is more.” Small plows and tractors, like the combination in this video, can achieve the desired result at the lowest cost per acre.

More here →

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And that’s it - as always thank you..

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