Farm to Family Column: Pasture Tips are Words to Live By
By Curt Arens
Northeast Nebraska News Agency
December 23, 2007
DearFriends,
At arecent pasture and cow-calf meeting in Hartington, hosted by the University ofNebraska Extension Service, I was able to read between the lines. In one of thehandouts that was written by Gary Stauffer, Extension Educator at Holt County,when he summarized his presentation in this way, "Look at everything thatyou are currently doing, and ask yourself why you're doing it that way."Now those are words to live by.
Staufferwas talking about keeping a cowherd going during times of high fuel prices,high feed cost, high machinery and repair expenses. Many of the tips Staufferoffered were common sense stuff, using theories that are age old andtime-tested.
Headvised to semen check bulls and pregnancy check cows, to insure productivityyear after year. He talked about minimizing borrowed money, which is a toughthing to do if cash flow doesn't work just right. He talked about making wiseinvestments in the operation, things that make you money and don't "rust,rot or depreciate", as they say.
Stauffersuggested utilizing rotational grazing and managed grazing techniques toprotect grasslands and to get more out of each acre of forages. "Continuedgrazing won't pay for the land these days," says Stauffer, callingrotational grazing a "no brainer".
Headvised using heterosis in crossbreeding programs, increasing hybrid vigor andkeeping a broader base of genetics in your herd. He also talked about seekingout animals that are not necessarily geared for specific traits over others."Single trait selection has gotten many producers in trouble," saysStauffer. "So don't chase just one thing." Sometimes, chasing onetrait gives way and actually hurts the herd in other traits, so being balancedin genetics is always the key, according to Gary.
Staufferbelieves in calving with Mother Nature, not against her. Of course there areexceptions to the rule, especially for those who are in the purebred business,but overall he advised later season calving to take advantage of betterweather, lower feed costs, less labor in calving and more ease at maintainingbody condition in the cows.
Theseideas are not new, and as I was thinking about the New Year and goals for thecoming months, they translate pretty well into farm life overall. Working withMother Nature in all things is a good idea, whether it is grazing, landscapingaround the house, or deciding whether to go out on Saturday night and drive onicy roads or not? Sometimes, it's better to take what Mother Nature gives us,than to try to shove our own ideas down her throat.
Hereare some other translations from pasture tips to life tips, courtesy of commonwisdom by Mr. Stauffer.