#141, In Practice, Jan/Feb 2012

J ANUARY / F EBRUARY 20 1 2 NUMBER 1 4 1 WWW.HOL I S T I CMANAGEMENT .ORG

healthy land.sustainable future.

From the Board Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Reader’s Forum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Development Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Grapevine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Certified Educators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

NEWS and NETWORK

LAND and LIVESTOCK

Whirlwind Community FarmPerennial Grasses versus AlfalfaOWEN HABLUTZEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Thoughts on Biological Monitoring TONY MCQUAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Biological Monitoring Offers More ToolsTROY BISHOPP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Holistic Management in Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

FEATURE STORIES

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

BIOLOGICAL MONITORING

DATA MINE: The Grazing Optimization HypothesisFRANK ARAGONA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

The Holistic Management Soft-Systems CircleCLIFF MONTAGNE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Livestock, Landscapes, and Livelihoods—The Contribution of Global Grazing Lands toClimate Change Mitigation and AdaptationCONSTANCE NEELY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Biological Monitoring is a critical feedback loop foranyone managing land, particularly those withlivestock. Learn about the different styles of biologicalmonitoring in our Land & Livestock sectionbeginning on page 11.

The Benefits of Holistic Management—Ordinary People Living Extraordinary Livesby Don Campbell

Each person who has taken Holistic Management has benefited in a variety of ways. Sincewe are all unique, the benefits have been as diverse as the people involved. It would begreat to have people share their individual stories. I want to share mine. My hope is that it will encourage you to think about your story. What kind of an impact has Holistic

Management had on your life? Could you increase the benefits by applying the principles morediligently? Are there things you might do to spread Holistic Management so others could enjoythe benefits?

Double Your GrassI was about 40 years old when I was introduced to Holistic Management. I was relatively young,

quite set in my ways and, in my mind, quite successful as a rancher and a person. I was drawn toHolistic Management by the idea of “doubling your grass on a set land base.” What ambitiousrancher wouldn’t be attracted by that? The presentation and ideas made sense to me. I immediatelywent home and began managing my grass better. I concentrated on the grass for 4 or 5 years. Then I began to realize that there was a people and a financial portion to Holistic Management that wereequally important to the land management. Over time I paid more attention to finances and people.That’s when things really came together for me.

The first big change came when we were faced with a lot more summer grass and no increase inwinter feed. Buying hay was not an option I was open to at that time. My solution was to sell my cowherd and run grass yearlings. I dispersed my herd of about 350 Red Angus Simmental cross cows andstocked the ranch with 1,300 yearlings. I want to pay tribute to my dad. Even though he was retiredhe was still vitally interested in the ranch. His retirement depended on the ranch being successful. I told him about my plans. His comment was: “Do what you think is best; I trust your judgment.”

What a powerful message of encouragement and support to me. I often wonder if I have been ableto give my children the same degree of support. Where are you at with regards to these types of issues?

Paradigms and ProfitsI have had some huge paradigm shifts. One of these concerned ownership of cattle. My dad had

bought our ranch in 1948. From then until the mid 1980s we owned all the cattle on the ranch. That was our paradigm, and we never seriously thought about it. Running grass yearlings requiredover a million dollar loan. The result was a $50,000 interest charge each year. Holistic Managementhelped me shift my paradigm from I need to own the cattle to I need to harvest the grass and beprofitable. Some serious financial planning allowed me to buy 200 cows debt free and custom grazethe balance of the ranch. The result was a bank loan of zero, a lot less risk, and a business that stillshowed a profit. I went from having a $50,000 interest bill to collecting $10,000 from the bank ininterest. All of this was possible because of a paradigm shift and some serious financial planning. I believe it is impossible to make this kind of positive change without shifting your paradigms. I learned that if you want to make small changes, change how you do things. When you want tomake major changes, change how you see things.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

2 IN PRACTICE � January / February 2012

Holistic Management International exists to educate people to manage land

for a sustainable future.

STAFFPeter Holter . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chief Executive Officer

Tracy Favre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chief Operating Officer

Kelly King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chief Financial Officer

Ann Adams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Managing Editor, IN PRACTICE and Director of Education

Sandy Langelier . . . . . . . . Director, Communicationsand Outreach

Frank Aragona . . . . . . . . . . Director, Research andDevelopment

Matt Parrack . . . . . . . . . . . . Director, Development

Tom Levine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Senior Development Advisor

Peggy Maddox . . . . . . . . . . Director, Kids on the Land Program

Donna Torrez . . . . . . . . . . . Manager: Administration & Executive Support

Peggy Cole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Project Manager, Texas

Mary Girsch-Bock . . . . . Grants Manager

Brady Gibbons . . . . . . . . . . Field Advisor

Valerie Grubbs . . . . . . . . . Controller

Carrie Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . Education Associate

BOARD OF DIRECTORSSallie Calhoun, ChairBen Bartlett, Past ChairClint Josey, Vice-ChairJim Shelton, Secretary

Ron Chapman, Treasurer

Gail Hammack Wayne Knight Judi Earl Zizi Fritz Jim Parker Christopher Peck

Kelly Sidoryk

HOLISTIC MANAGEMENTIN PRACTICE

(ISSN: 1098-8157) is published six times a year by:

Holistic Management International5941 Jefferson St. NE, Suite B

Albuquerque, NM 87109

505/842-5252, fax: 505/843-7900; email: [email protected].; website: www.holisticmanagement.org

COPYRIGHT © 2012

healthy land.sustainable future. The Benefits of Holistic Management continued from page one

The second paradigm shift regarded winterfeed. We had always made our own feed. Our landis rough, haying is slow and expensive. AgainHolistic Management allowed me to shift myparadigm from I need to hay to I need to haveaccess to hay. I quit haying in 1985. Today I runmore cattle to harvest the wealth which is in thegrass. The extra income allows us to buy ourwinter feed. Not haying has freed up an enormousamount of time to devote to better grassmanagement and quality of life.

A third major shift was to move our calvingfrom March 20th to May 10th. This has allowed usto match the nutritional requirements of our cattlewith our grass growth. It has also saved a hugeamount of labor. I believe that calving in tunewith nature is a key step to building a profitablebusiness. I might point out that this shift didn’thappen all at once. We moved calving to April 1st,April 10th, April 20th, May 1st, and finally May10th. You can see that this took several years. Wenow feel we are calving at the best time for us toreach our goals. These dates are not set in stone.We are open to moving our calving date yet againif that appeared to be a wise decision.

There have been many other paradigm shifts.In fact there have been so many that I think I ammuch more open minded today than at any timein my past. When an idea comes up I am willingto consider it before accepting or rejecting it. Someother shifts have been:

• Our business is a tool to give us the quality oflife we desire. Since our business is only a tool it isOK for our children to use the tool differently togive them what they desire.

• Cows can do just fine licking snow.• We need to focus on profit not production.Holistic financial planning has also had a

huge impact on me. The idea of paying yourselffirst really appealed to me. The gross profitanalysis helped us compare enterprises and figureout what would work best. The idea of forwardplanning a year ahead really helped us to feelconfident and that we are in charge of ourbusiness. The biggest benefit we received fromholistic financial planning was the increasedconfidence we have in our ability to plan and re-plan until we get a plan that meets our needs. Weare confident that we will always be OK financiallybecause of our ability to think and plan. That levelof confidence goes a long way to reducing stressand worry in our lives.

Building People SkillsThat gives you some idea of the benefits we have

received from grazing and financial planning.

What about the people side of HolisticManagement? There is no doubt in my mind thatour largest benefit has been from the people side ofHolistic Management. It is also the most difficultto write about. Right from the start we met peoplewho challenged and encouraged us to do better. Iam truly blessed with a huge network of friendsand mentors. Most of my success has come fromthe wonderful people I have had the privilege to beassociated with. In fact if you are reading this andwe know each other it is very likely that I havelearned from you. You are part of my success and Isincerely thank you.

It’s difficult to write about personal growth andsuccess without sounding too flowery. However,since I believe success on the people side isabsolutely essential I will share some personalthings. I trust you will not misjudge mycomments.

Holistic Management has helped me become alifelong learner. I have learned that there is alwaysa choice and that I have the power to choose. Ihave learned that I am responsible. Blaming is awaste of time. Happiness is a choice. I have beenempowered to create the future I desire. I can trulysay that I am living my dream. Do I have upsets,frustrations and down times? Yes, I do, but theydon’t last very long and I always am confident thatI can change things. As I grow older I am moreaware of my own faults and shortcomings. Irealize that the only thing I need to do to have abetter life is to be a better person. The choice is upto me. I am working on this but progress is slow.

Many of you will know that I journal daily. Ikeep track of how many consecutive good days Ihave had. Today is 24,466 consecutive good daysfor me. If you did the math you would realize Iwas born on May 11, 1944. As strange as it maysound I don’t believe I have ever had a bad dayand I don’t plan to have one as long as I live.

I had a failed intergenerational transfer withmy two brothers in 1972. I am convinced that if wehad known about Holistic Management at that

Over time I paid more attention to finances

and people. That’s when things really came together for me.

Number 141 � IN PRACTICE 3

time the results would have been different. I havehad a most successful intergenerational transferfrom Bev and me to Scott, Jenna, Mark, andBluesette. This would not have happened withoutHolistic Management. We wouldn’t have had the financial or people skills to make it all work. I enjoy the fruits of that transfer daily. Workingwith people that I love, doing the work I like,having the time to consult and spread HolisticManagement. I can’t imagine my life being any better.

I want to pay tribute to the two managementclubs I belong to. The Devon Club was started in1989. It continues to meet today. Each person inthat club has been a huge help and support to me. The Hat club was centered in Meadow Lake. It is not functioning now, but for about 10 years it was a great source of friendship andencouragement. Without these clubs we would not be where we are today.

Let me summarize all these thoughts. Yes,doubling our grass was important, planning for aprofit was important, but the thing that made it allwork was getting our people on the same page.

I believe Holistic Management works because itdeals with people, land, and finances. Success andsustainability requires balance and achievement inall three areas. Anything else is doomed to failureat some point.

By helping me define my dream (holistic goal)and giving me the tools (grazing and financialplanning) to achieve it, Holistic Management hashelped me live a truly wonderful life. I considermyself to be a very ordinary person living anextraordinary life. I believe Holistic Managementcan help you in a similar manner.

Don Campbell is a Holistic ManagementCertified Educator from Meadow Lake,Saskatchewan, Canada. He can be reached at: [email protected].

This installment of the Data Mine continues our series on the African Serengeti. In the past two articles we have seen how grazers in unmanaged grasslands affectand interact with ecosystem space, nutrient cycles, and forage utilization. We havealso examined the utilization patterns of multi-species mega-herds.

This article is an analysis of the grazing optimization hypothesis. Some researchers andtheorists have argued that grazing, on the whole, has a negative influence on plant biomass as a result of repeated defoliation. Advocates of the grazing optimization hypothesis haveargued for the opposite. S.J. McNaughton is one of the most prolific and well respectedproponents of this hypothesis and so I reference two key articles listed at the end of the article.The implications of this research is that if people are making a living from grazing animals,they can do so in such a way as to maintain the ecological benefits that the land provides.

The Rules of the GameMcNaughton summarizes the principle tenet of the grazing optimization hypothesis as:

“Providing there is an intervening period of growth, removal of vegetative tissues to a certainproportion of their initial level is rarely translated into a commensurate proportional reductionin the final yield of those or other plant tissues.”

