Why is it scrub grows on the south sides of hills in Marlborough while bare earth appears on the north side? “Much has to do with how land is grazed and the condition of soil surface,” says John King of Succession. “Reading the soil surface and relating observations to grazing practices is a skill farmers can use to great advantage.” Mr King will be talking to the Marlborough monitor farm group on May 8 about the importance of monitoring the soil surface and grazing management.
“Measuring and analysing what is happening at the soil surface is not measuring herbage amounts. It is looking for things like signs of erosion, plant age, plant health, plant diversity, litter on and in the soil, all of which give an indication of the overall performance of the land” says Mr King. “It is easy, stimulating, and adds enjoyment to land stewardship because farmers begin to understand the relationship between grazing and the health of animals and soil.”
Mr King offers an example. Can you tell how this land has been grazed by the figures in the table below? Exercises like this stimulate new thinking and an interest in observing what is happening on the land because of grazing practices.
Land that functions effectively has benefits not only for farmers but the community as well. Creating a soil surface that absorbs water rapidly and releases it slowly would have huge benefits to the Marlborough district by reducing soil erosion and the risk of flooding. Imagine if councils rewarded farmers for increasing their water infiltration rates of their properties. They could do this with the money they save on flood prevention structures or tax other water users that tap into the reservoir graziers are replenishing.
The importance of grazing cannot be underestimated here. For much of Marlborough the use of grazing animals is the only tool that can improve the soil surface. Fire does not improve water infiltration rates, nor is there any present or envisaged technology that can simultaneously improve the water cycle, regenerate biodiversity, and feed people. With the possibility of greater seasonal climate, farmers are going to have to manage their land differently or face increasing environmental bureaucracy.
John King from Succession coaches farming families to make decisions that are profitable, regenerative, and bring enjoyment to land stewardship. Contact him at succession@clear.net.nz or 025 6737 885 or AH (03) 547 6347.