Professional Documents
Culture Documents
including
unresolved conflicts, lack of committed goal,
scarcity issues, fear of transition, power imbalances
and fear of losing control, or lack of knowledge.
Using the new beliefs and behaviors that are
identified, defined, and designed to be responsive
to the specific issues, the specific context, and
the specific strengths, weaknesses, fears, and
aspirations of the participants, the individuals,
groups, and communities with whom I have
worked have found their way to make conflict
an opportunity for productive, harmonious,
and sustained growth.
Jeff Goebel of Goebel and Associates, the
trainer of the Five-Module Paradigm for the
Consensus Process, is a facilitator offering
training and consulting services nationally
and internationally, and can be contacted at
goebel@aboutlistening.com or 541/610-7084.
For more information, see his website at
www.aboutlistening.com.
6 IN PRACTICE July / August 2009
This experiment proved to me that
the combination of holistic decision-making
and consensus building tools allowed
us to move rapidly, confidently,
and respectfully toward the Tribes
holisticgoal that had involved over
700 tribal members using the
consensus process.
Beyond Conflict to Consensus
continued from page five
at the Tribes. By the end of another year, we
had succeeded in doubling land treatment while
voluntarily cutting the budget in the Natural
Resource Department. It turned out that we actually
did not need all that money to do a better job!
When the Tribal Council heard this, they asked if I
could apply the same approach to the entire Tribal
government. Six months later, we significantly
Seth has co-written four grants exceeding
$246,000 to fund Holistic Management programs
and offset costs to participants. In addition to
the farm families and communities he has
worked with, he has also conducted trainings
for agency staff in New Hampshire and
throughout the Northeast.
To date over 220 participants have been
trained and over 28 farm families in New
Hampshire have developed and implemented
a whole farm plan as a result of this program.
Below are some examples of impacts measured
from this program:
Farms hold weekly meetings to
communicate about major issues and decisions
and have increased their farm efficiency, saving
them valuable time as a result.
Farmers have said that their decision-
making has changed and is more inclusive
and positive. Specifically, wives and kids have
been able to share in major decision making
and farm risks.
Farmers have said that this process
significantly increased the quality of their lives
on their farms and/or in their families. They have
documented a reduction in conflicts, less stress,
improved and open communication, increased
time spent as a family, and greater happiness.
Farmers learned about farm employees
skills they had not previously known of and
changed their management to take advantage
of these skills.
Participants have developed family
budgets and monitor these regularly, reducing
overspending and debt levels.
Farmers have increased their knowledge about
each others skills and desired quality of life and
used this to change their management practices.
A land trust consisting of 5 farm families
and a 12 member Board of Directors used this
process to construct new governance procedures
and as a result significantly reduced conflicts
between Board members and also reduced the
average meeting time by an estimated two
hours per meeting. They also used this process
to identify the locations and extent of logging
in their woodlands, as well as how to lower
environmental impacts of the logging.
Farm families learned about members
hopes, dreams, and fears for the first time.
Farmers cited increased confidence to
tackle on-farm problems.
Farm youth reported that it increased their
self-confidence, understanding of their family
decisions, and also said it would likely reduce
any risky behaviors they might engage in.
Farmers have adopted financial record
keeping systems and monitor these regularly.
Farmers reported that the plan increased
the effectives of their communication, improved
the quality of their lives on the farm, and brought
family members closer together.
Demonstrating how valuable this program is,
Lockwood Sprague from Edgewater Farm, one of
the largest and most profitable farms in Seths
county wrote the following: Seth came to our
county pretty green in the areas of horticultural
sciences. Needless to say we were initially somewhat
disappointed. But in truth, he has done more for
the profitability of this farm than if he had been a
national fruit or vegetable specialist. When first
approached by Seth to engage in Holistic
Management, we were concerned about its touchy-
feely content, a perceived impression on our part.
We resisted for a year, but then the family agreed to
sit down and find out what it was all about late in
2006. Much came out of that meeting.
For the first time we talked about what we
liked about our work, what our individual long
term goals were, and how to address our short term
needs and approaches to our problem solving. We
realized how important it is that we keep an eye
toward the business end of things even though we
remain at the core a family farm comprised of
farmers with non-business inclinations.
The Holistic Management process has
addressed this as well as made us all think about
and work towards improving the quality all our
lives as well as all who work here. We truly feel that
we are on the right track as we look to the future.
Another farm couple wrote about their
experience with Seth and his Holistic
Management program. They wrote, Seth has
repeatedly helped us focus to include both of
us in defining our goals and values, and to
work toward creative ways rather than emotional
ways to resolve differences. When weve been
stuck, Seth has been able to help us refocus on
what we were aiming toward and to identify
options for action.
Seth has opened our eyes to understanding
that we are primarily running a business. We
thought we were farmers and farming was what
we did. A business was not of interest. Through a
Holistic Management workshop, Seth raised our
awareness of the importance of managing our
farm as a business. One outcome is that we now
see the farm as a set of systems that need to be
identified and managed productively whether its
creating planting schedules or hiring farm help.
As a result of Seths help, our annual gross
sales have increased from $5,000 to $37,000 in
four years. We have learned from Seth to evaluate
each new enterprise before implementing it on
our farm. We write down our goals, what will be
achieved, and projected costs and income.
It has all been helpful. Im not sure that either
the farm or our relationship would have
survived without Seth.
Congratulations, Seth!
Number 126 IN PRACTICE 7
Seth Wilner
Holistic Management in the Northeast
by Ann Adams
Farm youth reported that Holistic Management increased their
self-confidence, understanding of their family decisions, and also said
it would likely reduce any risky behaviors they might engage in.
I
n April, Seth Wilner won the prestigious New Hampshire Menard and
Audrey Heckle Extension Educator Fellowship for his work in Holistic Management.
This award recognizes one individual each year for exemplary program
accomplishments achieved through innovative and creative approaches.
8 July / August 2009 Land & Livestock
F
or North Dakota no-till farmer Gabe Brown, failure isnt an option
its a requirement. Thats because Brown believes constant change
drives an ever-improving system.
We want to fail at something on this farm every year, says the
Bismarck-area producer who crops 1,500 acres (600 ha). If I dont fail at
something, Im not trying enough new things.
And try he does. Browns acres have a research farm feel. A trip up the
driveway treats visitors to more than a dozen different crops from corn to
radishes spread through only a few fields. Calling his cropping system diverse
is an understatement.
Brown raises alfalfa, peas, corn, sunflowers, barley, turnips, radishes,
lentils, hairy vetch, red clover, sweet clover, sugar beets, buckwheat, oats,
cowpeas, millet, sorghum and sudan grass to name a few. These crops are
mixed together in complex polycultures that Brown has created through trial
and error for maximum benefit to soil health, production and his bottom
line. But city-raised Brown didnt come by his adventurous agronomic spirit
easily; nature gave him a not-so-gentle push in the right direction.
Brown and his wife, Shelly, purchased their farm from her parents in
1991. The land was conventionally tilled and produced small grains. After
reading about no-till farming, Brown decided it made sense and jumped in
with both feet. In 1993 he sold all of their tillage equipment and bought a
John Deere 750 15-foot no-till drill and went completely no-till. He also took
his first foray into diversification, seeding field peas.
In 1995 Mother Nature dealt the Browns a nasty blow, hailing out 1,250
acres (500 ha) of spring wheat the day before harvest. The next year they had
100 percent crop loss to hail again.
Two years of crop failure hurt, says Brown. We started thinking about
how we could cut back on our inputs because you cant keep putting money
in without getting something back.