In other words, plants evolved under heavy grazing pressure and they’ve developedstrategies to thrive even at heavy levels of grazing. If you understand the limits of thosestrategies (compensatory response) then as a producer you can graze without damagingecosystem services those plants provide. Moreover, if you didn’t graze those plants, you might not get as much productivity from the landscape you manage.

Productivity VariablesMuch of McNaughton’s data was used to evaluate the factors that measurably affect

ecosystem productivity. Naturally, productivity had a strong relationship to annualprecipitation. As he notes, “Productivity of control plots was linearly related to annualrainfall….this relationship explained [approximately] 48% of the variance; inclusion ofhilltop and lowland stands from the regional sites reduce the correlation substantially (r = .416) and there were three evident outlier stands at high rainfalls.”

McNaughton also presents evidence consistent with his hypothesis that grazing canincrease grassland productivity: “The stimulation of aboveground productivity due to grazingwas maximum at intermediate grazingintensities… for midslope and flatlandgrasslands…”

The following figure, taken directlyfrom “Ecology of Grazing”, illustratesnicely the ability of grazing animals in theSerengeti to maximize productivity atintermediate grazing intensities (taking50%) as a suggested rule of thumb tomaximize plant productivity and notcausing undue stress of plants. (See figureon right.)

Plant Compensatory ResponsesAccording to McNaughton and others,

plant compensatory responses to defoliation CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

The result was a bank loan of zero, a lot less risk, and a business that still showed a profit. I went from having a $50,000 interest bill to collecting $10,000 from the bank in interest.

The Grazing OptimizationHypothesisby Frank Aragona


coupled with grazing intensity are the principlemechanisms driving grazing optimization whichexplains how grazing can increase productivity.McNaughton writes:

“Due to the partial ability of grazing tooverride the rainfall dependence of plantproductivity, [annual primary productivity] wascontrolled more by mean annual grazing intensitythan by annual rainfall [and]…grazers tended tooverride rather than merely amplify patterns ofintrinsic vegetation productivity.”

Compensatory growth in response to grazingwas also measured and “…on average, only[approximately] 60% of the forage consumed byherbivores was replaced by compensatory plantgrowth within the same year.” Again, this meansthat plants can increase productivity based onplant strategies to that grazing. This does notnecessarily mean the plant is healthier.

Some of McNaughton’s data also includesresearch from outside the Serengeti to support this concept of compensatory growth. Here aresome excerpts from the research literature thatsupport his claims that “…a 50% defoliation atthe 2nd-4th leaf stage [in radishes] resulted inonly an 8% reduction in final leaf area and that a 100% defoliation at this stage resulted in only a 42% reduction in final leaf area.”

He also notes, “In an experiment in whichcattle were stocked on Cynodon spp. [Bermudagrass] at 7.5, 10, and 15 animals per hectare [3, 4, and 6 animals per acre] over a two yearperiod, maximum yield of both forage and animal biomass occurred at the intermediateanimal density.” Again, the focus of this theory is that when an animals take only half the plant, this can increase the overall productivity of the plant.

Plant responses to grazing are certainly speciesspecific, as some species have developed strongercompensatory mechanisms in the face of constantevolutionary pressure. This is particularly true formany grassland species, although insects havebeen important defoliators for millions of years.

Grazing TimingAdditionally, plant responses may depend

“on plant developmental stage at the time ofdefoliation.” Research on the effect of theColorado potato beetle on tuber yieldsdemonstrates this fact as “…tuber yield isunaffected when defoliation occurs between thefourth and sixth week of growth. Prior to and afterthis, there are escape windows in time, and evendefoliation levels approaching 100% have littleeffect of final yield.”

Likewise, the defoliation of soybean had less

effect on the yields of seed, “if it occurred duringvegetative stages of growth than if it occurredduring seed filling…Removal of half the foliageduring vegetative stages reduced yield only about10%, and 100% defoliation resulted in a yieldreduction of less than 40%.”

How Plant Productivity is AchievedAccording to McNaughton, the mechanisms

responsible for plant compensatory growth as aresponse to grazing are manifold:

• Cytokinins (plant hormones) promote celldivision and the activation of meristems (wherenew cells are formed), promoting tillering ingrasses as a response to grazing

• Prevention of shading of leaves lower in thecanopy can extend the lifetime of productive tissue

• Increased root-shoot ratio can improveplant’s ability to utilize water

• Reduction of the transpiration surface (leafsurface) conserves soil moisture and extends thegrowing season

• Reduced competition between reproductivetissues (smaller plant) leads to larger seed size and nutrient content

• Hormones present in animal saliva maypromote plant growth

• Associations between herbivores andmycorrhizae improve plant nutrient uptake

• By maintaining an open canopy, conservingsoil moisture, and recycling nutrients that wouldbecome immobilized in aged/old plant tissues,grazing may alleviate the intensity of bothintraplant and interplant competition.

An Interdependent RelationshipYet plant compensatory growth responses to

grazing induced defoliation do not necessarilyindicate symbiosis or mutualism, rather “…compensatory growth of the grasslands did notcompensate completely for removal by herbivores,and the grasses have evolved levels of silicification,an antiherbivore defense, more pronounced thanhave been recorded in any other ecosystem. Thus itis improper to conclude that grazing is strictlyadvantageous to the plants. Highly interactiveorganisms can be interdependent, as are a parasitewith a reduced virulence and a host with increasedresistance, without being mutualistic.”

In nature, grazing is a self-limitingphenomenon driven by successional dynamics andchanges in the species composition of the plantcommunity so that we see “the invasion of heavilygrazed grasslands by other species that are moregrazing tolerant or avoidant (due to lowpalatability) than previous species, commonlyreferred to as a consequence of ‘overgrazing,’indicates that there are limits to which a flora cantolerate defoliation and other grazing effects. Thatconsequence of grazing represents a naturalnegative feedback at the community level that willtend to restore a moderate level of grazing in thesystem.” In other words, nature bats last.

Limits to GrowthLand managers observe similar changes when

land deterioration and species composition changeas a result of poor management decisions, whichoften force destocking. So while grazing atoptimum levels can in fact increase overallproductivity, ecosystem constraints will limitgrazing in both managed and unmanagedgrasslands.

McNaughton makes clear that grazing doesnot necessarily increase plant health, rather thatplants can compensate for grazing. As he notes: “I do not contend that herbivory [grazing]maximizes plant fitness, but that plants have thecapacity to compensate for herbivory and may, at low levels of herbivory, overcompensate fordamage so that fitness may be increased.”

In fact, the grazing optimization hypothesishas been tested by numerous scientists around the world, particularly in managed ecosystems. In the next installment of the Data Mine, we’lllook at a synthesis paper that applied a meta-analysis approach to test the hypothesis of grazing optimization.

ReferencesCompensatory plant growth as a response

to hervibory. McNaughton, S.J. 1983. Oikos 40: 329-336

Ecology of a Grazing Ecosystem: The Serengeti, McNaughton, S.J. EcologicalMonographs, 55(3) 1985, pp. 259-294

Data Mine continued from page three

Are you doing on farm research you’d like to share with the HMI Network? Do you have a research question you’d

like us to write about in the Data Mine?

Contact Frank Aragona at 505/842-5252 or, [email protected].


The circle concept (see Figure 1 below) isderived from the work of learning psychologistDavid Kolb who describes experiential learning, orlearning styles, within four quadrants of a circle asalso noted in this graphic. A person diverges outinto the world of the situation to perceive it with asmany disciplines and viewpoints as possible. Thenthis broad view is assimilated into potentialsolutions expressed as theories, hypotheses, modelsor potential solutions. Then by testing the theories,models, and hypotheses, learners and problemsolvers can converge on workable solutions to beaccommodated to the situation by planning andaction. A common application of Kolb’s work isthe Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers-Briggs_Type_Indicator).

Kathleen Wilson and Goerge Morren introducesystems thinking as a systematic approach toproblem solving based on considering theobjectives, parts, inputs, and processes of asituation to achieve specific outcomes. Hardsystems are mechanical systems which can bequantified to make accurate predictions. Hardsystems are described and studied by reductionistscience, and often do not consider broader scaleeffects on longer time scales. A tricycle is anexample of a hard system. If the only variable isthe pressure the rider puts on the pedals, it is easy

to predict the outcome. Adding a rider’s desire totravel and subsequent decision making convertsthis to a soft system with infinitely more variabilityand less predictability. A holistic approach isnecessary in which the rider will consider manyvariables as she or he learns and adjusts in afeedback loop. The learner or problem solver in asoft system situation needs a holistic approach tobe effective. Holistic Management is a soft systemslearning and problem solving process.

Figure 2 shows the four quadrants of the Kolbcircle with the learning style steps in capital letters:DIVERGE, ASSIMILATE, CONVERGE, andACCOMMODATE. Each quadrant also hasappropriate parts of the Holistic Management®Model as a systems process in which the learner orproblem solver 1) diverges out to learn about thewhole situation by defining a Whole UnderManagement, 2) assimilates as muchinformation and as many paradigms as possibleby listing Tools (similar to hypotheses), 3)converges on sustainable solutions by using theTesting Guidelines to assess the Tools, and 4)accommodates the appropriate Tools to thesituation by planning and action following theManagement Guidelines and PlanningProcedures. This circle has two additional parts:the Holistic Goal at the center and the FeedbackLoop at the top where one will always be reminded

to use it. The Whole under Management includesthe Ecosystem Processes.

I title Figure 2 (below) as the HolisticManagement Soft-Systems Circle. A discussion oranalysis of the situation can start with any of thecomponents. For example, one can detect ‘redflags’, like excessive soil erosion, by monitoring theEcosystem Processes. This indicator may then leadto an evaluation of the values of the decisionmakers and the need for a Holistic Goal. Or, manytimes discussion will tend to center on use ofparticular Tools, and this may lead to askingquestions such as: What are we trying to managefor? What is the root cause of the problem? Arethere appropriate plans? One can visualize holdingthe Holistic Management-Soft Systems Circle like arubber ball and feeling for the roughest part toconsider next. This leads to consideration of thewhole ball, but with the assurance of progress bystarting with the roughest part.

As a facilitator, one can start with the concept ofa circle in four parts; then add the inner HolisticGoal circle and the Feedback Loop. In a meetingroom, the facilitator may use multiple charts, blackboards, or whiteboards to record a discussion,placing the words of a discussant in the appropriateplace within the Holistic Management Soft SystemsCircle. Sitting in a discussion circle out in a field,one can use five or six clipboards to again,organize items of discussion into a systematic andsystemic process. The participants soon get the ideaas they see the facilitator slot their talking pointinto the overall scheme of the circle.

We have found this tool to be very helpful increating a process for natural resource discussionsand a way to capture the thinking of a group andmove it forward in a systematic, productive, andparticipatory way so that implementation issmoother.

Cliff Montagne teaches in the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Scienceat Montana State University in Bozeman,Montana. He can be reached at:

[email protected].

ReferencesKolb, David A. Experiential learning.

1984 Prentice-Hall.Wilson, K. and Morren, G. E. B., Jr.

1990. Systems approaches forimprovement in agriculture andresource management. Macmillan, New York.

The Holistic Management Soft-Systems Circleby Cliff Montagne

Ihave found that the Holistic Management process requires effort to learn and then practice whichcan be a challenge for people to actually change behavior. The linear model as articulated inHolistic Management presents all the details, but can be overwhelming at first. And yet we knowthat effective practice must always consider the basic fundamentals to be successful. As part of

our work with Mongolian herders we developed a way to start using the process immediately in anintuitive, simple, manner. It presents the Holistic Management process in the form of a circle withfour parts. We can all remember a circle in four parts so this graphic helps engage people and let’sthem quickly be able to use the process effectively.

