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TWELVE STEPS THE POWER The Midwest Cattleman · April 23, 2020 · P33
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tracts to prevent this oc- ual improvement we must
that the most critical principle currence by rotating/rest- adopt technologies (tools)
in Adaptive Grazing Manage- pinkeye or foot rot, you can ing their shade. The fence is that move us forward. On
ment is to avoid overgrazing use the poly-wire herding easy to construct and relo- our home farms it is difficult
at all costs. When pastures technique to cut them out cate as management oppor- for us to imagine raising
are all down to the stop graz- and get them to the pen tunities change. A ruptured livestock without temporary
ing height, pull cattle into a without having to gather the waterline or an overturned electric fence. It is a tool that
sacrifice area and feed hay. whole herd. These are more water tank can cause quite a delivered a “breakthrough
Don’t get discouraged and examples of how “the power mess, and cattle would love moment” and fundamental-
abandon what you have start- of one wire” can impact Beef to use this area to cool them- ly changed our program. But
ed! As soon as the rain comes Quality Assurance. selves. A section of poly-wire it all started with “one wire”
you will be amazed at what Temporary electric fence can offer protection while dividing a pasture in half
you see compared to your can also be used to exclude this area stabilizes. and that’s why it is called
neighbors that continued to cattle from heavily impact- Frequently, severe thun- “The Power of One Wire”.
graze all pastures through ed areas that need rest or derstorms, tornados or tropi- However, like all technology
the drought. protection. Many pastures cal storm systems can knock there is a learning curve and
Also, understand that it have limited shade to aid down trees and damage pe- points of frustration. Don’t
is not uncommon for tempo- in cattle comfort during rimeter fences, requiring give up! Stay the course and
rary fence to be torn down the summer’s heat. Even a quick response from the learn how to use this valu-
when you are early in the in very large wooded areas farmer when they may have able tool. It changed every-
game. Don’t get frustrated cattle will find a preferred much larger problems to deal thing we do and made our
and quit…. observe, learn, location and use it repeat- with. If your animals are farms more productive and
and adapt. Was it low power, edly. They may continue to trained to temporary electric pleasurable.
lack of training, or a physical use these sites during the fence, you can use those sup- NC State Extension
failure (corner failed?) that winter. These areas will be- plies to quickly re-establish
led to the malfunction? As come degraded with excess the perimeter until perma-
your skills develop your sys- nutrients, excessive mud, nent repairs can be made.
tem failures in the temporary soil compaction/erosion and We certainly use a variety
fence will become rare events, over time the trees may die. of tools in livestock produc-
but they can still happen even Some progressive graziers tion. Some are very complex
in the best of systems. use temporary electric fence while others are quite sim-
to subdivide their wooded ple. On the quest for contin-
Step 12. Observe your sys-
tem and continually im-
prove your management
skills. ation when they are young so
One thing we love about that it is not a new concept to
Adaptive Grazing Manage- them when they start making
ment is that we continue to the management decisions.
be challenged to learn at a We welcome you on the jour-
more rapid pace even after all ney to Amazing Grazing!
these years. We realize that There are many produc-
there is knowledge in every ers that have started using
mistake and from every curve Adaptive Grazing Manage-
ball that nature throws our ment and are on the journey.
way. But no problem or fail- It works out to be an excit-
ure is without opportunity. ing and mindful life trying to
The road to Amazing Grazing figure out where we fit into WE ARE ON
is a journey without an end. this complex ecosystem. No
Once you have been practic- matter where you are on the
ing Adaptive Grazing Man- twelve-step plan, review the
agement for several years you steps and make sure you are
will realize that you really on track. Whether you are THE WEB!
don’t get to Amazing Grazing, at the steps where you are
but you can get close to it if just trying to gain aware-
you are tenacious. ness, needing to improve your
Continue to attend edu- electric fence skills, learning
cational events and as you how to take and interpret soil
mature in your understand- samples, or needing to devel-
ing of your management and op a comprehensive grazing
share that with other produc- plan we hope you’ll keep on
ers. Adaptive graziers with reading and looking for ed-
a positive collaborative atti- ucational opportunities that
tude are a very positive role will serve you well.
model in our industry. Share Note: Amazing Grazing is
your grazing excitement with a pasture-based livestock ed- midwestcattleman.com
young people, either your im- ucational initiative
mediate family, or through
other youth programs. Teach CEFS - NCSU
Adaptive Grazing Manage-
ment skills to the next gener-