Thats when Brown started to experiment with crop combinations. He
planted peas and hairy vetch or barley paired with red clover in an effort to
help fix nitrogen for their main commodity crops. But the weather wasnt
going to cut them any slack. In 1997 severe drought resulted in not a single
acre being combined. In 1998 it was more of the same. The Browns once
again lost 80 percent of their crops to hail. But for Brown that wasnt the end,
it was just the beginning.
Four years of crop failure was the best thing to ever happen to us, says
Brown. It made us realize that we had to focus on soil health, soil structure
and improved infiltration. If we did that, the soil would provide us what we
needed to produce crops efficiently. We also realized over time that we had to
diversify the cropping system to make it more sustainable.
Browns cropping system now mimics native prairie plant composition.
They have a diversity of warm and cool season grasses and broadleaf plants.
In the years since their dramatic crop failures, the Browns have managed to
make great strides in reducing input costs.
Weve been able to reduce commercial fertilizer inputs by more than 90
percent and herbicide inputs by 75 percent. At the same time we have seen
our yields increase, reports Brown. Brown does
rotate in a few monoculture crops, including alfalfa,
corn and sunflowers, but he has started adding
legumes as companion crops in the corn and
sunflower fields as well.
Monocultures are the exception, however, not the
rule. A peek in Browns seeder reveals a concoction
that more closely resembles a bird seed mix than a
planned crop. But looks are deceiving because a lot of
planning goes into Browns planting scheme. Heres a
glimpse at a typical year on the Brown farm.
Brown starts seeding in mid April with cold-
&
Cocktail Mixes & Integrating Livestock
by the No-Till Farmer
Complex polycultures are
used to address soil needs,
including nutrient input
and infiltration. Brown
has planted seed cocktails
that include 11 or more
plant species.
This cover crop mix was planted
the end of May 2006. This
picture taken the end of July
2006 during which less than
one inch (25 mm) of rain fell.
There was also less than three
inches of rain that fell that year
prior to this picture.
Number 126 9 Land & Livestock
tolerant crops such as a field pea/radish/turnip combination.
Those crops are seeded into the remains of heavy residue-type
crops such as corn. They are planted without any herbicide or
fertilizer inputs.
We usually put radishes or turnips on most of the cropland
to help infiltration, says Brown. Even after
15 years of no-till you can see the old tillage layer. The
deep-rooted plants help break up the compaction.
After planting peas, Brown starts on the small grain
combinations. Hell seed a barley/red clover mix, an
oat/pea/turnip/radish combination and then will move
on to the corn and sunflowers.
The peas are harvested as forage, haylage or dried hay,
so there is no need to separate out the different crops. In years
that the peas are combined the seed is easily separated.
In most of our seeding combinations the companion crop
stays beneath the canopy and doesnt take off and grow rapidly
until the other crop is harvested and the canopy is removed,
explains Brown. Then that companion crop serves as a cover crop.
Double Cropping
Brown heavily utilizes cover crops, or double cropping,
to keep his acres producing, tackle specific soil management
challenges and integrate his farm.
As soon as we get one crop off the field were seeding in another crop,
says Brown. Upon harvesting peas, Brown immediately seeds a nine-crop seed
cocktail for cover. In July well seed warm season cover crop mixes like pearl
millet/sorghum/sudan grass/ cowpeas/soybeans/radishes and sunflowers.
These crops can withstand the soaring July and August temperatures.
People say they cant use cover crops because its too dry or the growing
season isnt long enough. But theyre doing it in Canada and thats 300 miles
north of here and theyre doing it in regions of Africa where they only get two
inches (50 mm) of rain per year, says Brown. If Canada and Africa can
produce cover crops in those growing conditions, anyone in the United States
can do it. Its simply a mindset.
Brown says the purpose of cover crops goes beyond just covering the
ground. They increase organic matter, which increases the water holding
capacity of soils and lowers soil temperatures. Deep rooted cover crops also can
bring deep nutrients to the surface to be recaptured by a more valuable crop.
You might as well use the moisture to grow a cover crop and increase
organic matter. Its a good way to help alleviate water problems in an arid
environment, says Brown. Our crops are able to withstand drought much
better because we have increased the water holding capacity of our soils and
we get much higher utilization of the moisture we do have. We lose much
less to evaporation because the soil surface is covered with residue and soil
temperatures are cooler.
Brown uses cover crops to address problems specific to each field. If
infiltration is a challenge, he uses deep-rooted, taproot-type crops, such as
radishes or turnips, to break up hardpan soil and improve infiltration. If the
focus is on lowering inputs, he plants a legume-type crop to help fix nitrogen.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
Gabe is constantly trying new plant
mixes in small-scale plots to hone in
on the combinations that best suit
his specific growing conditions.
Some of these mixes have shown
surprising results, with plants
forming symbiotic relationships that
result in amplified crop yields and
improved quality. This picture is of a
mix of radishes, hairy vetch, sudan
grass, sugar beets and much more.
Gabe hopes to pass the farm
along with his tradition
of constant change and
improvementto his son,
Paul, who is currently working
toward a degree in range
management at North Dakota
State University. He jokes that
hell take the farm back if he
doesnt see evidence of change.
Gabe uses the following cover crop mix
diversity applied at 70 pounds/acre (79 kg/ha)
CORN RADISHES RED LENTIL SOYBEAN
FLAX PEARL MILLET MANTA MILLET MUSTARD
PEA SIBERIAN MILLET SUNFLOWER PINTO BEANS
GARBANZO BEANS WESTERN WHEAT
The Four-Legged Factor
Cover crops also allow Brown to further bring his operation together.
Brown runs 250 head of Balancer, Gelbvieh and Angus cows on 2,000 pasture
acres (800 ha).
One thing were doing with cover crops is integrating crop and livestock
production, says Brown. Instead of harvesting by mechanical means, we
use our cow herd to harvest for us.
The cattle graze the cover crops from September through January 1.
Besides saving in might-as-well-be-made-of-gold fuel, Brown has discovered
that getting cattle on cropland has a wide variety of benefits. The hoof traffic
helps get crop litter in contact with the soil surface; fecal matter serves as
fertilizer; the livestock get higher nutritional value forage, which relates to
better rates of gain; and soil health is improved through increased organic
matter, better infiltration and moisture conservation.
Too many people look at livestock separate from cropping. On our
operation we look at the system as a whole. Its about what is best for the
livestock and the crop, says Brown. For example, hairy vetch is tremendous
for grazing and it fixes 100 to 150 pounds of nitrogen per acre. Plus, the
cattle provide the phosphorus needs.
His livestock operation also weathers drought better thanks to this system.
When we purchased the farm we could only run 65 cows, now we
easily sustain 250 head and leave more forage than ever even grew before
because we are able to graze cover crops and rest our pastures, says Brown.
When drought hits we can easily sustain because we have a good supply
of grass to fall back on.
Water Management
Following low organic matter, water infiltration was one of Browns
biggest challenges. When he started no-tilling, an NRCS water infiltration
test on his fields showed that if it were to rain one inch 25 mm), only
.4 inches (10 mm) of rain would infiltrate in the first hour and only
10 July / August 2009 Land & Livestock
.25 inches (6 mm) per hour in the second hour.
In 2006 we had a four-inch (100 mm) rain and it infiltrated so well that
the agronomy center was able to get in the field and spray our corn the next
day. Our neighbor had water sitting in his field for more than six weeks,
recalls Brown. Our soil now can infiltrate several inches per hour.
Improving infiltration helps with extreme water situations, including
getting more production with less precipitation. In 2005 Brown had a dryland
corn field that received only 12.5 inches (313 mm) of moisture that year and
it averaged 177 bushels per acre (443 bushels/ha) at harvest. The county
average on a good year is around 80 bushels per acre (200 bushels/ha).