Figure 1: Kolb Learning Style Circle

Figure 2: The HolisticManagement SoftSystems Circle

Grassland Grade CardNot only is there loss of production with

grasslands, we see that there is also a loss of thegrasslands to other land uses. For example, largeportions grassland ecoregions around in Northand South America have been converted fromgrasslands to croplands. (See Table 1 below). Asiaand Africa still have retained approximately 75% oftheir grasslands albeit degraded. Research showsthat 20-35% of global grasslands are degradedwith some numbers as high as 70%.

Bad Rap for CattleImportant studies like “Livestock’s Long

Shadow” have brought the potential negativeeffect that livestock have on the environment toglobal attention. As such, cattle have gotten a badrap for emissions since they are said to beresponsible for 80% of agriculture’s 13.5%responsibility of global emissions. This 80% isbased on 34% from deforestation, 26% from entericfermentation, and 25% from manure. There islittle argument that cattle are the least efficientgrazers, but the demand for this meat in thedeveloping world and an increasing population

suggests that this demand will likely increase.With so many people dependent on livestock fortheir livelihood security, taking livestock out of the food equation is not an answer.

Agricultural CO2 Sources But as global climate change affects

temperatures and subsequent growing degree days, there is an expected shift from marginal crop production land to land more appropriate to livestock keeping particularly in Africa (withgreater need for keeping them in a way to improve land). While there are mixed opinions as to the effect of burning crop/grasslands in terms of plant regeneration possibilities, biomass burning from savannas is estimatedcontribution of 42% of gross CO2 along with other gas emissions. And, issues of loss of soilquality and microbial activity, and theirsubsequent influence on nutrient and water cycles are rarely discussed as additional negative factors. Likewise, grazing-induceddesertification in drylands has been estimated to emit as much as 100 million tons of CO2/year.

Climate Change Mitigation OptionsHowever, various research argues that we

can mitigate, at least in large part, the negativeeffect livestock can have on the landscape byincreasing productivity and reducing emissionsthrough improved genetics, animal health, andfeed quality. Many solutions require high level of technologies. There are arguments that a shift from ruminants to monogastrics will be key to reducing emissions from livestock. Anumber of proposed solutions do not take intoaccount the role of improved land managementfor feed quality and the importance of pastoralistsin being the stewards to those solution. Plannedgrazing to enhance land productivity andimproved ecosystem functions could certainly be an effective tool to mitigate the greenhousegases while improving adaptive capacity.

Who Pays?The socio-economic impact of global climate

change is not an equal opportunity affair. Somesuffer more than others from multiple challengesincluding food security, poverty, and environmentalconflicts. There are a number of issues that keep us from moving forward on a more global focus on improved grazing land health. For example,transit routes are shrinking for pastoralists as landsare becoming more privatized in sub-SaharanAfrica. As pastoralists are marginalized they losetheir capacity to move animals and there is atendency to promote sedentary agriculture.Furthermore, there are issues around land tenure.

Taking a look at three maps of the grasslandscarbon in Africa (see maps next page), we see, inbroad terms, the soil carbon gap, the grasslandsdegradation and the global livestock density allpretty well line up in the same regions. Moreover,these same areas are where the drought risk hotspots are as well as the areas of environmentalconflicts.


CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Livestock, Landscapes, and Livelihoods—The Contribution of Global Grazing Lands to Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptationby Constance Neely

Many of the earth’s population depend on the drylands and grasslands of the world for their livelihood. In fact, 50% of the world’s livestock is supported by rangelands. But 25% of the earth’s landmass (9 billion acres) is affected by desertification and in Africa 1/2 ofthe continent suffers from desertification. This land degradation comes at the cost of $42

billion USD of income that is lost every year. One billion people depend on livestock and the majorityof the world’s poorest depend on livestock for at least a portion of their livelihood. Moreover, livestockis the fastest growing agricultural sector with some countries having 50% or greater of the GDPcoming from this sector.

Table 1: Conversion of Grassland Ecoregions Table 2: Options to Reduce Emissions – Grazing Land Management

What is the Cost?If we look at the investment:benefit ratio of

mitigation measures we see that improved grazingland management has the second highesttechnical potential for mitigating emissions. With planned grazing you can promote carbonsequestration through deep rooted perennialspecies and full ground cover while also addressinga host of other issues related to the ecosystemprocesses. Given that drylands store approximately46% of the global carbon share, and the carbongap that has been created by degradation, theability to improve these soils holds great potential.

Collaboration KeyWe need to make sure that our networks are

talking to each other. Groups such as the WorldInitiative on Sustainable Pastoralism has beeninstrumental in coalescing pastoralists issues and bringing them to global attention. In Kenya,the Livestock Working Groups focuses on everyonein the meat value chain discussing issues—researchers, pastoralists, government,slaughterhouse/meat processing. They have also promoted community driven pastoralist field schools that teach about natural resourcesmanagement, animal production, markets andeven policy. Holistic planned grazing is a key area of training.

Another example of networking is theGrassland Carbon Working Group which beganwith work by HMI and USDA bringing together allof the interested parties in advancing work to ongrasslands carbon to the benefit of land users.

Focus on LivelihoodsWhile we got excited about carbon credits and

went running off in that direction, the take homemessage is really about improving people’slivelihoods so we need to keep food security andpoverty alleviation as the main aim. “ClimateSmart Development” is a means to doing that.

Livestock are and will continue to be anirreplaceable source of livelihoods for the poor, and pastoralism remains perhaps the mostrational strategy for marginal areas. Theassociated co-benefits (increased soil organic

matter, productivity, watercapture and retention, andbiological diversity) provide vitaladaptation strategies. In thisway grasslands fit into all theglobal agendas (environmental,social, and economic). We canmanage for all of this, but wehave to get agriculture clearlyon the climate changenegotiation agenda. It’s thebackbone of the economy, foodsecurity, and livelihood. And, wemust keep working to uplift thevalue of pastoralists and theland they manage regardless of

the outcomes of global conventions andconferences. So the question remains, “Will climate change be the ultimate incentive to do what we have meant to be doing all along?”Let’s hope so.

Constance Neely is a Holistic ManagementCertified Educator who divides her time betweenNairobi, Kenya working for the WorldAgroforestry Centre and Rome, Italy where she consults for the Food and AgricultureOrganization of the United Nation (FAO). She can be reached at: [email protected] article is an excerpt from her presentationat the Quivira Coalition Conference on carbonin November 2010.


The Kenya Livestock Working Group Value Chain PastoralistField School in Kajiado, Kenya

Grasslands carbon gap line upwith drought and environmentalconflict hot spots showing theconnection between lost carbon,drought, and conflict.

8 � January / February 2012Land & Livestock

Whirlwind Community FarmPerennial Grasses versus Alfalfaby Owen Hablutzel

Whirlwind Community Farm encompasses 240 acres (96 ha) ofdesert in southwest New Mexico, a scant three miles from theMexican border. It was purchased in 2006 by author andteacher Sankara Saranam. The intention was for this property

to serve as a location to establish a community of like-minded peopleinterested in pursuing pranayama yoga and a sustainable lifestyle in thisrapidly changing world. This article will detail how using HolisticManagement helped these new agrarians make an important decisionabout their land that will shape their livelihoods and land health far intothe future.

In the years since the initial 2006 purchase the community land holdingsin the area have grown. Among these, a 200-acre (80-ha) property nearby,called Deepwater, was selected to host the main hall and gardens for thecommunity. At this time the original Whirlwind property began to beconceived of as a site for agricultural production capable of contributing tothe financial livelihoods and ecological health of the community.

In early 2008, a property consultation took place involving Mr. Saranam,regenerative agriculture consultant Darren Doherty, and myself. The HolisticManagement framework was recommended to Mr. Saranam as a direction toexplore while planning further for the unfolding community.

By 2009 Mr. Saranam, his family, and others with interest in the emergingcommunity had studied enough about Holistic Management to know thatthey wanted to learn a lot more. They hoped to begin putting the frameworkinto practice as soon as possible.

Attempting to form a community for sustainable living in a relativelyremote area, beginning with practically no existing infrastructure, adds manylayers of complexity atop the already potentially difficult project of successfulwhole farm planning in a brittle environment (brittleness in this area isaround 8). Given the context of these conditions, the use the HolisticManagement framework—with its decision testing, planning procedures andanchoring holistic goal—would be a crucial help for developing membersshared vision, for making better decisions together, and for progressivelymoving the whole project forward deliberately while minimizing potentialfalse-steps.

Improving LandIn our early sessions together we gathered those presently living in the

community along with others planning to move there at a later date. This group,the Whirlwind Community as such, began by defining for themselves their wholeunder management, their statement of purpose and their holistic goal.

A couple of key issues for the Whirlwind community are involved in thedecision case example described here. To begin, the need to improve allecosystem processes on the Whirlwind property are regarded by members asparamount. In particular, the water and mineral cycle (soils) are in greatneed of further rejuvenation in order to support the conversion of sunlight,water, and soil resources into viable products that can generate return.

A return is needed specifically due to the current debt load on thecommunity. These two issues are related. Improving the ecosystem processes ismade both more possible and more urgently necessary as a result of aprevious decision to install a drip system on over 160 acres of the Whirlwindproperty. Design and installation of this irrigation enables reliable productionin an erratic rainfall environment. This makes profit far more possible andreliable.

At the same time, although the Natural Resource Conservation Services(NRCS) is sharing the cost of the drip system, the purchase and installationrequired the Whirlwind Community to take on a significant debt load. Inorder to maintain and operate this system, additional monies andinfrastructure expense will be required. This may include drilling andinstallation of additional bore-wells, purchase, maintenance and operation ofpumps, a compost tea brewer, and perhaps other compost-making equipment.

The recommendation from the NRCS has been to put the entire acreage toalfalfa and then sell alfalfa hay to cover the debt expense.

Holistic Financial PlanningThe primary concern of the decision makers in this case was immediately

to achieve the most return and highest profit from the drip-irrigationinvestment as possible, while remaining true to their holistic goal. Beyond thisfinancial concern, and more fundamentally in light of their holistic goal, theobjective is to greatly increase the health of the land and soils at Whirlwind asthe source of long-term sustainability.

While the NRCS recommendation was to put the Whirlwind property intoalfalfa, the community members explored other options includingestablishing treebelts throughout the property with grazing and perhaps somecropping between. Another proposed option was putting Whirlwind to mixedperennial grasses. These could be hayed, or grazed directly, or even used toproduce perennial seeds. There had been additional suggestions to croppeppers, melons, or onions.

The decision-makers elected to choose the mixed perennial grass as analternative to the alfalfa option to test toward their holistic goal. Here’s how ittested out:

1. Cause and Effect Test

The problem is? Prior land abuse is a root cause of the present state of poor (if improving)

soils. The drip system and well-bore--themselves a consequence of an earlierdecision, based on the desire for a reliable income from this land even withits’ low and erratic rainfall environment, are the root cause of the debt.

&

Number 141 � 9Land & Livestock

Does this action address the root cause of the problem?It appears both options, alfalfa and grass, would address the poor soil state

resulting from prior land treatment, though more research towards the long-term sustainability of each needs to be considered.

