Message from the Co-President: Profitability is in the Grass

By Roman Stoltzfoos

Overstocking or under moving? Why is that important? As you start grazing this season, keep in mind the following whys and wherefores to keep profitability growing. Here are a couple of things to remember for your spring grazing start-up.

Remember to make as few cow groups as possible to make it easier to move them, preferably at least twice a day. Moving often will be very helpful when you might be overstocked. If you haven’t started grazing yet based on pasture growth, wait as long as you can to start; however, nibbling the grass down to the quick once a year will probably work, especially in the spring. Also, if you give your winter grazing paddocks a longer rest to recover, it will help them rejuvenate. Whenever a paddock is abused, whether accidental or intentional, it needs extra recovery time. Also, remember to start grazing at a different place than you did last year. One of the most important parts of planned grazing is that you plan to start and do a different rotation each year. To understand why we do what we do in adaptive grazing read on.

Keep in mind the six principles of soil health.

1. Context: Grow and raise plants and animals that thrive in your environment.
2. Disturbance. There is no mechanical or chemical disturbance in Nature. Animals only used to disturb your pastures will be the best for them.
3. Armor: Cover and build surface armor. Let plants protect your soil.
4. Enhance diversity. You need diversity of plants, microbes, wildlife, and livestock. Nature never grows monocultures. We shouldn’t either.
5. Living Roots: Keep living roots in the soil. Roots feed soil microorganisms which feed our plants.
6. Livestock! Grow healthy animals and soil together. Grazing has been an essential component of all good soils at one time or another.

Then remember the three rules of adaptive stewardship.

1. Compounding: everything we do on the farm or ranch produces compounding and cascading effects, either positive or negative. Effects or never neutral in nature; the goal is to create positive impact with diversity.
2. Diversity is the second rule of adaptive stewardship. Nature never supports or produces a monoculture. Nature always yields incredible diversity in soil, microbes, microorganisms, plants, and animals. And then the third rule of adaptive stewardship is
3. Disruption. Nature becomes stagnant if we settle into a routine with our management practices. So introduction of periodic planned disruptions in order to keep things moving forward is good.

Remember, you are working with Nature, not against it. Therefore, keep in mind the four ecosystem processes you are working with:

1. Energy flow is one of your most important processes in nature. Energy flow is all about solar energy and photosynthesis. Unlike the water cycle and the mineral cycle, solar energy flows in one direction from the sun to the Earth. This solar energy power is the plant/soil relationships, which is necessary for life itself. As plants die or are eaten, their remnants are recycled back into life again through soil biology contribution to other ecosystem processes. Your plants are 100 times more efficient that artificial solar energy!
2. Water cycle is the next important part of the four ecosystem processes. When rain or snow falls on our land, we are responsible for its fate from that point forward. Will it pond and pool and evaporate or runoff? Will it cause erosion and harmful runoff to others? Can we keep it or do we lose it?
3. Next ecosystem process is the Mineral cycle. The three phases of an effective mineral cycle are, number one, moving minerals from below to above the soil surface; number two, placing those minerals on the soil surface, and number three, moving minerals from above the soil back into the soil. Plant roots and animals are good at this. Grazing forages and browsing animals are an important part of this process. The synergism between plants, soil, and minerals cannot be overestimated.
4. The last one of the four ecosystem processes is diversity. This is sometimes called biological succession. It involves the changes in the development of all living things. There is a fundamental rule of succession that is defined by the statement from the Bruce Ward Legacy Trust, “A species will move in an environment when the conditions are suitable for its establishment and will move out of that environment when conditions become unsuitable for it reproduction.”

You may be asking: Should I mow my pasture? My experience shows that it’s better not to mow pasture. The weeds are there doing their job. They are part of the diverse ecosystem that comes in part because of our poor or good management whichever way you look at it. Having a larger group of animals, and keeping them moving, will largely mitigate the need for mowing. Remember, a mowed off weed cannot do its job. Weeds are providing biodiversity that your soil needs. Check your decisions against the lists above to keep you on track for growing profitability. My belief is that 100% grazing farms with no grain fed are 20% more profitable on the bottom line on average than conventional organic dairies. Just wanted you to know that these principles are true, whether you believe them or not. Why not put them to work for you? My opinions, well that’s another story but I believe they are good. Text me with your opinions and if you have questions at 717-278-1070.

May God bless your efforts to steward the soil with the above principles.

If you ever have a chance to take the 3-day Understanding Ag “Soil Health Academy” seminar you will greatly enhance your farms profitability. There’s usually one in New York and one in PA every year. Call 256-996-3142 for info.

Roman Stoltzfoos, NODPA CO-President

Phone: 717-278-1070, and texting is preferred

Email: romanstoltzfoos@gmail.com

Posted: to Organic Production on Sat, May 17, 2025
Updated: Sat, May 17, 2025