Brown regularly averages 127 bushels per acre (318 bushels/ha).
Team Work
Brown is the first to tell that his farming practices are not a product of
his invention alone. Brown works extensively with scientists, researchers,
conservationists and community groups to uncover better practices and
help other area farmers put those practices to use. For example, Brown works
closely with Jay Fuhrer, the Bismarck NRCS district conservationist, to bring
no-till and polycultures to other producers in the county and serves as a
supervisor himself on the soil conservation district board.
Brown also has teamed with Kris Nichols, a soil microbiologist at the
ARS research center in Mandan. They are looking at some of the secondary
benefits of the polycultures that populate Browns fields including how the
plants interact, build better soil structure, make the soil more efficient at
moving nutrients and water and more.
One thing that weve found is that with the polycultures we get a lot
of mycorrihzal activity and symbiotic relationships among the plants,
says Brown. They also look at the role soil organisms play.
When we started our soil organic matter was 1.7 percent to 2 percent
on most of the fields. Today were consistently 3.7 percent to 4.3 percent,
explains Brown. But just because you have organic matter doesnt mean
its available to the plants right away.
One year Brown soil tested and had 14 pounds of available Nitrogen.
He applied 50 pounds, planted corn and ended up with 200 pounds
available nitrogen because of microorganism activity.
When you have organic matter you need bacteria to consume the
organic matter and protozoa to consume the bacteria and excrete nitrogen
that is usable to plants, explains Brown. Focusing on organic matter,
improving soil health and creating an environment conducive to bacteria
and protozoa health allows you to use fewer commercial inputs.
Accidental Proof
Commercial sprayers joke that its good business to leave some skips in
the field so producers know how good the control really was. In similar
fashion, Brown was able to see the advantages of his production system.
In 2006 hairy vetch seed was hard to come by. Due to the shortage,
Brown didnt have enough seed to cover the whole field he was planting,
so he seeded part to triticale/vetch and the rest to straight winter triticale.
In spring of 2007 he topdressed the straight triticale with 100 pounds
(45 kg) of urea. When they harvested the field in June, Brown recorded
some surprising data.
The triticale/vetch mix yielded 11 tons per acre (27.5 tons/ha) while
the straight triticale with the commercial fertilizer yielded only 8 tons
(20 tons/ha). The combination tested 19.5 percent crude protein while
the triticale alone tested 12.9 percent crude protein, reports Brown.
It cost me the same for 100 pounds of urea as it did for the hairy vetch
seed, so why not just plant triticale and hairy vetch together?
Brown cant explain the differences in production and quality, but
hes seen it time and time again.
We are seeing tremendous crop response from these and other
combinations in many situations, and we dont really know why,
says Brown. But hell use the combinations to his advantage.
Income versus Profit
One thing Brown has had to do to succeed is to think about profit
differently. Some crops are not as profitable as others, but are needed to help
the system as a whole. Peas, for example, arent overly profitable, but have
the benefit of lowering input costs for subsequent crops. Also important to
Brown are the long-term benefits he can leave for his son, Paul.
Im a conservationist first and a farmer/rancher second, says Brown.
We need to improve the resource for future generations. Fortunately, if you
do that it also will improve your bottom line.
And thats one thing he knows from experience.
We were on the verge of going broke after those four years of crop
failure, recalls Brown. But through the changes that situation brought
on Ive seen the profitability that can come from improving the soil health.
In 2007 it cost us only $1.19 to produce a bushel of corn. Farming is much
more profitable for us today.
Brown continues to work to further develop his farm and help those in
his community. He is a supervisor on the Burleigh County Soil Conservation
District, a North Dakota Grazing Land Coalition board member, a supervisor
for the Area Four soil conservation district research farm, a member of the
ag advisory board for Bismarck State College and brings in thousands to tour
and learn from his farm. In the past two years hes had visitors from 42 states
and 14 countries.
The profitability that can arise from focusing
on soil health and sustainable systems is
unbelievable, says Brown. With input costs rising
like they are, producers need to focus on their
soil resource and become least-cost producers.
Nitrogen is free. You just have to plant crops that
produce it. Dont complain about input costs
do something about it. Diversify.
This article was first printed in the
No-Till Farmer (www.no-tillfarmer.com)
as No-Till Farming for the Future.
Gabe Brown lives in Bismarck, North Dakota
and can be reached at: 701/222-8602;
brownranch@extendwireless.net.
Gabe uses cover crops to integrate livestock and crop production, grazing cattle on cover crops
from September through January 1. The system benefits his cattle, helps him continue production
on his acres throughout the year, serves to improve soil quality and allows him to rest his pastures.
Cocktail Mixes & Integrating Livestock
continued from page nine
Number 126 11 Land & Livestock
A
s a trainer/coach for agricultural producers, my role is to
make them more successful using the Holistic Management
framework. Producers generally define success as being financially
stable, with their land regenerating, while at the same time
enjoying their work. This definition of success has led me to modify
the way I have been presenting planned grazing. The following is an
attempt to explain how I have modified the planned grazing training
to improve success.
As we all know the key to success is to start regenerating our land.
The first step in regeneration is stopping erosion which I have been
describing as stopping the bleeding. This analogy clarifies that there is no
point worrying about other issues such as weeds, fertilizers, stocking rate,
etc. while your land is bleeding to death. The first step must be to stop the
bleeding. With land management this means covering the soil with plants
and litter and managing the litter to ensure it is composting
litter in brittle environments requires monitoring and management to
continually promote active composting.
We have been trialling simplifying the planning part of Holistic
Management planned grazing and then providing simple monitoring
tools to help keep on track with land regeneration and animal health
and performance. Monitoring has shown that a greater percentage of
people trained are using grazing charts
to plan recovery. More important though
is that they are reporting that their land
is improving.
The planning simplification is based
on a combination of Sam Binghams
work in Grassroots Restoration: Holistic
Management for Villages through to the
complexity of the holistic grazing
planning in the Holistic Management
Handbook. The simplification allows
producers to decide if they want to use
pins or pebbles to determine actual
grazing time in a paddock through to the
mathematical rating system used in the
Handbook. Many producers favor a
minimal mathematical variation that
uses their knowledge of their land.
A major struggle that we all have
when shifting to planned grazing is land
and animal performance. There is also a
tendency for initial success to decline
over time. It was only when I was trying
to explain to our children and some
international exchange students working
on our property that I realized that much
of the art of grazing was not readily
transferable. This realization was also
assisted by my wife, Susie, exclaiming
that no one knows what you are talking
about! The daily monitoring sheet
Daily Monitoring
Holistic Management
Planned Grazing
by Graeme Hand
evolved from this assisted realization.
I have found that by placing a score on some monitoring points
results in a greater connection to the land and animal performance
which increases our success and the people we have been working with.
This language also gives a quick summary of the planned grazing.
A typical response when the management is on track will be the
indicators are all score 4s and 5s.
Acknowledgements: This material is based on material developed
from many sources including Allan Savory, Sam Bingham, Mark Bader,
Jerry Brunetti, Joel Salatin, etc. As we all know, we need to be exposed to
material three to four times before we absorb and process it.
This article is an excerpt of a presentation on a simplified approach
to holistic planned grazing Graeme presented in Abilene, Texas in
March 2009. The Gut Fill photos are adapted from the UK Dairy website:
http://www.delaval-us.com/Dairy_Knowledge/EfficientCowComfort/
Feeding.htm.
Graeme Hand is a Holistic Management Certified Educator
who lives in Branxholme, Victoria, Australia. He can be reached at:
graemeh1@bordernet.com.au.