� Both options could possibly or possibly not PASS—more research

2. Weak Link Test

a. Social: Have we considered and addressed any confusion, anger, or opposition this action could create with people whose support we need in the near or distant future?

Some potential for opposition: • alfalfa not a native • alfalfa is a high water use plant • high electricity cost / use to irrigate • alfalfa monoculture is low biodiversity and therefore prone to problemsof monoculture (ease of disease, target-rich-environment for pests, etc)

• electricity use also adds to pollution of mercury and possibly sulfuric acid in air

• alfalfa stand has limited life span 3, maybe 5-7 years• these extra costs may not sit well with our funding sources• grass option does not have most of these concerns

� Alfalfa NOT PASS—Grass PASS

b. Biological: Does this action address the weakest point in the life cycle of this organism?

� Result is Not Applicable

c. Financial: Does this action strengthen the weakest link in the chain of production? Right now, resource conversion is our weakest link in the production

chain. We need to be converting our sun, soil, and water resources into grassand biodiversity resources. In this case, both options will at least beginconverting the sunlight, water, soil resources.

� Both PASS

3. Energy-Money, Source and Use Test

Is the energy and money to be used in this action derived from the mostappropriate source in terms of our holistic goal? And, will the way inwhich the energy and money is used lead towards our holistic goal?

Alfalfa?

Energy Source? Electricity, polluting – NO$ Source? External loan, debt – NOEnergy Use? Grows roots, improves soil – PASS$ Use? Generates financial profit and ecological improvement – PASS

Mixed Grass test results are the same as Alfalfa, for the same reasons.

� Source NOT PASS, and Use PASS for Both

4. Sustainability Test

If we take this action, will it lead towards or away from the futureresource base described in our holistic goal?

Alfalfa monoculture is not sustainable. The alternative of mixed grass,may be sustainable, but we will need more research.

� Alfalfa—NOT PASS. Mixed Grass—MAY PASS

5. Marginal Reaction Test

Which action provides the greatest return, in terms of our holistic goal, for the time and money spent?

Alfalfa vs. Mixed Grass• With alfalfa there is a risk of losing crop to flooding. With grass adapted to flooding it may even do better

• Alfalfa uses far more electricity and water and acid (for cleaning drip system) than Grass

• Mixed grasses will build soil more rapidly, with more diversity and more soil cover than monoculture alfalfa

• Grass cover would protect drip system better if ever grazed (more flexibility)

• Grass can go longer without water if wells are not functioning for some reason (less risk)

• Grass can also pay the debt (profit, we need a Gross Profit Analysis to figure relative margins)

• Grass option is native, a polyculture, less pollution, and longer lived than alfalfa

• Using grass opens possibility of using it for grazing (enterprise stacking)• Mixed grasses nicer aesthetically, to walk on, etc… (better quality of life)

• Also, peak oil preference will be for grass since electricity and transport to market will cost more (less input costs)

• Grass is far more flexible for possible future life and use

� Grass PASS and Alfalfa NOT PASS

6. Gross Profit Analysis (GPA) Test

Which enterprises contribute most to covering the overheads of the business?

Back-of-napkin version:

Note that this version shows the Mixed Grass option to be potentially twice as profitable, prior to consideration of expenses.

• Alfalfa inputs are far more expensive (more water, electricity, fertilizer,and sulfuric acid, etc.)

• Local market requires more grass hay and has plenty of alfalfa supplyalready. This suggests grass can be sold both more readily and with amore premium price in the area

• This means less marketing costs, far less wear and tear, less water, less electricity, less acid, less fertilizer inputs for grass

� Grass PASS

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

TEST: Alfalfa ENERGY MONEY

SOURCE NO NO

USE PASS PASS

TEST: Mixed Grass ENERGY MONEY

SOURCE NO NO

USE PASS PASS

ALFALFA MIXED GRASSIncome $150 / Ton $300 / TonAnnual Volume 10 Tons / Acre 10 Tons / AcreAnnual Income $15,000 / Acre $15,000 / AcrePotential


Subsequently, a more thoroughly researched gross profit analysis wasperformed by the decision-makers. This compared the enterprises further, toget an improved sense of detail regarding financial aspects of the decision.The data collected was also useful in developing a business plan for the mixedgrass enterprise. Annual production per acre estimates were purposefullysomewhat conservative.

The initial back-of-napkin gross profit analysis did not suggest a financialgap nearly as wide as this more detailed one. The gap that has emerged is asurprise and very substantial. There remain many other financial and riskrelated aspects that are not directly accounted for in the gross profit analysiswhich only serve to confirm this difference further. After completing the grossprofit analysis Mr. Saranam observed:

The gross profit analysis shows that while in the short-term alfalfa is afeasible cash crop, in the long term the versatility of grass outweighs the short-term benefits offered by a monoculture of alfalfa. The loss to flooding isparticularly of interest as the farm is located in a flood zone, where up to 35%of the arable, irrigated area can be inundated with water at over 6 inches forseveral days. This kind of flooding easily kills alfalfa, while grass canwithstand it. It is hoped that the soil structure will allow for greater rainharvesting and water penetration.

� Grass PASS and Alfalfa NOT PASS

7. Society and Culture Test

Considering all the questions and our holistic goal, how do we feel about this action now?

� Alfalfa NOT PASS and Mixed Grass PASS

Additional BenefitsAs a result of the testing, the decision was made to implement the mixed

grass plan. One reason for this outcome was found in doing the research.While exploring the potentials in the local market for hay, it was discoveredthat alfalfa was chronically in oversupply, and therefore drew a relatively lowprice. At the same time, the local experience with grass hay involved a usualshortage and a local demand that exceeds the available supply. Given thiscondition a good price was to be had for grass, as well as a ready andundersupplied local market niche.

It is also the case that the greater diversity offered by the mixed grassallows for a greater diversity of possible uses. For example, were seeds to beharvested this could be done from several species rather than a single species.The diversity also creates different options and potentials to add value to thegrass resource, through grazing for example. In short, this improved flexibilityand nimbleness is of significant value in a changing world, especially in abrittle environment.

In addition to these points, fundamental to the decision was the perceptionthat the grass system will be significantly better for a sustained improvementof all ecosystem processes. In water cycle terms the grass will use less aquiferwater, meaning less salt, less anaerobic conditions, and more soil life creatingmore water storage capacity in the soils. The mineral cycle will benefit muchmore from mixed grass due to more carbon and organic matter in the soil, amuch more diverse range of plant rooting strategies and depths, creatingmore diverse niches for a more diverse soil biology, as well as distributing andaccessing minerals and nutrients to and from a much greater variety ofsections in the soil profile.

The use of a Keyline plow has helped tojumpstart the ecosystem processes atWhirlwind with a shift from virtually 100%bare ground to 80% covered ground.

Whirlwind Community Farm continued from page nine

Monitoring the health of the ecosystemprocesses and how the land is trending is atop priority. Baseline monitoring transectsare being established for that purpose.

GROSS PROFIT ANALYSIS

FACTORS ALFALFA MIXED GRASS

Seed Cost $12,100 $11,200

Seed Delivery $700 $700

Seed Drilling $2,000 $2,000

Water (electric) $2,800 / month $2,200 / month

Cut / Bale / Distribute $50 / acre – cutting $45 / acre – cutting

Value $6 / small bale $15 / small bale

Value 2 $50 / large bale $105 / large bale

Value 3 $18,000 / year – seeds $40,000 / year – seeds

Volume 2 tons / acre / year 2 tons / acre / year

Duration 5 years Indefinite

Grazing Not Feasible Feasible

Grazing Volume 0 50 cows

Value 4 0 60 tons beef

Loss Risk 1 – Flooding $32,000 / year $8,000 / year

Loss Risk 2 – Pump Down for over a week $5,000 / year $0

Loan $3,500 / month $3,500 / month

Labor $3,000 / month $3,000 / month

Materials $500 / month $500 / month

GROSS PROFIT ANALYSIS: Alfalfa GROSS PROFIT ANALYSIS: Mixed Grass

Annual Income Annual Income

2 tons/acre and $240/ton $67,200 2 tons/acre and $1,800/ton $504,000

Annual Expenses Annual Expenses

Custom Cut, Bale, Distribute $7,000 Custom Cut, Bale, Distribute $6300

Seed (delivered and drilled) $12,800 Seed (delivered and drilled) $11,900

Compost Tea $7,000 Compost Tea $7,000

Irrigation $28,000 Irrigation $22,000

Total Expenses $54,8000 Total Expenses $47,200

Gross Profit $12,400 Gross Profit $456,800

Gross Profit / Acre $89 Gross Profit / Acre $3,263


The energy flow will be significantly increased also due to the increaseddiversity and variety of plants, filling as well as creating a wider range ofavailable niches, all more adapted to the local conditions. The communitydynamics will certainly be far more complex and diverse, and therefore morestable and resilient to changing conditions through time.

While the financial differences expressed by the Gross Profit Analysis madea decision in terms of finances alone an obvious one, many further dynamicsbeyond the financial numbers were considered. In the end the decision forgrass was taken because it bore the best overall relation to all aspects of theWhirlwind community holistic goal.

Monitoring the DecisionWhirlwind Community has chosen three areas to monitor in order to

ensure this decision takes them towards their holistic goal. These are landhealth, financial soundness, and social effects.

In order to ensure that all four ecosystem processes at Whirlwind aremoving in the desired direction, Whirlwind Community will create a series ofmonitoring sites on the Whirlwind property. Each year a qualitative biologicalmonitoring of these areas will be performed. In addition, soil tests will be done(using the Soil Food Web labs) as needed and in conjunction with thecompost tea program, to monitor variables such as soil carbon, organicmatter, and others.

To monitor the financial soundness of the decision to use mixed grasseson Whirlwind, the expenses and income from this enterprise will be recordedand closely tracked during the year. In the process of annual holistic financialplanning the overall financial performance will also be assessed.

Measuring whether this decision is helping Whirlwind Community achieveits human and quality of life goals will be done through tracking both theamount of time and labor that goes into the grass enterprise each day (as aproportion of total work), as well as the amount of vacation time for memberseach year.

The ways in which their dedication to learning and practicing HolisticManagement has affected the Whirlwind community can be seen through thisdecision. The initial plan—to follow the NRCS agency recommendation foran alfalfa-only approach—was in part due to a feeling that, because theywere people just starting out in the agricultural realm, the most prudent thingto do would be to follow the advice of the established agency experts.

Both the Whirlwind and Deepwater properties had found significantsuccesses by earlier using approaches and consultation based on the non-conventional frameworks of Keyline and Permaculture. The Whirlwindrestoration from near bare ground to 80% plant cover had even been one of the criteria on which the NRCS agreed to proceed with a cost share for the drip irrigation system. But whether or not to proceed contrary to theirmore conventional advice in this new higher stakes enterprise for Whirlwindwas not a simple question.

Once this group began their learning and use of the HolisticManagement® framework in earnest the situation really began to shift.Learning these practices was changing their actions. Going through theseprocesses ensured that decisions were considered more carefully andsystematically, that all angles were considered, and that research and learningoccurred in needed areas at needed times. The whole process helped togenerate more knowledge within the group about more of the options thatmight be available, and of the relative trade-offs between different approaches.

For the Whirlwind community the end result of this decision has been a far greater confidence in both their future as a community and theircapacity to effectively engage with the many challenges that are sure to arise along the way.

Owen Hablutzel is a Holistic Management Certified Educator who can be reached at 310/567-6862 or [email protected].


Thoughts on Biological Monitoring by Tony McQuail

Why do we monitor? To figure out where we are and where we are going.

