Grazing - Pitchstone Waters (Page 10)

Sign in Subscribe

Grazing

A collection of 309 posts

Animal Development

Bison: At Home, On the Range

Raising bison commercially on open ranges. NOTE: This post initially appeared on ModernFarmer.com on September 12, 2016 In 1994, when Mary and Lee Graese bought their first two bison, beef was what’s for dinner, as Robert Mitchum’s voice intoned on the omnipresent television ads. We’re talking

Slideshow: Circle Ranch Wildlife, December 2016

"Invasion Biology"

Slideshow: Circle Ranch Wildlife, December 2016

There is not a federal or state park in far-West Texas where one can see free ranging elk, sheep, pronghorn and mule deer together. These animals and many others are found in abundance at Circle Ranch, because of our (1) water system, (2) periodic planned cattle grazing, (3) protection of

alberta_peter_bucyk

"Invasion Biology"

Building Soil Fertility by Peter Byck

Physiologically there is no difference between public land and private land. What hurts or benefits one has the same effect on the other. Wildlife managers, whether we work on public or private land, must adopt restoration ecology if we hope to reverse the desertification of American Southwest’s grasslands. This

bayer_cattlemen_pdf

"Invasion Biology"

A Poison for Every Plant

Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association is an outstanding organization. Annually, TSCRA circulates to its members a calendar like this one, compliments of Bayer-Monsanto Chemical. The fact that this leading, respected cattle organization is promoting the ubiquitous use of rangeland pesticides demonstrates the extent to which ranchers, farmers and wildlife

circle_ranch_west_texas_cattle_feature

"Invasion Biology"

Public Wildlife on Private Land

The unification of wildlife management and private land management is essential for the wellbeing of both.

insects_west_texas

Insect Armageddon: "The Fate of the World’s Insects Is Inseparable from Our Own"

Unless we adopt rangeland and agricultural practices that respect biodiversity and reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides and herbicides, we face catastrophic insect “declines (which) will cascade onto ecosystem functioning and human well-being.” NOTE: This article was initially published to NYTimes.com on October 29, 2017 There is alarming

National Bison Day 2016

"Invasion Biology"

National Bison Day 2016

To be healthy, desert ranges need three things: (1) Large, concentrated migratory bison herds, or cattle grazed in a manner that mimics bison’s migratory patterns; (2) a lot of predators of all sizes; and, (3) a high, diverse population of prey species. Remove any of these and the system

U.S. - Mexico Teamwork Where the Rio Grande Is but a Ribbon

"Invasion Biology"

U.S. - Mexico Teamwork Where the Rio Grande Is but a Ribbon

The destructive and wasteful application of invasive species biology as promoted by The New York Times. Invasive species biology is based on the assumption that anything done by an “invasive” is by definition bad. According to the invasive species folks, cane is a sneaky invader that has driven out native

Cowboys Turn to High-Tech Ear Tags to Monitor Animal Health

"Invasion Biology"

Cowboys Turn to High-Tech Ear Tags to Monitor Animal Health

Small, inexpensive tracking devices embedded in ear tags that work through cellular towers instead of costly, heavy GPS devices would revolutionize grassland restoration. This would allow ranchers to track their stock on open ranges. Controlling theft, minimizing straying and limiting searches for missing animals would fundamentally improve grass-fed ranch economics.

chronic_wasting_texas

Animal Development

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) - America's Answer to Mad Cow Disease

Here is a useful body of early information on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). CWD’s history has been revised considerably in the last 15-years. NOTE: This post is taken verbatim from MadCow.org Mad deer, mad elk: sources, definitions, and diagnosis CWD Video Successful transmission of CWD to primate and

Circle Ranch - Genuine Land Stewardship

"Invasion Biology"

Desert Grassland Restoration: Creosote Bush

CREOSOTE BUSH (Larrea tridentata) is generally misunderstood as an invader plant. In fact creosote is a symptom – but not the cause – of dying desert grasslands. Creosote will predominate as grasslands decline but eventually it also dies. 1. Creosote bush flowers and fruits Creosote bush is one of the most common

circle_HQ_winter_feature

"Invasion Biology"

Wildlife, Habitat Flourishing in High Desert Mountains of Far West Texas

Gary Joiner and I became friends when he was Executive Director of Texas Wildlife Association, and I was on his board. He has a weekly radio show on wildlife, for which I gave this short interview. For more Texas Wildlife Radio Show / Texas Farm Bureau reports visit: http://texasfarmbureau.org/

circle_ranch_predator_aftermath_feature

"Invasion Biology"