This is a picture of the Hands property in a drought year. They carried 2/3rds of the
district stocking rate without feeding. Large properties nearby lost approximately
$30 per sheep or $300 per cow that year with purchased feed costs.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
12 July / August 2009 Land & Livestock
Daily Monitoring continued from page eleven
Ground Cover
Score 1: Bare ground between plants which
shows plant recovery is too short.
Score 3: Approaching 100 percent ground
cover but lack of stable composting litter layer
possibly due to plant recovery too short and
plants not producing sufficient litter. Lack
of trampling to push litter into contact with
soil may also be a related cause.
Score 5: 100 percent ground cover with
stable/building composting litter layer
showing recovery and trampling adequate.
Also demonstrates patience of border collies
Dung
Score 1: Grass plants far too
young with excess non-protein
nitrogen (NPN) which will result
in animal health/ metabolic
issues. Animals will be in negative
energy balance and need older
grass or hay/ straw/ energy
supplementation.
Score 3: Grass plants too young
(NPN) or mismatch between
rumen flora and level of protein
and fiber which if not corrected
will result in animal health/
metabolic issues such as calf
scours, lameness, mastitis,
poor fertility etc.
Score 5: Good match between
rumen flora and protein/ energy/
fibre. Animal health and
performance balance optimized
Score 10: Feed low in
protein/energy and high
in fiber. Animal performance
usually low.
Where To Look What To Look For
PADDOCK ANIMALS ARE LEAVING 100% ground cover with a stable litter layer between perennial grasses.
Composting litter
Ground Cover scored from 1-5 See Photos
PADDOCK THE ANIMALS ARE IN Dung consistency scored from 1-10 See photos
Clean tails and rumps
Gut fillleft-hand side paralumbar fossa scored from 1-5 See photos
Water drinkingno snuffling or walking away
Electric FenceVoltage checked
NEXT PADDOCK ANIMALS ARE GOING INTO Highest successional grasses recoveredbunch grasses contain fresh dead/dry leaves or litter
Multiple layers of plantsgrassland community with structure and function
High mass or volumeincreasing overtimeScored from 1-5 See photos
Number 126 13 Land & Livestock
Plant Recovery
Score 1: Plants have regrown some leaf but are
light green in color and have square tips.
Score 3: Plants have regrown leaf,
which are dark green in color but do
not contain fresh litter.
Score 5: Plants have fully recovered
and contain fresh litter which ensures
plants recovered while building ground
cover and litter stocks.
Gut Fill
Score 1: The cow has eaten little or nothing,
which could be due to sudden illness,
insufficient feed or a mismatch between
rumen flora and feed available.
Score 2: This is a sign of insufficient food
intake, or a rate of passage that is too high.
Score 3: This is the bottom score for cows
on well recovered grass.
Score 4: This is the correct score for a portion
of the mob on well recovered grass.
Score 5: This is the correct score for
cows on well recovered grass and show
a good match between rumen condition
and food available.
Score 1 Score 2 Score 3
Score 5 Score 4
14 July / August 2009 Land & Livestock
Voisins Vision
Better Grassland Sward
by John King
H
olistic managers celebrate Andre Voisin for discovering the
significance of time when planning grazing. His masterpiece
Grass Productivity lays the foundation for grazing planning from
the soil up. The book explains the ecological relationships between
grazing animals, plants, and soils and the resulting pastures farmers
observe in the paddocks of northern Europe.
Throughout Grass Productivity Voisin mentions another book focusing
on pasture ecology. That book is Better Grassland Sward. It explores
pasture sward composition resulting from various grazing, fertilizer, and
cultivation practices.
Grazing Influences Sward Composition
Within this book is a striking graph (Fig. 1) from 1930s German research
highlighting the impact of grazing frequency (recovery period) on pasture
species. Sheep grazed one pasture weekly over 4 years, the other every 3 weeks for
the same period. Both show a very different sward at the end of the experiment.
Which one is which? Such questions challenge farmers to reflect on
outcomes of their own grazing practices. These graphs record the evolving
sward composition when rigid grazing management ignores both seasonal
growth patterns and the changing ratios of pasture species.
A similar spectacular graph in Grass Productivity demonstrates the
dynamic sward changes from another 1930s German study with cattle (Fig.
2), showing preferred pasture species increasing. This research highlights
how sound pasture management improves pasture diversity and quality. The
research conducted four different grazing regimes and followed the sward
dynamics of a range of plant species. While there is little information on the
nature of the grazing regimes, the shift to intensive grazing management
reveals how greater control over recovery periods and stock density produces
better pastures.
The trials regenerated long abandoned grazing commons and the sites
were modestly fertilized. What surprised researchers was the emergence of
better quality species without sowing. The range of grazing regimes
demonstrates:
Controlled passage of grazing animals through paddocks
changes the diversity of pasture species.
Weeds and undesirable grasses disappear under intensive
grazing and moderate fertilizer levels.
Seeds are often already there, they germinate and establish
in the sward as volunteers.
Partial rest in temperate climates without fertilizer reduces
diversity and quality of feed.
Productive pasture swards can become incredibly diverse.
Animals are tools to create diverse swards through disturbance.
Figure 3 shows the flora changes over the three-year period from the
rotational grazing with small paddocks (2.5 acres or 1 hectare) in Figure 2.
Voisin provides no information on the number of grazing animals and their
stock density, yet the results show grasses like sweet vernal, crested dogstail,
meadow grass, red fescue, and creeping soft grass succumbing to Kentucky
bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and cocksfoot proving that higher fertility and
rotational grazing favored particular species. While there is no doubt about
the relationship between pasture composition and grazing, the lack of
grazing details muddies the connection.
The Timing of Spring Grazing is Critical
Voisin coined the phrase Comparative Phenology, the science of timing
farming operations with the development of wild plants. Examples he gave
were planting beets at the spring burst of chestnut buds, or sowing oats as
wild primroses flower. With grazing, he suggested starting the spring rotation
when wild cherry trees blossomed.
However, if farmers want diverse pastures, they need to think carefully
Figure 1: Which Pasture has the Shortest Recovery Period?
Figure 2: Changes is Pasture Flora on Old Pastures after 3 Years of Grazing Treatments
Figure 3:
Changes in
Flora
Using
Rotational
Grazing with
Small
Paddocks
Number 126 15 Land & Livestock
about when they execute their grazing plans. Martin Jones, a British pastoral
scientist demonstrates the key to changing pasture composition is the timing
of spring grazing (Fig 4). His 1930s research highlights the need for some
forethought about a paddocks productive role over the summer months
when determining the nature of grazing in the spring.
Figure 4 shows how two years of changing old sward (OS) grazing timing
of spring grazing with sheep influences the presence of pasture species over
the summer. Want high clover? Set stock all spring (A). Want ryegrass? Then,
allow the pasture to recover over the first six weeks of spring and then graze
(B). Want cocksfoot? Hammer the ryegrass for the first month, then let the
pasture recover when cocksfoot is at its most aggressive growth phase (C).
The timing of grazing when emerging from drought also provides similar
opportunities to influence pasture swards.
The New Zealand practice of set stocking at lambing during the spring
months (A) creates ideal conditions to overgraze many emerging grasses.
This practice leads to the dominance of clover, essential to maximize lamb
growth rates, but reduces overall pasture production. The result is the
common sight on New Zealand sheep properties of very short pastures and
grasses with short root systems prone to summer drought.
The danger of grazing paddocks at the same growth stage each year is
decreasing plant diversity, pasture quality, and animal health issues. In New
Zealand, high clover rates lead to high blood urea levels, lower liveweight
gains and milk production over the summer, higher animal health costs, and
compromising the performance of breeding stock as young stock are carried
longer to finish. Voisin warns that clover should only be between 15-20
percent of pasture species as excess protein reduces animal performance.