What additionally do we monitor for with Holistic Management?To see if we are making progress toward our holistic goal.

Why do we do biological monitor? To check if we are moving toward the future landscape described in our holistic goal.

What do we monitor?What are indicators of healthy ecosystem processes?

• Water cycle • Mineral cycle • Community Dynamics• Energy Flow

Is there an indicator that encompasses them all? Soil Surface—is it covered or bare?

How do we monitor?The Full Enchilada:

• 100 foot transect—marked out so you can find it each year. If possible place permanent markers to define the end points of thetransect.

• Darts thrown randomly at 1' intervals: 100 darts = 100 points.• Information recorded for 100 points: Dart struck soil surface,

plant spacing from dart to plant nearest the dart. Plant species withina 6-inch radius of the dart, age composition. Record any insects orother organism signs within the circle.

• Repeat monitoring annually at the same time each year. • Take photos of the transect—looking down at the ground

surface and across it—preferably using the same land mark in thedistance so annual progress/change will be apparent. Put a piece ofpaper with the date and the specific transect point that will appear in a corner of the photo.

• Data and photos kept filed so that they can be found and reviewed to see how soil coverage, plant species and landscape change over time.

• A reduced survey can be done using markers (6" to a foot rebar)driven in flush with the ground at 5 points along the transect, (say at 10, 30, 50, 70 and 90 feet) and then a foot square area aroundthem monitored and recorded annually (use a square frame a foot on a side). The transect can start a measured distance from a marked fenceline post (marked with a plastic cattle tag or somesimilar bright and durable item) so that it is easy to find the fixedpoints marked by the rebar.

• The Taco Chip: Annual photos taken at the same time of yearand same place each year—down at the ground and across the


management practices are having on the land. You do this by taking random readings across your fields. At our original

agency training session at my place in 2008, we tossed fancy darts withcolored streamers back over our shoulders to pick our spots. You can use aFrisbee, a weighted 16-penny nail or your farm cap. Just toss, go to the spot,get down on your knees, part the grass, and start recording what you see.

Did the dart hit a plant, litter or bare ground? Is there evidence ofearthworms, insects, or erosion? What kinds, ages and conditions of plantspecies are within the six-inch radius? Our group added a category measuringmanure: is there a pat within either three or six feet of the dart? To betteraddress conditions in the Northeast U.S., we added signs of hoof action andwhether legumes are present, and separated earthworm castings from thegeneral insect category because farmers love seeing red wigglers. We alsoadded a moss category: is moss capping the soil surface within a six-inchcircle around the dart? Finally, are there any interesting tidbits you want tonote, such as dung beetle counts or a mystery plant?

You can do as much or as little as you like, although it’s obviously a caseof the more throws of the dart (or the nail, or whatever), the more accuratethe picture. In our initial agency Holistic Management training session, wethrew a dart every 25 feet over a five-acre paddock. For easy percentages, we try for at least 25 samples to evaluate.

Monitoring the exact same spot every year would be best, but I’m not that scientific—I just do the same five-acre fields each year. The annualmonitoring can be done anytime during the growing season. I generally domy dart-throwing in September, and normally the plants are eight to 16inches tall when I’m doing it (which aids in identifying the plants). Weatherconditions certainly affect the findings, and it is important to make specificnotes about the weather right along with other important factors such asrecovery periods, fertilizer applications and stocking rates. Since you’re onlydoing it once a year, it’s important to be as detailed as possible. Take somepictures, and be sure to write everything down.

It is really interesting and valuable to do this in a group setting, asdifferent people process the information differently. There will bedisagreements over species and whether or not something qualifies as ground cover. However, these “training” sessions can be important in helping develop the subjective “monitoring eye” that will help you makeconsistent interpretations down the road.

Most important, the exercise forces you to get down on your knees to reallysee the soil surface environment. All of the farmers I have worked with on thisdata collection say it has been invaluable in forcing them to look downinstead of across. One confident farmer brought us to a one-year old standthat looked like beautiful, dairy-quality pasture—at least from the barn. But when we got down on our knees, we found there was 30% bare groundbecause the stand lacked the plant diversity needed to fill the voids. It was an eye-opener for all of us to see how much lost solar- and water-capturing

Anything thatgets you downon hands andknees can aidyour pasturemanagementprogram.

Table 1: Troy Bishopp Biological Monitoring % around dart point 2008-2011

2008 2009 2010 2011FIELD 123Bare soil 20% 7% 4% 4%Litter 1 30% 20% 48% 32%Litter 2 20% 20% 12% 16%Plant 30% 53% 36% 48%

Capping 10% 7% 0 0Broken Surface 15% 0 4% 4%Covered Surface 75% 93% 96% 96%

Earthworms 80% 100% 96% 100%Insects 20% 86% 24% 40%Animals (hoof action) 0 40% 32% 36%Manure w/3’ 0 53% 56% 56%Manure w/6’ 0 0 0 40%

Grass 60% 40% 44% 48%Legume 35% 53% 24% 36%Forbs and/or weeds 5% 7% 32% 16%SedgeMoss

Seedling 35% 0 0 36%Young 20% 53% 36% 44%Mature 30% 40% 52% 16%Decadent 0 7% 12% 4%Resprout 15% 0 0 0

Biological Monitoring Offers More Toolsby Troy Bishopp

Biological monitoring, or what I like to call “reading the land,” is an easy and practical method for studying key land healthindicators and helping you move toward the goals for youroperation, be it a pasture, row-crop or other land management

system. When done annually, biological monitoring is much like any soilor forage test in that it provides data to help you make decisions in rationbalancing, fertility placement and financial investments. As grazingconsultant Jim Gerrish frequently quips, “You can’t manage what youdon’t measure.”

Biological monitoring as a hands-on application was brought to theforefront in 2006 when Holistic Management International published theHolistic Management Handbook, authored by Jody Butterfield, Allan Savory,and Sam Bingham. With many charts and grazing planning forms, thehandbook is designed for people who actually manage land and livestock,along with the agency professionals who help farmers create the landscapesthey want.

While I custom-graze beef stocker cattle, it was in my work as an agencyperson that got me involved with other agency professionals in this groundcovering (rather than groundbreaking) process for my farm in 2008.I’ve been doing it once a year ever since.

Biological monitoring is essentially an effort aimed at getting you downon your hands and knees to take a really close look at what’s happening atthe soil’s surface. You are measuring, recording and ultimately monitoring a wide variety of factors indicating biological activity and plant speciescomposition. You are making an effort to see and document the effects your


landscape to the same landmark. Photos kept in a file so that theycan be found and reviewed to see how soil coverage and landscapechange over time.

What else might we monitor for Biological Monitoring?Wildlife sightings, bird sightings, nesting bird census, insect varieties,water quality, soil tests (organic matter) ADA’s, bales or tons of hayharvested, head of cattle supported (need to be careful here if buyingin feed—are we counting the acres the feed came off of—or if we arebringing in off farm fertility in the form of commercial fertilizers oroff farm manures)

Who should do the monitoring?The decision makers (family monitoring picnic), local birding club,High School Environmental club, coop student, employee. If you arenot using the same people year to year, you need to think of how totrain them or develop a clear procedure so you get consistent data.

When should the monitoring be done?Ideally at the same time of year so the information is comparable yearto year. Also, at a time when there IS biological activity AND the farmor ranch workload is not at its heaviest so that the monitoring willactually get done. Make some notes about the season and the weatherprior to the monitoring. If possible do it at the same time of day.

Where should the monitoring be done? It should be done at a location representative of the land in the whole under management that will show whether change is occurring thatis moving the landscape toward or away from the future landscapedescribed in the holistic goal.

When should we start Biological Monitoring?NOW—this year—or if late in the season—pick a time for nextgrowing season AND MARK IT ON NEXT YEARS CALENDER—ANDWHEN DONE MARK IT ON THE FOLLOWING YEARS CALENDER. Itmay be a good idea to plan it for a holiday weekend when the familycan do it as an outing and you will be reminded that this is the timeyou’ve planned to do biological monitoring.

How much should we do?It is better to do two photos a year for 20 years than an incredibletransect study with all the bells and whistles one year and then neverget back to it again. It is better to do 5 dart sites regularly and recordthe number of broad leafed and narrow leafed plants within the circlethan not do any because you don’t yet know how to identify theindividual legumes and grasses and you are too busy to acquire thatknowledge. Better to do something you can sustain than doingnothing.

Tony McQuail is a Holistic Management Certified Educator who farms near Lucknow, Ontario, Canada. He can be reached at [email protected].

Thoughts on Biological Monitoringcontinued from page eleven

opportunity was being lost.It has been very interesting to see what’s been happening on my farm over

the past four seasons. You can see the numbers in the accompanying table:earthworm numbers have increased, the percentage of bare soil has declined,plant and litter cover have increased, and the composition of my plant specieshas broadened. In my case, these results were achieved by taller grazing,trampling litter, longer rest periods and higher stock densities. (This fall I willbe doing a whole-farm soil test to measure how this correlates to fertility andorganic matter levels, and compare that with numbers from 2008.)

I have also been monitoring two fields on Nathan Weaver’s farm with hisstrategies of spreading chicken litter, compost and rock phosphate, clippingpastures with machinery and horses, outwintering and over-seeding whilemaintaining 20- to 40-day recovery periods to harvest lush, 10-inch swards.Since implementing these tools in 2009, Nathan has seen a big decline inbare ground and major changes in plant composition.

In general, the results of these two, small-scale monitoring efforts indicatethat we are both trending toward what we want for our land with the differentgoals, strategies and tools at our disposal. In the research arena thisinformation may not be quantitative enough because we only do it annuallyon one field, and the information is very subjective.

However, the results can be very valuable to the individual farmer/grazier— especially if they are combined with soil tests, per-acre production figures,and costs for plant fertilizers, animal health and any number of othermeasures. There is more and more information coming out about theeconomic value of the things we’re measuring through biological monitoring,so it is important to understand where we’re going here.

For instance, John King, a Holistic Management educator fromChristchurch, New Zealand (www.succession.co.nz), has employed data fromDavid Whitehead’s book Nutrient Elements in Grassland to compare thebiological value found in the soil with market values of commercial fertilizer.King estimated that one million worms per acre represent $594 worth of valuein terms of nutrients available for exchange. Fungi, actinomycetes andbacteria contribute $284/ton, cattle manure is worth $126/ton, and plantroots (living and dying) add $55/ton in value. King said, “As farmers beginmeasuring biological agriculture with greater professionalism, there should be a deeper connection between biological and financial capital.”

Biological monitoring provides a general, practical measurement of thebiological trends resulting from your management practices, thus telling you whether you’re moving your farm in the right direction. Suchunderstanding helps you make better long-term decisions. Reading your land is a valuable skill akin to growing quality forages, turning wrenches,judging grass-finished cattle or artfully managing a pasture system. This iswhere all the true profit begins.

To access the biological monitoring chart we’re using in the Northeast,go to www.cnyrcd.org/planned-grazing-participants/. HolisticManagement Handbook is available for purchase from HolisticManagement International at 505/842-5252.

Troy Bishopp custom grazes beef stockers near in Deansboro, New York, and is the project leader for a NE-SARE professionaldevelopment grazing training project. He also works for the Upper Susquehanna Coalition and Madison County, NY, SWCD. His website: www.thegrasswhisperer.com

This article appeared in the October 2011 issue of Graze, a magazinefor people interested in managed pastures and family-scale livestockagriculture. For a free sample copy, call 608-455-3311; [email protected]; or go to www.grazeonline.com.


