Ultra High Density Grazing: How our soils have changed so far

Ultra High Density Grazing: How our soils have changed so far - May 13, 2024

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Күн бұрын

On April 19, 2024, we did an ultra high density grazing experiment on one of our farms ( • Ultra High Density Gra... ). We used a small herd of cattle to graze a diverse, high biomass cover crop at 500,000 and 1,000,000 pounds per acre. Today, we are back on this farm to evaluate cover crop regrowth and turn the soil over to see what’s going on below the surface.
Our ultra high density grazing area is relatively small, and on either side we have two distinct areas. To the south, is an area with mature cover crop that has not been grazed. To the north is an area we grazed at a low density and then gave 2 weeks of rest. Our high density grazing area has had 24 days of rest.
We are taking soil samples from each area to send to Regen Ag Lab for Haney Soil Tests. These tests will help us compare how each type of grazing impacted our soil and determine which type of grazing is most likely to help us improve our soil and grow better crops going forward.
You may enjoy this video if you want to:
- Apply the principles of soil health on your farms
- Plant green into mature living cover crop
- Reduce erosion and loss of nutrients
- Increase beneficial soil biology
- Increase earthworm populations
- Increase soil organic matter
- Capture "free" nitrogen from the atmosphere for your crops
- Learn more about regenerative agriculture
Other videos mentioned:
• Strip Grazing Winter C...
00:00 Intro
00:24 Cover Crop Sample
04:14 No Grazing Soil Sample
07:45 Low Density Grazing Soil Sample
09:28 High Density Grazing (1,000,000 lbs per acre) Soil Sample
15:11 [Bonus] Low Density Grazing (different farm) + Full Recovery
16:32 Next Steps
#Farming #Grazing #SoilHealth #Earthworms #Cows #Cow #RotationalGrazing #CoverCrops #RegenerativeAgriculture #Farm #RowCrops #Corn #PlantingGreen #Planting2024 #CerealRye #Triticale #Oats #HairyVetch #Clover #Carbon #Nitrogen #OrganicMatter #HaneySoilTest #SoilTesting #SoilTest #RegenAgLab #LanceGunderson #RickHaney #GregJudy

Пікірлер: 16

@Plan_it-Farm 24 күн бұрын

Great content thanks for this.. You're helping a lot of crop farmers make the transition making content like this very cool. Looks like you're going to need to try radishes in your cover crop mix, or something that will break up that hardpan.

@GiffinFarms 23 күн бұрын

Thank you for watching and for the encouragement! We definitely still have a lot to learn. Radishes are awesome! When we plant them in the fall, the frost gets them before they get through the hard pan. Maybe we can find a way to get them planted earlier in the summer!

@ddennison001 Ай бұрын

Love this channel! Love the experiments and seeing the worms. Please keep documenting these experiments. Wish you could go 2 years out on those three patches. :-)

@GiffinFarms 29 күн бұрын

That would be awesome! We are excited about the worms too! We will share updates as often as we can! Thank you!

@ncpanther 10 күн бұрын

Love yall channel so far and definitely a new sub. I know our soils are totally different in eastern NC but we use a inline ripper with berm tuckers before seeding or during cover crop growth in the winter to break compaction and let the cover roots fill everything in after. Not something done on every acre but it definitely helps the covers roots get further faster and gives them a head start making structure rather than so much energy going into trying to break that density layer. Maybe worh a trial in the future

@GiffinFarms 9 күн бұрын

Awesome, thank you!! We actually just recently purchased an inline ripper. I wish I had the berm tuckers tho. We used it some in a few places (not the whole field) last fall and I do think I can tell a difference. I’m trying my best to be 100% no-till so I do have some reservation with using it but can definitely see the value in breaking up the hard pan layer. I was wondering if it could be a one time pass (almost like a “reset”) with the ripper if you continue to use cover crops in the future. What are your thoughts?

@ncpanther 9 күн бұрын

@@GiffinFarms Definitely agree with your thoughts. 12-15 in depth shattered allowing the cover crops to fill in completely unrestricted. We also have been thinking about trying to deep place humic acid and a sugar blend with that ripping. Thoughts being that it can make a better environment deeper in the soil for cover roots and cash crop roots to thrive and force more nutrients to be available deeper. I know true soil health takes time to develop but really got my thinking cap on trying to jumpstart progress on structure and availability. You have any thoughts on this?

@GiffinFarms 9 күн бұрын

@ncpanther Now that is an idea! I have never thought to consider that. Shouldn’t be too hard to set up a delivery method behind the shank I feel like. Combined with cover crops like you said, that should be a recipe for success. Especially when trying to convert or jump start a farm. It should be cost effective to apply so why not if you’re already going over those acres. I think it’s a brilliant idea!

@ncpanther 9 күн бұрын

@@GiffinFarms Definitely think it may be worth trying. Kinda figured just to try it take 3/8 steel tubing crimp the bottom, drill a whole on each side. weld it to the shank with small brackets just to try it out for now. I feel like it will make sense to possibly change soil test deeper and give the roots something more to chase after and explode in. At least for us trying to change that subsoil tilth may permanently keep us from ripping in the future if can't recompact because of the massive root mass being there.

@GiffinFarms 9 күн бұрын

@@ncpantherI believe that setup should work. I also believe you’re on to something with this idea. I may have to give it a shot myself!

@ks_hunter7327 21 күн бұрын

The presence of the frog shows you the presence of cooler temperatures and higher moisture content

@GiffinFarms 20 күн бұрын

Yes, it has been abnormally wet and cool this year.

@andrewterzian4634 22 күн бұрын

The land probaly needs a slow progression to higher densities. Try lower densityies for a few cycles, then as the bioligy develops, you shouldl be able to get good resaults by increasing the density as the land can handle it.

@GiffinFarms 20 күн бұрын

That’s an interesting idea. I also wonder if the soil would have handled it better if the plants were perennials instead of mature annuals? We’ll definitely keep trying it!

@lorrainegatanianhits8331 14 күн бұрын

Interesting results... A few things to maybe consider: - Earthworm abundance isn't always proportionate to soil health. I, for example, have the highest earthworm activity in my most clayey and compacted areas, while other subterraneous invertebrates dominate in areas where the soil is black, loose and well-aggregated. - What has been your cultivation history on that soil? - I would like to introduce you to the work of the late William Albert Albrecht, agronomist from University of Missouri who died in 1974. He was a pioneer on many issues relating to soil fertility. But his most unrecognised contribution is a concept, which states that soil fertility is highest in regions that are in a climatic equilibrium (Precipitation is equal to potential evapotranspiration throughout most of the year). The theory holds that if rainfall is continuously excessive (such as in the Pacific Northwest), nutrients are lost quickly due to leeching. Whereas, if rainfall is slightly less than potential evapotranspiration, soils retain their nutrients for a longer time, while still supporting dense plant growth. Such conditions exist everywhere there are Chernozems, which are widely considered to be the best soils on the planet. This concept is called "Albrecht's curve" and has tremendous implications on regenerative agriculture and ecology. I hope you can gain something applicable from this.

@GiffinFarms 12 күн бұрын

That is interesting! Thank you for sharing! This farm has been no-tilled and cover cropped since 2015. We certainly have a long way to go, but we have seen some improvement since that time.