He examines the impacts of pasture nutrition on animals health in greater
detail with his two other books, Soil, Grass, and Cancer, and Grass Tetany.
Recovery Period and Harvesting
Not only is the timing of grazing important, Voisin also reviews the
frequency and method of harvesting grass. More German research from the
late 1930s (Fig 5) illustrates how summer cutting and grazing pastures with
sheep (dung and urine was removed immediately) produces notably different
swards when applying the same treatment over four years from sowing.
Grazed pastures had greater diversity and balance of species than cut
pastures, especially as recovery periods lengthened. However, the trend
emerging from the longest recovery periods of both methods were similar
in that cocksfoot was beginning to dominate pastures.
Cocksfoot enjoys longer recovery times and the fact it survived
so well under sheep grazing was surprising to Voisin.
Ryegrass and white clover remain relatively stable under
grazing but almost disappear under cutting. Voisin states the
study proves light is essential for white clover to survive,
therefore it prefers short pastures. Ryegrass, too, likes shorter
pastures as it declines under longer recovery times. Elsewhere
in Better Grassland Sward, New Zealand trampling and
excreta studies establish sheep at high stock densities
invigorates perennial ryegrass.
The German study shows annual meadow grass almost
disappears under longer recovery reflecting its growth habit
cannot compete with year round perennials. Kentucky
bluegrass grass likes intense grazing with short recovery times
but meadow grass (rough bluegrass) did better on longer
grazing recovery than cutting. Tall oat grass likes longer
recovery times and thrives in permanent hay paddocks.
Birdsfoot trefoil likes longer recovery times and why it fades in
short, intensively grazed sheep pastures. While other species
emerged, none thrived under the cutting and grazing methods.
The results clarify how populations of grass species change due to the
frequency and nature of grass harvesting. They demonstrate that too much
disturbance can lower pasture diversity, whereas Figure 3 shows not enough
does the same thing. Holistic managers understand this balance due to the
phrase a species only invades an area when the conditions are right for it to
establish and thrive, and leave an area when the conditions prevent its
reproduction. It is the principles embedded within this phrase that drive
holistic planned grazing by having animals at the right place at the right
time for the right reason. Monitoring pasture species provides direction
when planning the movement of grazing animals across a landscape where
pasture diversity is the focus.
However, changes in grazing practice alone may not account for
transforming pasture, especially in newly sown pastures. In Holistic
Management, we talk about bottlenecks when managing ecological
populations and with pasture plantstwo important factors are soil
function and fertility.
Cultivation Reduces Pasture Productivity
Better Grassland Sward reveals a phenomenon that farmers are aware
of but few can prove. Voisin was deeply concerned with the declining
productivity of cultivated and sown pastures, a concept he called years of
depression. After sowing, the pasture is a blaze of growth for the first two
years, then its performance decreases over eight more years compared to
unplowed pastures. This is why conventional practice accepts the ongoing use
CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
Figure 4:
Changes in Flora
of a Three Year Old
Sward after Two Years
of Spring Grazing
Treatments
Figure 5: Pasture Composition after Four Years of Summer Grazing or Summer Cutting
16 July / August 2009 Land & Livestock
of chemical fertilizers and renewing pastures every few years.
Voisin found a rare example of research focusing on sward changes in
newly sown pastures. Using the means of three different grazing regimes and
mown like a lawn (Figure 6) a 1930s German study shows the decline of
desirable pasture species over four years thereby hinting something other
than grazing as the cause. Four years after sowing, these pastures were
averaging production at 80 percent of that recorded in their first year.
Researchers noted the smothering action of newly sown species reduced
plants per area. Furthermore, tillering of these plants also reduced over
time (the complete opposite of what plant breeders were trying to do)
leading to patches of bare soil and reducing pasture productivity in a
non-brittle environment.
The Germans called the areas depression spots because soil life dies to
such an extent it cannot maintain the soil structure. These patches stayed in
some pastures for over 12 years and were particularly visible during drought.
White clover and lower fertility grasses such as bent grass and sheeps fescue
covered these areas. These species signify ecological succession was reverting
to a pioneering stage primarily due to the decline in fertility.
Voisin believed sowing new grass cultivars did not reduce this
phenomenon because plant breeders didnt look beyond establishment and
production characteristics. As he often observed, cows preferred indigenous to
commercial varieties of the same species, a result of plant breeders
systematically ignoring the preferences of the supreme judge of pasture
managementthe grazing animal. Furthermore, Voisin reports farmers
saying their animals were more prone to health problems on the newly sown
pastoral lays than old permanent pasture, testifying that animals avoided
new commercial species for good reason.
Voisin links years of depression to soil compaction from cultivation (Fig
7) and shows how organic matter, soil aggregates, and soil moisture are
notably lower after plowing compared to permanent pasture. The extent of
depression is more marked with years of cropping between pastures. Farmers
easily notice the difference when walking across newly sown pastures. The
soil feels like concrete compared to the sponginess of permanent pasture.
Higher organic matter, soil aggregates, and soil moisture are the reasons
permanent pastures hang on longer in drought primarily due to the root
mass and the associated soil life living there. This is where advances in
biological farming could shorten the recovery time for soils that undergo
cultivation and stimulate the soil activity of worn out permanent pastures,
especially if combined with soil aerating technologies like Keyline ploughing
or the practice of pulse grazing.
The Plow or the Hoof?
While much of this research is 80 years old, Voisins books demonstrate
two things: animals can heal the land and the plow is a poor substitute for
grazing management. Influencing the dynamic nature of grassland ecology
requires insight when managing the intensity, frequency, and timing of
grazing. Pastures are not static entities. The growth phase, whether during
spring or following a drought, is especially sensitive to grazing timing and
influences the sward composition over the entire season. Coupled with the
fertility status of the soil, particularly soil structure through good organic
matter, Voisin showed these factors strongly influence pasture performance.
For modern farmers it highlights a long history challenging the mantra
pasture renovation must involve plow. Voisins work highlighted the need for
diversity and variety in grazing regimes and pasture swards to maintain
pasture health. Many modern practices do the opposite because the farming
industry ignores ecological principles for short term profits leading to pasture
burn out and the need to resow. The evolving professional image of
sustainable farming requires biological monitoring for farmers to optimize
the benefits of disturbance and diversity. Observing and monitoring the
landscape are strong themes throughout Voisins work.
For holistic managers, Voisin clarifies how the use of tools influences
community dynamics in non-brittle environments. As with fire and
technology, consistently repeating too much or too little of rest, grazing,
and animal impact reduces pasture diversity and performance. His focus
on newly sown pastures illustrates how the soils living organisms influence
the pasture sward when cultivating and disrupting the mineral cycle. As the
backbone to the holistic planned grazing procedures, Voisins insights
provide the foundation for holistic managers to create Voisins vision;
a better grassland sward.
Note: Figures 3, 5, 6, & 7 are adaptations from Grass Productivity and
Better Grassland Sward.
Figure 6: Evolution of Pasture Species Four Years after Sowing Years of Depression
Figure 7: Characteristics of Soil under Pastures of Different Ages
Better Grassland Sward continued from page fifteen
Number 126 IN PRACTICE 17
PBS Documentary
Debut in Wyoming
O
n May 6th and 7th, high school
students from Gillette and Wright
(Wyoming) were introduced to
issues of land health and animal
impact through clips from The First
Millimeter: Healing the Earth and talks
by John Flocchini, long-time bison
rancher, Holistic Management practitioner,
andnowa local celebrity. John was
joined by Chris Schueler, the films
director/producer, who talked to several
groups of students about film making. A
group of these students got to visit the
Flocchini family-owned 53,000 acre
(21,500 hectare) bison ranch just outside Wright, where John and Certified Educator Roland
Kroos followed the previous days teachings with on-the ground demonstrations of animal
impact on different sites on the ranch.