Holistic Management In ActionNeil Dennis • Wawota, Saskatchewan, Canada

Neil Dennis has been experimenting with high stock density formany years and has noticed some interest phenomena over theyear. Neil’s stock density is approximately 800 head/acre or500,000 pounds per acre. He has experimented with bale grazing

to increase organic matter and has fed as much as 8.5 tons/acre for a“deep massage.” The cost for this treatment at $60/ton for first cutbrome/alfalfa is $510/acre. Neil says it takes about 18 minutes to set up a¼ mile of fence to get that stock density. He finds he doesn’t have problemswith bloat because the animals are not so selective with high stock densityand will get a more balanced diet. He’s also found that he has a 20-30%improved utilization with higher stock density. He started out with 1-2%organic matter but has built it to 5-6% organic matter in the areas wherehe does his “deep massage.”

Winter bale grazing improves soil health by increasing litter and naturalnutrients through manure and urine—the results are noticeable within thefirst growing season and further stimulation with the 500,000 pounds/acre ona yearly basis continues that improvement.

By “deep massage” Neil believes he kick starts the mineral cycle. It was aslow spring in southeast Saskatchewan and the grass would not have kept upwith the 600 head of cattle he needed to feed. Solution? Supplement feed untilthe grass was ahead of the cattle. Neil gave them the usual ½ acre paddockand the cattle grazed it off. Neil rolled out several bales allowing roombetween the feed ‘strips’ and the cattle ate the strips. Neil rolled out more feedinto the area previously not covered. Once the spring growth started and Neilcould rely on the grass, he stopped the feeding of the bales or “deep massage”.

Cost: Benefit AnalysisIf an animal day is 60 cents (assuming Neil’s hay prices) then his

$510 investment per acre would take approximately 10 years to pay itself back based on improved production based on an improvement of an average of 40 ADA to 123 ADA. Additional benefits like reduced mineral costs would shorten that return.

To better see the contrast in the amount of root mass that results in thesetwo types of treatment, look at the contrast in soil between two holes Neil dug.The one on the right side has had the “deep massage.” Note the depth of the

dark layer of topsoil on the right side photo extends further down to 23 inches.This side has 50-60% more root mass.

Left: 80-100 days recovery at 200,000-500,000 pounds per acre. He gets 30-50 ADA with an 8-10" pre-graze height

Right: The “deep massage” includes the additional feeding, 100-123 daysrecovery. He ended up getting 123 ADA with 40 new species in two years. Herolled out bales and grazed stockpiled grass, then rolled bales to fill spacesbetween where he had grazed and then rolled bales to fill in spaces again. The animals didn’t leave much behind but what they don’t eat they tramp in.

One issue Neil has noticed is how fence lines result in less root mass. Asyou can see from the photo, the ground closer to the fence has significantlyless root mass because there is less animal impact there. Moreover, the litteron the ground is non-existent by the fence compared to the six inches of litterafter winter bale grazing, Neil has in other areas of his paddocks.

Neil believes that for litter to be truly effective it needs to be tramped downinto the soil surface so it can be utilized by soil micro-organisms. You want acertain amount above ground for insulation to prevent the ground frombecoming too hot or too cold and to offer enough resistance in the winter tocatch and hold snow. Neil has taken many soil temps and because his groundstays warmer longer in the fall and is warming up earlier in the spring thanhis neighbors he believes he is working towards a healthy litter cover.

Over the last 3 years Neil has seen a marked decrease in the amount ofmineral the custom graze cattle require. When they first come in they usuallytake the conventionally recommended amount of mineral. Once they have been at Neil’s for a month, that amount has dropped by over 80%! Neil’sexplanation—the mineral cycle of his land has improved to the point the cattleare obtaining most of their mineral needs from the forage they are grazing.

To contact Neil: [email protected].

Blain Hjertaas • Redvers, Saskatchewan, Canada

Early spring grazing in Saskatchewan, we harvested 104 ADA(approximately 3000 lbs per acre) with a stock density of166,000lbs/acre. Graze to trample ratio is 50/50 meaning

we trampled 3,000 lbs per acre to litter which is now biologicalcapital. The last time this area was grazed was early last spring late May so almost a year’s recovery.

Do you have a picture that demonstrates the results of your Holistic Management practice? Send your photos and text to: Holistic Management in Action, 5941 Jefferson St. NE, Ste. B,Albuquerque, NM 87109 or email to: [email protected]

From the Board Chairby Sallie Calhoun

Last November in Albuquerque, the HMIBoard and staff met for our annualmeeting. I had just come from two days atthe Quivira Coalition meeting, also in

Albuquerque, with its new agrarians theme andwas inspired by the path these young people aretaking. I was excited to see what the 2012 planfor HMI looked like, and hopeful that theremight be some common ground.

Over the past year both Board and staff at HMIhave worked hard to bring clarity and focus to theHMI vision in order to create a more sustainableand impactful organization. In March we revisedour holistic goal and agreed that “We educatepeople to manage land for a more sustainablefuture.” The question that faced us next was whowe educate, how, and what is the impact of thateducation? How will we monitor our success?

In order to answer “the question,” staff askedwhat programs could be financially sustainable,replicable, scalable, have high impact, and bewithin our ability to deliver? Based on ourexperience over the past year, two of the programsthat stand out are the Beginning Women Farmersprogram and the Gen Next program. We have had

good success with the Beginning Women Farmersprogram in the Northeast, including getting a lotof feedback that the training has changed farmers’behavior. Over 165 women expressed interest in asimilar program in Texas after a series ofintroductory one-day seminars, and there areseveral colleges interested in the Gen Nextprogram. It would be wonderful if HolisticManagement training could help our newagrarians to be more successful in reaching theirgoals. In both of these programs we are workingwith groups who are both learning and buildingcommunities which is a key to future success.

We have realized over the last year thatwhatever programs we decide meet our criteria, the organization has to be able to deliver qualityprograms that have an impact. This has led to areview of the curriculum and a plan for improvingthe existing materials and programs and theirdelivery, along with adding new learningopportunities. This process will include developingprocesses to monitor how successful our programsare at affecting behavior, which is the real measureof success.

A major change that was effective at this mostrecent board meeting was the conversion ofInternational Directors into regular Directors. For the last few years, we have had InternationalDirectors from outside of the United States, who

did not vote and only attended one meeting eachyear. They were usually recommended by localHolistic Management groups. As of now, allDirectors are regular Directors, and all will beexpected to attend the two face-to-face boardmeetings each year, as well as any phoneconferences. Our Directors from Canada, Australia,and South Africa are great additions to the Board,and bring new experiences and perspectives, alongwith a great deal of experience with HolisticManagement. I am certain that more fullyengaging these amazing people will lead to amore sustainable organization. As a result of thischange, Directors from around the world can berecruited and cultivated just like U.S. Directorsalways have been, for their expertise andperspective, rather than as representatives of ageographic group.

I came home both exhausted and exhilaratedafter the Quivira Coalition conference and the HMI Board meeting. I believe that there is a greatdeal of interest in Holistic Management as aframework for better managing land-basedenterprises. Working with young people gettinginto agriculture, along with our establishedpractitioners, is going to be a lot of fun and makea big difference in the world. We have only begunto imagine the possibilities, but we are movingrapidly toward making them real.


The Next Drop of Rain—Putting Out the Welcome Matby Jack Varian

Ihave spent a lot of time over the years pondering, especially sinceHolistic Management gave me permission to ponder back in 1991,how I might get a drop of rain that falls on our V6 Ranch to bemore than just a tourist passing through. I want this rain drop to

find upon landing that this ranch really has the welcome mat out.This raindrop, let’s call him Squirt, was heard to say, “I didn’t evenget my feet muddy when I landed, because there was a nice mat ofgrass that gave me a soft landing. But, I can’t say the same for someof my friends that landed on a big flat rock. It was awful! You couldjust hear them and see their broken bodies running off that rock.But, a good percentage of us landed on grass and other had their fall broken by trees and brush and other living things. So I’m gladluck sent me here!”

This then is the start of a raindrop’s life on our ranch. We call Squirt’sjourney a journey in Varian Time where we follow Mother Natures’ lead,which is to slow down water. For us slowing down water has become away of life. It’s exactly what HMI teaches us to do, because when you usethe Holistic Management framework you do slow down water.

But let’s get back now to Squirt’s journey. We left Squirt on a grassymeadow, and he has now starting to look below the soil surface. The

easiest way down was a gopher hole, or maybe an earthworm tunnel or root tunnel or a flocculated soil full of organic matter. Or is Squirt’strip quite the opposite? Does he land on bare ground, getting his feetmuddy and can’t get below the soil surface because the surface wascapped with algae and lichens and then the sun showed up and finished him off turning him to water vapor and sent him back to the heavens to try again?

But let’s say that Squirt gets a “do over.” He didn’t get locked in apolar ice cap or get stuck on some soil particle as hydroscopic water, butlands in Camelot, or a place that’s very similar like here in Parkfield,California. Anyway, Squirt gets a do over and this time he finds out justhow important he is to life and death for our planet! But rather thanworry globally about our plight, I think we need to work locally definingour relationship to Squirt. Our quality of life and our bill paying abilityare all dependent on Squirt’s speedometer reading while he is here.

Our stewardship will determine whether the critters that live here willor won’t have to worry about becoming homeless, and my grandchildrenwill or won’t get their chance to become stewards of this land. I firmlybelieve it all depends on the welcome mat we have out. Some examplesof a welcome mat are our water bars on our ranch roads, creek banksthat are protected with natural barriers, and manmade things. Butmostly growing things are the welcome mat, and more of themconstantly make it harder to find bare soil. Good water, mineral, andenergy cycles help the land become more complex. By being passionateabout our work we will become EGBOK (stands for Everything’s Going toBe OK). Oh, and remember, time is the coin of life. Let’s spend it wisely.

Beginning Women Farmers Northeast

HMI, along with our partners, successfullycompleted another year of teaching whole

farm planning to a group of 90 beginningwomen farmers from Connecticut, NewHampshire, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts,and Maine. This grant was funded byUSDA/NIFA Beginning Farmer and RancherProgram. With the help of organizations such asCommunity Involved in Supporting Agriculture,Small and Beginning Farmers of NewHampshire, Women in Agriculture Network-Maine, Connecticut Northeast Organic FarmingAssociation, Central New York ResourceConservation & Development, and University of Vermont, and a host of talented whole farmfacilitators and mentors, 60 workshops werecompleted throughout 2011. Year three of theprogram has begun and we are alreadyplanning for the Beginning Women Conferenceto be held in March.

Evaluation of this year’s program was multi-faceted including a retrospective survey todetermine actual behavior change and the results

achieved from those changes. This was in additionto the evaluation done to measure knowledgechange, intended behavior change, and feedbackon ways to improve the courses. We have alsocollected feedback from the mentors, facilitators,and local coordinators to continue to improve theprogram. Key outcomes have been that localcoordinators are providing more direction formentor support of participants and thesecoordinators are also providing greater continuityand support between classes to their participants tobuild a strong supportive network within eachprogram. This effort has resulted several moreHolistic Management support groups gettingdeveloped in these states to support ongoinglearning.

