Entries by Cathy Svejkovsky

Bigger Isn’t Always Better: When Small Cows Shine

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Our farm is small, and it doesn’t have a lot of infrastructure or equipment. This makes handling cattle an intimidating proposition for our family. Fortunately, not all cattle are created equal. By selecting Aberdeen Angus, a small breed of cattle about 44 inches at the hip and 1,000 pounds per cow, we were able to work a beef enterprise into our farm operation with minimal difficulty. 

By Tracy Mumma, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist

Looking for On-farm Diversification? Consider Pastured Pigs

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I once had a platoon sergeant who liked to say, “the best defense is having a diversity of offense.” It wasn’t until recently that I made this connection to my farm and to my work at NCAT. One of the most common topics that I speak with farmers about is how to best diversify their operation to successfully weather the current reality we find ourselves in.

By Mike Lewis, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist

For the Love of the Wild: Livestock Pastures as Wildlife Habitat

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Farmers, ranchers, and researchers have come to understand that the functionality of ecosystems on farms is largely dependent on plant and animal biodiversity. Functional ecological processes and services are facilitated by biology, necessitating maintenance of biological integrity and diversity in agroecosystems.

By Lee Rinehart, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist

Building a Strong Foundation for Working with Livestock

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Years of farming and visiting other farms, combined with recent education in soil health, have convinced me of this: We can best serve people, the land, and the livestock by learning to care for the soil FIRST. That’s why NCAT’s Livestock and Grazing Team began with this foundation when they gathered to teach a three-part series for beginning livestock producers. 

By Linda Coffey, NCAT Livestock Specialist

The Journey to a More Holistic System of Ranching

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After many different and varied careers, Doug Lair settled into ranching 25 years ago, returning to a legacy started by his great-great grandfather, who passed down a team of mules and the family brand to his great grandfather. I recently had a conversation with Doug about his efforts to create a more holistic system of ranching.
By Andrew Coggins, NCAT Rocky Mountain West Regional Director

Conservation Hedgerows for the Southwest

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“Kill two birds with one stone” — isn’t it time this old adage got an update? Instead of killing two birds with one stone, why don’t we save two birds with one hedgerow? And protect soil from erosion while we’re at it? And protect plants from wind damage, too? And do a bunch of other great things that benefit humans, animals, and the environment?
By Katherine Favor, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist

Safety for Sheep and Shepherd

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When NCAT’s Livestock Team recently held a series of webinars for people considering a new livestock enterprise, many folks indicated they were thinking of getting sheep. Sounds good to me!

By Linda Poole, Regenerative Grazing Specialist

Agroforestry for Improved Soil Fertility

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It’s the holiday season, the time of year when food and feasting is at the forefront of our thoughts more than ever. Just like humans, our soil needs nutrition, too, so while part of me is busy thinking about what food I’m going to make for my family this Christmas, the other part of me is thinking about what food my soil needs.
By Katherine Favor, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist

Overgrazing – A Chronic Soil Disturbance on Grazing Lands: Part I

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Chronic human diseases are everywhere these days it seems. Interestingly, there are some similarities between how our bodies respond to acute and chronic disturbances and how grazing lands respond to acute and chronic disturbances that come in the form of grazing, drought, fire, hail and even insect pest invasion.
By Justin Morris, Regenerative Grazing Specialist