On the evenings of May 6th and 7th, John had arranged for screenings of the film for
the whole community. The Gillette screening took place at the local Cam-Plex theatre and
attracted an enthusiastic crowd of 130 people who stayed long after the screening for a
lively Q & A period. The May7th screening brought together over 60 people at the
Wright Town Hall and generated an equally animated response.
A big draw for both events was the fact that 18 Emmy award-winning producer Chris
Schueler had taken time out of his busy schedule to be there; Chris talked about the filming,
the amazing people he met , and about his unequivocal commitment to helping spread
the word about the importance of healing the earth so that future generations can survive.
Those of us who know Chris know how contagious his unbridled enthusiasm can be.
John also took the opportunity to get the media involved and managed to get cover stories
in both local newspapers just prior to the screening events. And, unbeknownst to him,
the Colorado Wire Service picked up the story and its now spreading through Colorado.
Jennifer Womack, Managing Editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup, who attended
the Wright screening had a particularly interesting observation to share:
I walked out the door of the Wright City Hall building glad Id attended for yet a
third reason, one that didnt occur me until I visited with Mr. Schueler. Ive long believed
mainstream media too often portrays rural residents as nave and simple-minded. By allowing
livestock producers to tell their stories and the planning and thought processes
that go into animal husbandry, Mr. Schueler shone a light of sophistication and intelligence on
the people who make their living in agriculture around the world.
And because of all the publicity and interest John has been able to generate in his
communities, the Wyoming PBS station will be broadcasting the film sometime this summer.
(Please check our website www.holisticmanagement.org for broadcast schedules.)
Our heartfelt thanks go to John Flocchini and Chris Schueler for this well orchestrated
series of events. Thank you, John and Chris!
Whats Next for the Documentary?
Executive Producer Tony Tiano has pitched the film to over twenty-five PBS stations in
key areas of the country, including California (North & South), Texas, Arizona, Washington,
Nebraska, Idaho, and Iowa. By the time you read this, you may actually already have seen it
on your local PBS station. If not, call or e-mail your PBS station manager and ask that they
grab it from the satellite feed (bird in TV parlance) and add it to their broadcast schedule;
it wont cost them anything! Also, keep checking our website for broadcast schedule updates at
www.holisticmanagement.org. And while youre there, check out the invitation to host a house
party to introduce your family, friends, and neighbors to Holistic Management and the
importance of healthy soil for the health of the planet! If you have any questions about hosting
a house party, contact Mary Girsch-Bock at marygb@holisticmanagement.org.
HMI and
Holistic Management
by Ben Bartlett
W
hile many of you understand the
relationship between Holistic
Management International (HMI)
and Holistic Management (HM), it is
important the relationship is kept in perspective.
Holistic Management, first developed by Allan
Savory and Jody Butterfield, is the practice of
managing your life, your land, and/or your
communities toward your holisticgoal. Allan
and Jody are the Founders of Holistic
Management. HMI is the organization whose
statement of purpose is to Advance the practice
and coordinate the worldwide development of
Holistic Management to heal the land while
improving quality of life and creating healthy
economies. Both the practice of Holistic
Management (Holistic Resource Management)
and the organization (Center for Holistic
Management, The Savory Center) have had
different names in the past, yet the relationship
has remained consistently committed to the
statement of purpose.
HMI is a 501c3 non-profit organization based
in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The organization
has a managing staff of 11 people. HMI gains
oversight and policy from the current Board of
Directors of 12 domestic and four international
volunteer board members. USA board members
serve up to two concurrent, three-year terms and
receive no compensation for service and expenses;
100 percent make donations to HMI. International
Board members are non-voting members. Due to
travel costs, these international Directors receive
financial travel support to attend, in person, one
meeting per year. They participate regularly in
email and conference call meetings. This
organization of staff (management) and Board
(policy and oversight) works to maintain, develop,
and grow the practice for future generations. The
third significant component of this effort is YOU,
the practitioners and Certified Educators, the
Holistic Management network. Holistic
Management, HMI, and the people within the
Holistic Management network are woven
together within this whole.
Changes in 2009
The HMI organization celebrates 25 years
in 2009. That accomplishment speaks volumes
CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
18 IN PRACTICE July / August 2009
to the need and importance of the practice of
Holistic Management. With six billion people in the
world, we have a way to go to reach the global
marketplace, but the number of people and acres
managed holistically continues to grow. Currently,
we have close to 30 million acres across the globe
managed holistically! However, our challenge
continues. Just as the names of Holistic Management
and HMI have changed over time, the organization
in the last two years has worked on a tighter market
focus. HMI offers products and services to those
clients and audiences who would be the most receptive
to Holistic Management and is establishing
measurable outcomes so we can more accurately
monitor our efforts.
The current economic downturn is a challenge
for all non-profits and businesses, but since HMI
practices Holistic Management, the staff is busy re-
planning and revising the financial plan to maintain
our economic stability. A particular goal I have as
Board Chair is improved HMI communication of
all things it is doing to advance and coordinate the
practice of Holistic Management.
In 2008, HMI had a key change in our IRS status
from a public charity to a private operating
foundation, due to the changing income ratios.
We still maintain a 501c3 classification, but there
are different regulations for these different types of
non-profits, and we are making sure we do everything
to be in compliance.
In early 2009, HMI completed another key
compliance effort towards HMIs funding of the Africa
Center for Holistic Management (ACHM). ACHM is
now its own international non-profit organization,
able to receive funds from any entity. HMI continues
to fund ACHM and is working to build ACHM capacity
so they can maximize their new status and solicit
funds from other entities to create sustainability for
that organization.
I am very pleased with HMIs Board and staff and
their commitment to the organization and to the
practice of Holistic Management. These big changes
in status take a great deal of time and energy to work
through all the ensuing details. Likewise, strategic
focus and policy are ongoing concerns within any
organization wishing to keep current with the times
while keeping grounded in its culture and traditions.
The HMI Board and staff appreciate the efforts of the
Holistic Management network and look forward to
working with you to advance and coordinate the
practice of Holistic Management worldwide.
Ben Bartlett is the HMI Board Chair. He can be
reached at bartle18@msu.edu.
Practicing What You Teach
Livestock Treated Cropfields
by Senanelo Moyo
N
icolas Ncube joined the Africa Centre for Holistic Management in 1994 as a
volunteer training to be a community facilitator in Holistic Management.
Nicolas and his wife, Sithabisiwe, have three childrenPrivilege, Praisemore,
and Petnetty. This family lives in an area governed by Chief Mvutu.
Traditionally the family grows millet, maize, round beans, groundnuts and
pumpkins. They have been using an ox-drawn plow to till the land and never ever
used manure. The family owns six cattle and eight goats which they bought in 2007.
The family decided to change their farming methods after Nicolas saw that the
livestock treated crop fields as part of the USAID grant funded programs produce a
very good yield. He saw this process used in Monde at Mpisis crop field last year.
So Nicolas started talking to his wife about this farming method and told her he
wanted to practice what he teaches.
At first Sithabisiwe did not understand, and thought the work was tedious and
labor intensive, says Nico. But his son Privilege helped Nicolas with this work by
digging the holes together that are necessary for forming the kraals (corrals)
to keep the livestock in the crop field.
In normal circumstances the family harvests six 198lb bags (90-kg) of maize
and two 198-lb bags (90-kg) of millet. But this year the family is expecting to harvest
10 198-lb bags (90-kg) of maize. This is a 67 percent increase in productivity!
