Entries by ncat-admin

The Impact of Grazing Frequency and Recovery Period on Plant Diversity and Soil Health

/in ,

During my extensive travels working in pastoral ecosystems for nearly 20 years, ranging from Hawaii to New Hampshire and a lot of places in between, I’ve observed a common phenomenon. Whenever I would see a pasture that was always grazed down very short, I would see maybe two or three species of plants there. At the opposite end of the spectrum, I observed fields where livestock were never permitted to go and again, I would see a few plant species at best. Between these two extremes I found pastures with incredible diversity. So, what was driving plant diversity or the lack of it? 
By Justin Morris, Regenerative Livestock Specialist

Episode 228. A Closer Look at Hair Sheep

/in ,

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Margo Hale, NCAT’S Southeast Regional Director, and NCAT Agriculture Specialist Tracy Mumma discuss considerations in raising hair sheep. Both have raised hair […]

Advanced Beekeeping

/in ,

Sometimes, in the course of events, having knowledge leads folks in odd directions. One of those directions could even be driving down the highway with a chunk of tree full of bees. A fellow needed help with said bees. He’d knocked them and their tree over with his tractor while mowing. He knew the tree to be dead and took the opportunity to start preparing it for burning. It didn’t go so well for him.
By Justin Duncan, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist

Weekly Wednesday Workshop: Winter Cover Crops

/in ,

In this video, Felicia Bell, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist at the Gulf States Regional Office in Jackson, Mississippi,and NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Justin Duncan discusses winter cover crops. This video […]