We also continue to refine the curriculum toimprove knowledge and behavior change bysimplifying language and concepts and focusingon key learnings for each class. Likewise, we haverevised agendas to allow for more experientialactivity that focuses on peer-to-peer learning forimproved retention of key concepts and providingfirst steps in changed behavior. This includescreating time so participants can work on theirown farm plans as well as learn from examples of farm plans. This focus on discovery learningand giving participants problem solving tools will bridge the gap of content learned in the course and real world application of this concepts in the field.

Beginning Women Farmers Texas

This fall, HMI hosted a series of one-dayseminars in Texas to promote Holistic

Management practices and the development ofour Beginning Farmers & Ranchers: Women inTexas program. Over 295 women attended theseminars in Austin, Edinburg, Dallas, andLubbock. We, along with our partners from theSustainable Food Center, are encouraged andinspired by so many strong women that areeither currently involved in, or planning asustainable agriculture operations. 97% of theattendees rated the seminars positively and 163expressed a strong interest in participating inour program. We couldn’t be happier. HMI iscurrently seeking funders for the program tomeet the demand for more training.

Sustainable Food Center’s Andrew Smileyaddresses almost a hundred Texas women inAgriculture at the Austin area seminar.

Future Farms Update

The Rappahannock County, Virginia FutureFarms Program concluded the Holistic

Management classes for year one of the programwith two days of Land Planning, taught byCertified Educator Seth Wilner in September.Wrapping up quarterly sessions on goal settingand decision-making, grazing planning andbiological monitoring, financial planning, andland planning, HMI staff Tracy Favre, PeggyCole and Peggy Sechrist are working withHMI Communications Director SandyLangelier to create a presentation for thepeople of Rappahannock County.

This “rapp-up” will be in the form of anevening reception honoring the local beauty andfood and the local people who participated in theprogram and improved their farms’ triple bottomline this year. Each participant will give a shortdescription of their operation and the changes



D E V E L O P M E N T C O R N E R

BeginningWomen Farmertraining takesplace out onlocal farms aswell as inthe classroomfor moreexperientiallearning.

BEGINNING WOMEN FARMER YEAR TWO OUTCOMES

Class Changed Behavior % of Response

Business Planning Revise or write business plan 100%Time Management Create systems to prioritize time allocations 94%Land Planning Situate farm layout and/or 85%

infrastructure differentlyPlanned Grazing Implement a system approach to improve 84%

plant and soil health through grazingMarketing Expand or introduce new markets 73%Soil Fertility Monitor for improved soil health 51%

YEAR TWO KNOWLEDGE CHANGE

% ChangeCourse in Knowledge

Soil Fertility 100Leadership & 100CommunicationWhole Farm Goal 97Time Management 97Financial Planning 95On-farm 85Decision MakingPlanned Grazing 56Marketing 50Business Planning 37Land Planning 33

HMI Board Changes

With our annual Board of Directors’ Meetingwe have a change in our Board make up as

Board member terms end and officers areelected. New Board officers are: SallieCalhoun, Chair; Ben Bartlett, Past Chair;Clint Josey, Vice Chair; Ron Chapman,Secretary; and Jim Shelton, Treasurer. We would like to thank Lee Dueringer, John Hackley, Jim McMullan and Ian Mitchell-Innes for their service to andsupport of HMI over the years. We also areexcited to introduce our new Directors, Wayne Knight and ZiZi Fritz.

Wayne is a fourth-generation farmer on hisfamily’s property nearMokopane in LimpopoProvince, South Africa.Wayne has had a longhistory with HolisticManagement when hisparents were some of Allan Savory and StanParson’s early clients in the 1970s. Waynegraduated with a Bachelor of Science inAgricultural Economics from Natal University.Following a working tour in the USA in 1994 hereturned to the family property to encourageintensifying the practice of Holistic Managementunder the mentorship of Dick Richardson. Waynehad a wonderful 14 year working relationship withhis father, who has now retired. Wayne completedhis Certified Educator training in 2006. He nowmanages the family property and leasesneighboring farms on which he practices holisticplanned grazing. He has also presented HolisticManagement training

Aside from his passion for HolisticManagement, Wayne has been a member ofRound Table, served on his local town’s Chamberof Business Executive Committee, and chaired orparticipated in a number of rural groupingsconcerned with local land owner issues. Wayne isa hunting guide, a keen fisherman and part timepainter. Wayne is married to Hilary and has threebeautiful young children.

Cézanne C. “Zizi” Fritz is a native NewMexican. Her family came to Albuquerque in the

late 1870s by way ofcovered wagon andsettled in the city to starta furniture and crockerystore and “undertaker”business. In 1988, Zizihad been a fifth-generation familymanager in funeralservice when the firm sold Strong-ThorneMortuary.

Zizi’s professional career spans many yearswith an international funeral service organizationwhere she managed 14 local funeral homes andcemeteries in New Mexico and Texas. She has beenprivileged to have worked in the public accountingsector and assisted with the start-up of a trustcompany. She served as the Executive Director ofan assisted living retirement community inLubbock, Texas and most recently served as theVice President and Executive Director of thePresbyterian Healthcare Foundation since 2003.

This last year, education about global affairsbecame a focus and travel took her to 48 countriesaround the world. Community service andleadership have always been a part of Zizi’s otherlife having served and led numerous boards overthe years. Welcome Zizi and Wayne!

Staff ChangesHMI is also excited to announce the addition of

two new Development staff, Matt Parrack andPeggy Sechrist.

Matt Parrack hasworked as a leader ofbusiness developmentwithin the complexhealth care InformationTechnology industry forover ten years. Driven bya vision to help smallphysicians’ practices,Matt designed programsthat grew their business despite the challengesassociated with navigating complex federalregulations, payer rules, decreasingreimbursements and increasing costs ofoperations. Matt has experience building a directsales program for a mid-size company and while

leading the company’s revenue generatingoperations increased the company’s sales revenueeach year.

In his most recent role as Director of BusinessDevelopment at Nuesoft Technologies, Matt hasbeen responsible for identifying new opportunitiesthat drive product distribution, operationalimprovements, and that continue to enhance theproducts and services. He negotiated multiplecontracts that were vital to increasing revenue andimproving market position. Matt has taken onmany roles including national oversight of directand indirect sales of a physician product line. Hehas worked closely with various strategic businesspartners, marketing departments, productdevelopment groups, and support operations toensure the satisfaction of the existing customers, aswell as identifying opportunities for growth andongoing development. Matt graduated from SaintJoseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvaniaand received his MBA from Robinson College ofBusiness at Georgia State University in Atlanta,Georgia. Matt will be our new DevelopmentDirector.

Also working onDevelopment for HMI isPeggy Sechrist.Peggy is a student,teacher, and practitionerof Holistic Managementfor nearly 25 years andresides in the HillCountry of Texas nearFredericksburg. Peggyand her husband, Richard, were the first ranchersin Texas to create a certified organic, grass-fed beefoperation in 1995. She has collaborated for manyyears with numerous agricultural and wildlifeagencies including Texas A&M University, TexasParks and Wildlife, Texas Wildlife Association,Texas Department of Agriculture, Natural ResourceConservation Services, Southern AgricultureWorking Group, and the United States Departmentof Agriculture/Sustainable Agriculture Research &Education program. Currently, Peggy and Richardoperate a local food co-op structured like aCommunity Supported Agriculture operation andserve membership groups in Fredericksburg,Kerrville, Comfort, and Boerne.

Following her interest in the challenges ofhuman behavior, Peggy has received training inNon-Violent Communication and is a courtapproved mediator for the Texas Court System.Her passion is to facilitate holistic planning withfamilies, organizations and communities to createthe reality they desire built around quality of lifevalues and one instilled with resilience andsustainability. Welcome, Matt and Peggy!



T h e

news from holistic management international � people, programs & projects

HMI at Conferences

In October HMI attended the NationalFuture Farmers of AmericaConference in Indianapolis, Indiana.HMI staff, Brady Gibbons and PeggyMaddox, talked with many students andagricultural teachers interested in HolisticManagement. Over 50,000 students,parents, and agricultural teachers attendedthis conference.

HMI was a key sponsor of the QuiviraCoalition Conference in Albuquerque,New Mexico in November. The focus of thisconference was “New Agrarians” andfeatured many young farmers from aroundthe country including those apprenticing atholistically-managed sites such as GeorgeWhitten and Julie Sullivan’s San JuanRanch in Saguache, Colorado and DennisMoroney’s 47 Ranch in McNeal, Arizona.

Outstanding Leadership AwardHMI Certified Educator and Mesquite

Grove Branch manager, Guy Glosson,won the Quivira Coalition’s 2011Outstanding Leadership in the RadicalCenter Award for Ranching. Guy has ranchedin Snyder Texas for over 20 years and teacheslow-stress livestock handling clinics aroundthe world. Congratulations, Guy!

made due to this training. This producer panel willthen be open for questions.

Participants in the Future Farms Program inRappahannock, Virginia discuss various landplanning options at Cliff Miller’s farm toreinforce the land planning concepts they are learning.

Kids on the Land

On September 20th, Katherine Dicksonand her family gave 4th graders from

Roscoe, Highland and Blackwell, Texas theopportunity to participate in the Kids on theLand (KOL) program at the 69 Ranch nearMaryneal. Peggy Maddox, Director of Kids ofthe Land program for HMI, developed theprogram which provides a day of hands-onactivities to help students reconnect to the landwhere they live.

The program at the 69 Ranch was calledNCI—Nolan County Investigation. Students beganthe day by creating a timeline of historical eventsof Nolan County and the Rolling Plains eco-region. The timeline took the students from 10,000years ago to the present. The rest of the day wasspent in different activities that included learningabout native plants on the walking trail along thehead waters of Sweetwater Creek; makingwildflower seed balls after learning how naturedisperses seeds; creating Native American talkingsticks; and doing the work of a naturalist bycreating nature journals. The day ended withsongs led by Charlie Davis.

Volunteers had gathered the day before at the69 Ranch to plan for the day. Volunteers includedMandi Ligon and Jaime Tankersly from NaturalResources Conservation Services, Burr Williams ofSibley Nature Center in Midland, Sandy Light,Regina McVey, Susan Dent and Kathy Hoskins ofMaryneal, Dalton and Gretchen Maddox ofColorado City, Karen McGinnis from San Angelo,Charlie and Susie Davis from Mulberry Canyon,and Dr. Paul Martin from Seguin. Specialparticipants from Dallas were Kathy Dickson’sdaughter and grandson, Maria and AnthonyParigi, friends Mimi and Meg Wilson, and SusanDelagarza.

Peggy Maddox notes: “Kathy and her late

husband, Temple, have created an oasis at the 69Ranch headquarters. Through the years, they havegiven back to the community in many ways andthis KOL day was just a continuation of thatcommitment. “

KOL is unique among environmentalprograms because it is designed to teach childrenabout their place where they live, using theproperty of local land stewards, and since childrenhave an innate need to be in nature and natureneeds a new generation who are reconnected to theland to take us to a more sustainable future, wehope to see the program continue to evolve as itadapts to meet new environments. Since itsinception in 2003, over 2400 students have beenparticipating in the program.

Kathy Dickson’s 69 Ranch was the site ofanother successful Kids on the Land program.

Charlie Davis led a sing along with the childrenfrom Roscoe, Highland and Blackwell, Texas.

Annual Appeal Reminder

Our 2011 Annual Appeal is now in the mail,and once again, we are counting on the

support of the Holistic ManagementInternational community. This year, it’s moreimportant than ever to support our mission toeducate people to manage land for a sustainablefuture. Studies have shown that ranch and farmland continues to disappear at an alarming rate;so much that USDA Secretary Tom Vilsackrecently called for an additional 100,000 farmersin order to sustain food production in the U.S.

