“ Planned Rotational Grazing”
Things Nobody Told Me-
$$$ The Bottom Line

Gene Goven, Producer

Turtle Lake, ND

Production Statement:  Sustained profits from crops and livestock, and to have a cultural and aesthetic surrounding.

Landscape Description

Living non-eroding soil with high complexity of life and high organic content.

• Organic content on the cropland should be at least 5%.

• Nutrient cycling to be high with minimum losses to leaching or runoff.

• Almost all nutrients to be supplied by the soil, life and atmosphere.

• Water cycle to be very efficient to minimize erosion.

• Almost every raindrop should infiltrate where it falls.

• Water that does run off should run clear.

• Energy flow to be high and sustained to livestock, crops, soil  health, and wildlife.

Journal Note:  “July 3, 1990 (evening).  Four inches of rain after 2 ½ years of drought.  Hauled water for 10 more days, 11th day after rain, water started rising in dugout.”

When Soil Temperature reaches:

1400 F: soil bacteria die.

1300 F: 100% moisture lost through evaporation and transpiration.

1000 F: 15% moisture used for growth, 85% moisture      lost through evaporation and transpiration.

700 F: 100% moisture used for growth.

3 to 4 inches deep under long term idle/rest or heavy season long grazing

12 to 40 inches deep under planned grazing

                                                                                                          Infiltration (in/hr)

Location               Management                                              1^st inch       2^nd inch      3^rd inch

McLean Co.        Multi-pasture monitored for regrowth       6.3              2.4             

Kidder Co.           Season long lightly stocked                     3.6              1.2                      

Kidder Co.           Season long moderately stocked            2.5              1.0             

Kidder Co.           Season long heavily stocked                   1.0              0.5

Logan Co.           Season-long heavily stocked                   2.1              0.7

Logan Co.           Multi-pasture monitored for regrowth       6.3              3.5

Available Tools

Ø Rest

Ø Prescribed burning

Ø Technology (spray)

Ø Planned Grazing

Results in:

Improved Plant Health

Greater Plant Diversity

Deeper Roots

More Effective Nutrient Cycling

Covered Soil

More Effective Water Cycle

Social and Economic Benefits of

“Livestock as a Management Tool”

Reduced Pesticide Use  = $

Improved Water Quality = $

Increased Forage Production  = $ 

Outdoor Recreation = $ (+)

       Hunting

       Fishing

       Bird Watching

       Wildflower Viewing

Partnerships

Financial Productivity

ü 2.94 X of  lbs. of beef produced

ü

ü    2.3 X original stocking rate

ü

ü    Marketing of outdoor activities/opportunities

ü

Partnerships

• NRCS

• NDSU

• NDASCD

• NDSU Extension

• 4H

• FFA

• DU

• DU Canada

• ND State Health Dept.

• NDFU

• USFS

• NDFS

• RC&D

• NDPGLC

• ND State AG Dept.

• SRM

• SWCS

• USF&WS

• ARS

• NDFB

• Others

Bird Watching

Bird watching group toured ranch …

112 species of birds identified in 2 hour period

Grazing Management Tours

Wildflower Explosion

Production Statement:  Sustained profits from crops and livestock, and to have a cultural and aesthetic surrounding.