Organic Beginnings

Last month I decided it was time to slash the back paddocks.

The bladey grass was starting to take over and I have found that the best way to slow it down and to eventually eradicate it is to slash the paddocks just before the seed heads start to mature.

At the same time as slashing starts it is a good idea to scarify some new type of palatable grass, seed that will compete with the existing.

As the slashing starts I hand sow seed in front of the tractor so that the mulch created covers and helps the seed to germinate and develop. I closed the paddocks up at this point and left them for four weeks or until there is a good six inches + of growth.

By this time even though I had kept up plenty of feed on the rest of the property, stock get bored as well and enjoy a change.

After having good rain fall for the first three weeks the new growth was astounding, no fertilisers are used on this property and so only Organic treatment is applied.

I decided that a good covering of Lime would be necessary for the whole property. I decided on just one ton per hectare as nothing had been done in terms of soil nutrition and development for several years.
This was fortunate in some ways as the introduction of organic practices wasn't inhibited by the past degradation when tons of inorganic fertilisers would have been the norm, along with deadly chemical sprays.
The land is enjoying a time of recovery and new found health.

On inspection twelve months on there has proven to be a marked increase in the types and variety of grasses that are returning to the mix and the grazing stock seem much more content and are not showing signs of the classic diseases and parasite infestations of the past.

Less stress on the stock and better nutrition makes for a much contented herd and is good business as it also reduces the costs associated with ill health and poor condition.
Last winter the stock received no supplementary feed and came through in good condition, stock numbers have been increased this year and I expect to feed out during the toughest months some good quality lucerne to help support the retaining of condition and healthy calving in the spring months and the start of new pasture growth.