Sithabisiwe is excited about the results and is already harvesting cow pea leaves,
pumpkin leaves, and other traditional vegetables.
This year the family is planning to start crop field fertilization using livestock as
early as June so that a large area is fertilized. Their neighbors are planning to use the
same method too.
HMI and Holistic Management
continued from page seventeen
To the left is Nicolass
fertilized field and
the control side on
the right.
The fertilized side
has healthy crops
and no bare
ground.
Number 126 IN PRACTICE 19
CALIFORNIA
Bill Burrows
12250 Colyear Springs Road
Red Bluff, CA 96080
530/529-1535 530/200-2419 (c)
sunflowercrmp@msn.com
Richard King
1675 Adobe Rd.
Petaluma, CA 94954
707/769-1490
707/794-8692(w)
richard.king@ca.usda.gov
*
Kelly Mulville
P.O Box 323, Valley Ford, CA 94972-0323
707/431-8060; 707/876-3592
jackofallterrains@hotmail.com
N Rob Rutherford
CA Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
805/756-1475
rrutherf@calpoly.edu
COLORADO
Joel Benson
P.O. Box 4924, Buena Vista, CO 81211
719/395-6119 joel@outburstllc.com
Cindy Dvergsten
17702 County Rd. 23, Dolores, CO 81323
970/882-4222
hminfo@wholenewconcepts.com
Daniela and Jim Howell
P.O. Box 67, Cimarron, CO 81220-0067
970/249-0353 howelljd@montrose.net
Byron Shelton
33900 Surrey Lane, Buena Vista, CO 81211
719/395-8157 landmark@my.amigo.net
Tom Walther
P.O. Box 1158
Longmont, CO 80502-1158
510/499-7479 tagjag@aol.com
GEORGIA
Constance Neely
635 Patrick Place, Atlanta, GA 30320
706/540-2878 cneely@uga.edu
IOWA
N Margaret Smith
Iowa State University,
CES Sustainable Agriculture
972 110th St., Hampton, IA 50441-7578
515/294-0887 mrgsmith@iastate.edu
LOUISIANA
Tina Pilione
P.O. 923, Eunice, LA 70535
phone: 337/580-0068
tina@tinapilione.com
MAINE
*
Vivianne Holmes
239 E. Buckfield Rd.
Buckfield, ME 04220-4209
207/336-2484
vholmes@umext.maine.edu
MICHIGAN
*
Ben Bartlett
N4632 ET Road, Traunik, MI 49891
906/439-5210 (h) 906/439-5880 (w)
bartle18@msu.edu
*
Larry Dyer
604 West 8th Ave.
Sault Sainte Marie, MI 49783
906/248-3354 x4245 (w)
906/253-1504 (h)
dyerlawr@msu.edu
MONTANA
Wayne Burleson
322 N. Stillwater Rd.,
Absarokee, MT 59001
406/328-6808
rutbuster@montana.net
Roland Kroos
4926 Itana Circle
Bozeman, MT 59715
406/522-3862
kroosing@msn.com
*
Cliff Montagne
P.O. Box 173120
Montana State University
Department of Land Resources &
Environmental Science
Bozeman, MT 59717
406/994-5079
montagne@montana.edu
NEBRASKA
Terry Gompert
P.O. Box 45
Center, NE 68724-0045
402/288-5611 (w)
tgompert1@unl.edu
Paul Swanson
5155 West 12th St., Hastings, NE 68901
402/463-8507
swanson@inebraska.com
NEW HAMPSHIRE
N Seth Wilner
24 Main Street, Newport, NH 03773
603/863-4497 (h)
603/863-9200 (w)
seth.wilner@unh.edu
NEW MEXICO
N Ann Adams
Holistic Management International
1010 Tijeras NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
505/842-5252
anna@holisticmanagement.org
Kirk Gadzia
P.O. Box 1100,
Bernalillo, NM 87004
505/867-4685
(f) 505/867-9952
kgadzia@msn.com
NEW YORK
Phil Metzger
99 N. Broad St., Norwich, NY 13815
607/334-3231 x4 (w) 607/334-2407 (h)
phil.metzger@ny.usda.gov
John Thurgood
15 Farone Dr., Apt. E26
Oneonta, NY 13820-1331
607/643-2804
jthurgood@stny.rr.com
North Dakota
Wayne Berry
1611 11th Ave. West
Williston, ND 58801
701/572-9183
wberry@wil.midco.net
OREGON
Andrea & Tony Malmberg
P.O. Box 167, LaGrande, OR 97850
541/805-1124
Andrea@LifeEnergy.us
Tony@LifeEnergy.us
PENNSYLVANIA
Jim Weaver
428 Copp Hollow Rd.
Wellsboro, PA 16901-8976
570/724-7788
jaweaver@epix.net
TEXAS
Christina Allday-Bondy
2703 Grennock Dr., Austin, TX 78745
512/441-2019
tododia@sbcglobal.net
Guy Glosson
6717 Hwy. 380, Snyder, TX 79549
806/237-2554
glosson@caprock-spur.com
Peggy Maddox
P.O. Box 694, Ozona, TX 76943-0694
325/392-2292
westgift@hughes.net
UNI T E D S T AT E S
UNI T E D S T AT E S
TEXAS
Chandler McLay
P.O. Box 1796, Glen Rose, TX 76043
303/888-8799 mclay90@gmail.com
R. H. (Dick) Richardson
University of Texas at Austin
Section of Integrative Biology
School of Biological Sciences
Austin, TX 78712 512/471-4128
d.richardson@mail.utexas.edu
WASHINGTON
Craig Madsen
P.O. Box 107, Edwall, WA 99008
509/236-2451 Madsen2fir@gotsky.com
Sandra Matheson
228 E. Smith Rd., Bellingham, WA 98226
360/398-7866 mathesonsm@verizon.net
Doug Warnock
1880 SE Larch Ave., College Place, WA 99324
509/540-5771 509/856-7101 (c)
dwarnock@charter.net
Wisconsin
Andy Hager
W. 3597 Pine Ave.,
Stetsonville, WI 54480-9559
715/678-2465
Larry Johnson
W886 State Rd. 92, Brooklyn, WI 53521
608/455-1685
lpjohn@rconnect.com
*
Laura Paine
Wisconsin DATCP
N893 Kranz Rd., Columbus, WI 53925
608/224-5120 (w) 920/623-4407 (h)
laura.paine@datcp.state.wi.us
To our knowledge, Certified Educators are the best qualified indivi duals to help others
learn to practice Holistic Management and to provide them with technical as sis tance when
necessary. On a yearly basis, Cer ti fi ed Educators renew their agree ment to be affiliated
with HMI. This agreement requires their com mitment to practice Holistic Management in
their own lives, to seek out opportunities for staying current
with the latest developments in Holistic Man age ment and to
maintain a high stan dard of ethical conduct in their work.
For more information about or application forms
for the HMIs Certified Educator Training Programs,
contact Ann Adams or visit our website at:
www.holisticmanagement.org.
Certified
Educators
Certified
Educators
I NT E RNAT I ONAL
AUSTRALIA
Judi Earl
73 Harding E., Guyra, NSW 2365
61-2-6779-2286
judi@holisticmanagement.org.au
Mark Gardner
P.O. Box 1395, Dubbo, NSW 2830
61-2-6884-4401
mark.gardner@vbs.net.au
Paul Griffiths
P.O. Box 3045, North Turramura, NSW 2074,
Sydney, NSW
61-2-9144-3975 pgpres@geko.net.au
George Gundry
Willeroo, Tarago, NSW 2580
61-2-4844-6223 ggundry@bigpond.net.au
Graeme Hand
150 Caroona Lane,
Branxholme, VIC 3302
61-3-5578-6272 (h) 61-4-0996-4466 (c)
graemeh1@bordernet.com.au
Helen Lewis
P.O. Box 1263, Warwick, QLD 4370
61-7-46617393 61-7-46670835
helen@insideoutsidemgt.com.au
N These educators provide
Holistic Management
instruction on behalf of the
institutions they represent.