13 Chronic Wasting Disease Cases Confirmed at Medina County Facility

All cases of CWD can be traced back to the Foothills Wildlife Research Station in Ft. Collins, a facility of the Colorado Department of Wildlife, in 1967. Agencies have closed ranks: It appears that amnesia has spread like CWD. No one seems to remember what was being done to the

Learning from Africa's Herbivores

"Invasion Biology"

Learning from Africa's Herbivores

These articles shed light on some of the basic insights of holistic management, planned grazing, and permaculture, as to the physiology of desert grasslands: * Plants need animals as much as animals need plants. * Many, many kinds of animals, from large to small, are necessary for healthy habitat. * Restoration of animal

Book Review: The Serengeti Rules: The Quest to Discover How Life Works and Why It Matters

"Invasion Biology"

Book Review: The Serengeti Rules: The Quest to Discover How Life Works and Why It Matters

The Serengeti Rules: The Quest to Discover How Life Works and Why It Matters by Sean B. Carroll is a great book about nature’s basic rules and contains many valuable insights on desert grasslands. While Carroll didn’t intend to write a book about holistic management, The Serengeti Rules

flatirons_vista_park_grasslands

"Invasion Biology"

Jim Howell – Conserving and Restoring the World’s Grasslands

Take the time to listen to this great interview with our friend Jim Howell, in which he explains how cattle ranching can restore rangeland viability. NOTE: post initially appeared on MountainPrarie.com Jim Howell is the CEO of Grasslands LLC, which is the land management arm of the Savory Institute,

circle_ranch_game_camera_sring_2015_audad_diablo

"Invasion Biology"

Spring 2016 Game Cameras

Biodiversity is Good, not Bad Because plants need animals as much as animals need plants, a biodiverse plant community requires a biodiverse animal community. Conventional wildlife “management” and “conservation” theory says that most of the animals, and especially the predators pictured below harm “native” plants and animals, through “competition”, and

circle_ranch_elk_feature

"Invasion Biology"

Cows and Elk - A Symbiotic Relationship

When grazed properly, cattle can be very beneficial for elk. Cattle are similar in their grazing impact to bison; bison and elk were mutually dependent for many thousands of years in North America. NOTE: originally published in HMI In Practice Newsletter May June 2013

circle_ranch_grasslands

Restoring Deserts: The Grasslands Story

Using the capital markets to further conservation through holistic ranching. The Grasslands Story …by Jim Howell Grasslands LLC is a for profit ranch/farm management company. Our company was originally a part of the Savory Institute, founded in 2009 by myself and my wife, Daniela, Tony Malmberg, Allan Savory, Jody

Six Trends You Can’t Afford to Miss if You’re in Agriculture

Six Trends You Can’t Afford to Miss if You’re in Agriculture

NOTE: post originally appeared on SouthwestFramPress.com on November 5, 2015. Lowell Catlett doesn’t dismiss the obstacles facing agriculture today. He chooses to look beyond them. “There has never been a better time to be in agriculture,” he says. “There has never been a better time to live in

crillo-cattle-high-country-news-feature

Animal Development

In Australia, Cowboys Use Satellites to Home In on the Range

Technology is making holistic planned grazing cheaper and easier. NOTE: Post initially appeared on WSJ.com on January 24, 2016 Ranchers saddle up satellites to track herds; water-trough weigh-ins Murray Grey has a beef with traditional ranching methods. Each year in punishing heat, Mr. Grey has mounted a horse to

Circle Ranch - Grazing the Impossible

Animal Development

Winter Grazing Report at Circle Ranch

Guy Glosson helps us with grazing planning and monitoring. He is a rancher, HMI Certified Educator, and HMI Director. Grazing Report, February 2015 I arrived late Tuesday afternoon and did not have time to look at much of the country. I went with David on Wednsday to feed the herd

circle_ranch_jardineros_restoring_grassland

"Invasion Biology"

Animal Impact Made Easy #1

Join a a “pasture walk” at Circle Ranch in far-West Texas to observe how we use cattle to restore grasslands in our high-desert mountains. Animal Impact Made Easy #1 from Christopher Gill on Vimeo.

Large_Black_pigs

Animal Development

Forget Whole Foods. Go Whole Hog.

The obvious solution to the feral pig “problem” is to put free-range pigs back in the human food chain where they belong, and would be, but for government red tape which benefits the big companies at the expense of the public and wildlife. NOTE: article was originally published on WSJ.

The Grasslands: Nice to Visit, Critical to Save

Excellent videos from the Savory Center Project posted to IndieGogGo at: https://goo.gl/fWVzLY Help us save the grasslands, stop climate change, fight desertification, and end world poverty. It’s true. The grasslands may not seem like the world’s hottest eco destination. They’re not as colorful as