Tag Archive for: Pigs/Hogs

Stephanie Kasper's rainwater harvesting system

When in Drought, Plan It Out: Rain Harvesting

By Stephanie Kasper, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Program…
Cereal rye cover crop

Episode 304. Phosphorus and the Beauty of Biology 

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialists…

New Resources to Demystify Regenerative Grazing and Soil Health

The terms regenerative grazing and soil health have started to seem almost ubiquitous in the world of agriculture. This is heartening for me as a soil specialist with NCAT, where I consider it part of my job to help producers understand and take care of their soils, as it is key to their long-term success as farmers and ranchers.
Nina Prater

NCAT Webinar Series Addresses Advanced Grazing

Did you know that the most important livestock on your farm are the ones you never purchased and, in most cases, have rarely, if ever, seen? These livestock, along with plant roots, play an essential role in improving soil health, which is the foundation of any agricultural operation. But what is soil health and how does one go about improving it? The NCAT four-part webinar series Advanced Grazing for Regenerating Soils and Enhancing Animal Nutrition begins by addressing this question. 
Justin Morris, NCAT Regenerative Grazing Specialist, and  Lee Rinehart, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist 

Reflections from a Shortgrass Prairie

Erik Tucker has been ranching in Southeast Colorado since his early 20s, and although he didn’t grow up on a ranch, he has long felt  that the old way of ranching just wasn’t working. He likes to observe the sunshine, rain, and natural processes of the world that culminate in pastures and healthy cattle. He knows livestock didn’t always need so much handling, especially when bison freely roamed the area. He often thinks about those times and wonders if they can be recreated in their efficiency.
By Hernán Colmenero, Sustainable Food Consultant
sheep grazing

A Tale of Two Pastures: Pasture Response to Catastrophic Events

Did you know that pasture health and flying in an airplane are similar in some ways? If not, don’t worry; you’re not alone. A catastrophic event that happens in flight can resemble how a pasture responds following a catastrophe. Let us explain... 
By Justin Morris and Linda Poole, NCAT Regenerative Grazing Specialists

Grazing for Resilience: Bouncing Forward from Catastrophic Events

For many areas of the western United States and Canada, 2021 was one of the hottest and driest years in recorded history. With temperatures exceeding 110 degrees F and precipitation at one-third to one-half of what’s been the norm, these are unparalleled conditions that are catastrophic in their effect on the land, animals, and people. But what is to be done when nature dishes out severe weather events such as flooding, fire, or grasshoppers that eat every green leaf in sight? Is it possible to not just bounce back from such catastrophes but to bounce forward by rising to even greater resilience in the future? The answer is a resounding YES!
By Justin Morris and Linda Poole, Regenerative Grazing Specialists

Farrowing on Pasture

Join NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Mike Lewis for an…

Looking for On-farm Diversification? Consider Pastured Pigs

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

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
Hands holding organic strawberries from Canada

Virtual Farm Tour: Risk Management at Appel Farms

In this video, farmers Travis and Mandy Appel detail their specialty…
lambs and ewes in pasture

Building a Strong Foundation for Working with Livestock

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