*
These associate educators
provide educational services
to their communities
and peer groups.
20 IN PRACTICE July / August 2009
SOUTH AFRICA
Ian Mitchell-Innes
P.O. Box 52, Elandslaagte 2900
27-36-421-1747
blanerne@mweb.co.za
Dick Richardson
P.O. Box 1853, Vryburg 8600
tel/fax: 27-082-934-6139;
Dickson@wam.co.za
SPAIN
Aspen Edge
Apartado de Correos 19,
18420 Lanjaron, Granada
(0034)-958-347-053
aspen@holisticdecisions.com
UNITED KINGDOM
Philip Bubb
32 Dart Close, St. Ives
Cambridge, PE27 3JB
44-1480-496-2925 (h)
44-1223-814-662 (w)
philipbubb@onetel.com
ZIMBABWE
Sunny Moyo
Africa Centre for Holistic Management
P. Bag 5950, Victoria Falls;
sunnyachm@africaonline.co.zw;
263-13-42199 (w)
KENYA
Richard Hatfield
P.O. Box 10091-00100, Nairobi
254-0723-506-331
rhatfield@obufield.com
Christine C. Jost
International Livestock Research Institute
Box 30709, Nairobi 00100
254-20-422-3000; 254-736-715-417 (c)
c.jost@cgiar.org
Belinda Low
P.O. Box 15109, Langata, Nairobi
254-727-288-039
belinda@grevyszebratrust.org
MEXICO
Arturo Mora Benitez
San Juan Bosco 169
Fracc., La Misin
Celaya, Guanajuato 38016
52-461-615-7632 jams@prodigy.net.mx
Elco Blanco-Madrid
Hacienda de la Luz 1803
Fracc. Haciendas del Valle II
Chihuahua, Chih 31238
52/614-423-4413 (h) 52/614-415-0176 (f)
elco_blanco@hotmail.com
Ivan A. Aguirre Ibarra
P.O. Box 304, Hermosillo, Sonora 83000
52-1-662-281-0990 (from U.S.)
51-1-662-281-0901
Rancho_inmaculada@yahoo.com.mx
NAMIBIA
Usiel Kandjii
P.O. Box 23319, Windhoek
264-61-205-2324
kandjiiu@nampower.com.na
Wiebke Volkmann
P.O. Box 9285, Windhoek
264-61-225183 or 264-81-127-0081
wiebke@mweb.com.na
NEW ZEALAND
John King
P.O. Box 12011
Beckenham, Christchurch 8242
64-276-737-885
succession@clear.net.nz
SOUTH AFRICA
Wayne Knight
P.O. Box 537
Mokopane 0600
theknights@mweb.co.za
Jozua Lambrechts
P.O. Box 5070
Helderberg, Somerset West,
Western Cape 7135
27-21-851-5669; 27-21-851-2430 (w)
jozua@websurf.co.za
I NT E RNAT I ONAL
AUSTRALIA
Brian Marshall
P.O. Box 300, Guyra NSW 2365
61-2-6779-1927 fax: 61-2-6779-1947
bkmrshl@bigpond.com
Bruce Ward
P.O. Box 103, Milsons Pt., NSW 1565
61-2-9929-5568 fax: 61-2-9929-5569
blward@the-farm-business-gym.com
Brian Wehlburg
c/o Sunnyholt, Injune, QLD 4454
61-7-4626-7187
brian@insideoutsidemgt.com.au
Jason Virtue
Mary River Park
1588 Bruce Highway South
Gympie, QLD 4570
61-7-5483-5155
Jason@spiderweb.com.au
CANADA
Don Campbell
Box 817 Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1Y6
306/236-6088 doncampbell@sasktel.net
Len Pigott
Box 222, Dysart, SK, SOH 1HO
306/432-4583
JLPigott@sasktel.net
Kelly Sidoryk
P.O. Box 374, Lloydminster, AB S9V 0Y4
780/875-9806 (h) 780/875-4418 (c)
kjsidoryk@yahoo.ca
SPEAKERS AND
PRESENTERS INCLUDE:
John Ikerd
Terry Gompert
Pam Iwanchysko
Don Campbell
Ann Adams
Blain Hjertaas
Tony & Fran McQuail
Kelly Sidoryk
Allison Guichon
Brian Luce
Ralph & Linda Corcoran
TOPICS INCLUDE:
Finding Purpose in Peril,
Building a New Economy,
Profitable Farming,
Cropping and Land Management,
Financial Management,
. . . AND MORE!
For more information,
call 206/622-2006 or go to
www.mbforagecouncil.mb.ca
Online registration will
begin December 1, 2009.
Save the
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Western Canadian
Holistic Management
Conference
February 8-10,
2010
RUSSELL,
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Holistic Management (Terry Gompert, Kirk Gadzia)
Broadacre Permaculture (Doherty, Lancaster, Dolman)
Effective AID (Howard Yana Shapiro, Warren Brush)
Soil Food Web (Dr. Elaine Ingham, Paul Taylor)
Pathways to Relocalisation (Joel Salatin)
Natural Building (Jack Stephens, et.al.)
Fungi (Paul Stamets)
ZERI, Pyrolysis, BioChar, Energy Systems & More...
Columbus, NM (20 day) May 2009
The Farm ,TN (20 day) August/September 2009
Marin County, CA (26 day) September/October 2009
Santa Barbara, CA (43 day) 0ct/Nov/Dec 2009
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PRINCIPLES OF SOIL FERTILITY
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For consulting or educational services contact:
Kinsey Agricultural Services, Inc.
297 County Highway 357 Ph: 573/683-3880, Fax: 573/683-6227
Charleston, Missouri 63834 Email: neal@kinseyag.com
THURSDAY, JULY 30
All-Day Farm Tour to farms using
the program in Southeast Missouri
Cost: $125/person and includes motel room for
Wednesday night and transportation from the
motel and return and lunch Thursday.
FRIDAY, JULY 30
Soil Test Lab Tour and Lunch
Cost: $125/person and includes motel room for
Thursday night and transportation from the motel to
lab and return. Arrive back at motel by 2:30 pm.
July 27-29, 2009
TOPICS INCLUDE:
SOIL TESTS AND THEIR USE
BUILDING SOIL LIFE
N-P-K NEEDS AND MATERIALS
LIMING AND PH
SULFUR, TRACE ELEMENTS,
AND COMPACTION
COST: $650 per person,
includes lodging (Sunday through
Tuesday night and breakfast next
morning), plus lunch each day.
Dinner is not included.
FOR INFORMATION,
COURSE REGISTRATION AND
MOTEL RESERVATIONS,
call 573/683-3880, or see
the Courses and Meetings page
at www.kinseyag.com.
OPTIONAL TOURS
(REGISTER BY JULY 17 TO ASSURE
LODGING, TOUR SEAT AND LUNCH)
WE ACCEPT
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Program: Each day from
8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn Express,
St. Louis, Mo.
22 IN PRACTICE July / August 2009
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Roland R.H. Kroos
(406) 522.3862 Cell: 581.3038
Email: kroosing@msn.com
On-Site, Custom Courses
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PO Box 1100
Bernalillo, NM 87004
505-263-8677
kgadzia@msn.com
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