Your support will help us maintain and growthe programs that are designed to educate andsupport agricultural professionals in order to


Grapevinecontinued from page seventeen

Development Corner continued from page seventeen maintain healthy land, that in turn produceshealthy food.

So if you like healthy land and healthy food,please consider a generous gift to HMI today. Foryour convenience, you can also give online byvisiting our website atwww.holisticmanagement.org.

Once again, we thank you for your support, and wish all of you a successful,sustainable 2012!


ARIZONA

* Tim McGafficP.O. Box 1903, Cave Creek, AZ 85331808/936-5749 • [email protected]

CALIFORNIA

Owen Hablutzel4235 W. 63rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90043310/567-6862 • [email protected]

Richard King1675 Adobe Rd., Petaluma, CA 94954707/769-1490• 707/794-8692(w)[email protected]

* Christopher Peck1330 Gumview Road, Windsor, CA 95492707/[email protected]

� Rob RutherfordCA Polytechnic State UniversitySan Luis Obispo, CA 93407805/756-1475 • [email protected]

COLORADO

Cindy Dvergsten17702 County Rd. 23, Dolores, CO 81323970/[email protected]

* Katie Belle Miller22755 E. Garrett, Calhan, CO 80808970/[email protected]

GEORGIA

Constance Neely1421 Rockinwood Dr., Athens, GA 30606 706/540-2878 • [email protected]

MAINE

Vivianne Holmes239 E Buckfield RoadBuckfield, ME 04220-4209207/336-2484 • [email protected]

* Tobey Williamson52 Center Street, Portland, ME 04101c: 207-332-9941 • [email protected]

MICHIGAN

* Ben BartlettN4632 ET Road, Traunik, MI 49891906/439-5210 (h) • 906/439-5880 (w)[email protected]

* Larry Dyer1113 Klondike Ave, Petoskey, MI 49770231/347-7162 (h) • 231/881-2784 (c)[email protected]

MONTANA

Roland Kroos 4926 Itana Circle, Bozeman, MT 59715406/[email protected]

* Cliff MontagneP.O. Box 173120, Montana State University Department of Land Resources &Environmental Science, Bozeman, MT 59717406/994-5079 • [email protected]

NEBRASKA

* Mae Rose Petrehn86904 Delmar Ave., Newport, NE 68759913/[email protected]

Paul Swanson5155 West 12th St., Hastings, NE 68901402/[email protected]

Ralph Tate1109 Timber Dr., Papillion, NE 68046402/932-3405 [email protected]

NEW HAMPSHIRE

� Seth Wilner24 Main Street, Newport, NH 03773603/863-4497 (h) • 603/863-9200 (w)[email protected]

NEW MEXICO

� Ann AdamsHolistic Management International1010 Tijeras NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102505/[email protected]

Kelly Boney4865 Quay Road L, San Jon, NM 88434575/268-1162 [email protected]

Kirk GadziaP.O. Box 1100, Bernalillo, NM 87004505/867-4685, (f) 505/[email protected]

Jeff Goebel5105 Guadalupe Trail NWAlbuquerque, NM 87107 • 541/[email protected]

NEW YORK

Erica Frenay454 Old 76 Road, Brooktondale, NY 14817607/539-3246 • [email protected]

Phillip Metzger120 Thompson Creek Rd., Norwich, NY 13815607/316-4182 • [email protected]

NORTH DAKOTA

Wayne Berry1611 11th Ave. West, Williston, ND 58801701/572-9183 • [email protected]

Joshua Dukart2539 Clover Place, Bismarck, ND 58503701/870-1184 • [email protected]

PENNSYLVANIA

Jim Weaver428 Copp Hollow Road, Wellsboro, PA 16901570/724-4955 • [email protected]

TEXAS

Guy Glosson6717 Hwy. 380, Snyder, TX 79549806/237-2554 • [email protected]

UNITED S TATES

UNI T ED S TATES

INTERNAT IONAL

Peggy MaddoxP.O. Box 694, Ozona, TX 76943-0694325/392-2292 • [email protected]

Peggy Sechrist106 Thunderbird Ranch Road,Fredericksburg, TX 78624(C)830/456-5587 • [email protected]

WASHINGTON

Sandra Matheson228 E. Smith Rd., Bellingham, WA 98226360/398-7866 • [email protected]

� Don NelsonDepartment of Animal Sciences 116 Clark Hall, Washington State UniversityPullman, WA 99164-6310509/335-2922 • [email protected]

Doug WarnockPO Box 48, Prescott, WA 99348509/629-1671 (c) • 509/849-2264 (h)[email protected]

WISCONSIN

Larry Johnson, 608/455-1685 W886 State Rd. 92, Brooklyn, WI [email protected]

* Laura PaineWisconsin DATCP N893 Kranz Rd., Columbus, WI 53925608/224-5120 (w) • 920/623-4407 (h)[email protected]

The following Certified Educators listed have been trained to teach and coach individualsin Holistic Management. On a yearly basis, Certified Educators renew their agreement to be affiliated with HMI. This agreement requires their commitment to practice HolisticManagement in their own lives and to seek out opportunities for staying current with the latest developments in Holistic Management.

For more information about or application forms for the HMI’s Certified Educator Training Programs, contact Ann Adams or visit our website at: www.holisticmanagement.org.

Certified Educators

Certified Educators

� These educators provide HolisticManagement instruction on behalf of the institutions they represent.

* These associate educators provideeducational services to their communities and peer groups.

AUSTRALIA

Judi Earl “Glen Orton” 3843 Warialda Rd., Coolatai NSW [email protected] 61-2- 0409-151-969

George Gundry Willeroo, Tarago, NSW 258061-2-4844-6223 • [email protected]

Graeme Hand 150 Caroona Lane, Branxholme, VIC 330261-3-5578-6272 (h)61-4-1853-2130 (c)[email protected]

Dick Richardson FrogmoreBoorowaNSW 258661-0-263853217 (w)61-0-263856224 (h)61-0-429069001 (c)[email protected]

Brian WehlburgPine Scrub Creek, Kindee, NSW, [email protected]

CANADA

Don CampbellBox 817 Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1Y6306/[email protected]

Linda & Ralph CorcoranBox 36, Langbank, SK S0G 2X0306/[email protected]

* Allison GuichonBox 10, Quilchena, BC V0E 2R0250/[email protected]

Blain HjertaasBox 760, Redvers, Saskatchewan SOC 2HO306/[email protected]

Brian LuceRR #4, Ponoka, AB T4J 1R4403/[email protected]

Tony McQuail86016 Creek Line, RR#1, Lucknow, ON N0G 2H0519/[email protected]

Len PigottBox 222, Dysart, SK, SOH 1HO 306/[email protected]

Kelly SidorykP.O. Box 374, Lloydminster, AB S9V 0Y4780/875-9806 (h)780/875-4418 (c) [email protected]

20 IN PRACTICE � November / December 2011

KENYA

Richard HatfieldP.O. Box 10091-00100, Nairobi254-0723-506-331; [email protected]

Christine C. JostInternational Livestock Research InstituteBox 30709, Nairobi 00100254-20-422-3000; 254-736-715-417 (c)[email protected]

* Belinda LowP.O. Box 15109, Langata, Nairobi254-727-288-039;[email protected]

MEXICO

Ivan A. Aguirre IbarraP.O. Box 304, Hermosillo, Sonora 8300052-1-662-281-0990 (from U.S.)[email protected]

NAMIBIAUsiel KandjiiP.O. Box 23319, Windhoek264-61-205-2324 • [email protected] NottP.O. Box 11977, Windhoek264/61-225085 (h) 264/[email protected]

Wiebke VolkmannP.O. Box 9285, Windhoek264-61-225183 or [email protected]

NEW ZEALAND

* John KingP.O. Box 12011Beckenham, Christchurch [email protected]

SOUTH AFRICA

Jozua LambrechtsP.O. Box 5070Helderberg, Somerset WestWestern Cape 713527-83-310-1940 • 27-21-851-2430 (w)[email protected]

Wayne KnightSolar AddictsPO Box 537, Mokopane, 0600South Africa [email protected]

Ian Mitchell-InnesP.O. Box 52Elandslaagte [email protected]

UNITED KINGDOM

* Philip Bubb32 Dart Close, St. Ives,Cambridge, PE27 3JB44-1480-496-2925 (h)+44 7837 405483 (w)[email protected]

INTERNAT IONAL

Having dabbled in raising both meat chickensand layers, I’ve read my fair share of chickenbooks. Without a doubt, Harvey Ussery’s The Small-Scale Poultry Flock is the best

book I’ve read about how to raise poultry in an all-natural way. Ussery not only discusses the usual ins and outs of animal husbandry, shelter, feed, butchering,etc. but he also discusses the critical piece of how to get the poultry to build soil fertility and integrate these important livestock in the garden. Given the needfor livestock integration within cropping, this text is even more valuable by addressing this issue.

Of additional value is that Ussery has done the numbers and givesexamples of what the net profit is for different types and sizes of poultryoperations as well as marketing options. For example a scenario with 250layers and eggs selling at $4.50/dozen with $13/hour labor costs at 10 hoursof labor/week yields a net profit of $10,284 the first year and $12,827 thesecond and $13,327 the third with the sale of spent hens included. With thescenario of 2000 layers (still considered a small flock) with 30 hours/week oflabor you have net profits of over $141,000. There’s nothing like numbers toget you thinking of the possibilities.

Besides the detailed spreadsheet examples, the appendices for this bookinclude: instructions for making a mobile A-frame shelter and trap nests, afeed formulation spreadsheet for making your own feed, a comparison ofnutrients between industrial eggs and pastured eggs, and a list of additionalvaluable resources. And also of great value are the numerous color-photographs on such critical instructions as how to butcher a chicken.

Because the focus of the book is on naturalpoultry raising, Ussery spends a considerable amountof space discussing key issues of avoiding predationand how to keep the poultry out in winter (twocritical issues with pastured birds). Many books do not cover these topics or are not as clear in what canbe done. Certainly Ussery speaks mostly from an Eastcoast perspective, but his years of work with theAmerican Pastured Poultry Producers Association, the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, and the

Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities brings the lessons he haslearned from many different regions to the fore in his writing (not to mentionthe writing he has done for Mother Earth News, Countryside & Small StockJournal, and Backyard Poultry).

Be prepared to challenge your paradigms of poultry management whenyou read this book. Of particular interest to me was Ussery’s decision to orderstraight runs of chicks because of the moral issue of euthanizing hundreds ofthousands of cockerel chicks for the convenience of all-pullet chick orders.Likewise, for those who argue that you can’t integrate livestock and cropping,Ussery explains how he has accomplished this task in his garden space (orrather, spaces). By alternating which area the birds are and which are thecrops are, he has an effective way to build organic matter while addressingconcerns of pathogens. But his “chicken cruiser” that can work a raised beddefinitely makes a variety of possibilities of integration possible.

I don’t think I’ve read such a useful farming book in a long time.“Chookfull” of useful information and thoughtful commentary, this book is a must have for any poultry producer.

Book Review by Ann Adams

The Small-Scale Poultry FlockBy Harvey Ussery, Chelsea Green Publishing, 2011394 pages

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_ Financial Planning August 2007, 58 pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$17

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_Grazing Plan & Control Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$17

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#141, In Practice, Jan/Feb 2012

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Transcript of #141, In Practice, Jan/Feb 2012