By Blake Jackson
At a recent workshop held June 4-6 at Carver Farm, Noble Research Institute educators Devlon Ford and Travis Jones guided about 30 attendees through strategies for implementing regenerative grazing and effective water distribution systems.
The hands-on event gave participants a chance to map their properties and gain practical experience working with a small herd of cattle.
Regenerative grazing involves rotating livestock between pastures to mimic natural grazing habits, which can lead to healthier soil, improved water and air quality, better livestock well-being, and increased farm profitability.
Water access is a frequent challenge for many farmers, especially when adopting rotational grazing systems. During the workshop, attendees learned how different grass types impact water retention in the soil and how constructing ponds can boost soil health and water availability.
Angelica Benoit attended the event with her father, Mike, and sister, Patience, to gather ideas for their future homestead.
“Our goal is to become more sustainable,” Benoit said. “I loved how [they mentioned] in talking about rotational grazing, water does become an issue. Because if you're moving cows constantly, how do you have a water source in every single pasture? So, that's a cool idea to dig out your own ponds.”
Participants used online maps to locate their land and received printed versions to mark out pastures, landmarks, and potential grazing paths. This visual planning allowed them to better understand how to apply regenerative techniques on their own properties.
A key part of the workshop was a pasture demonstration. A small group of cattle was released into a designated area to graze for an hour. Afterward, participants returned to the pasture to observe the grazing patterns and which plants the cattle favored.
One attendee shared that his motivation for attending stemmed from a desire to explore new methods to improve his land, particularly soil health, and to test out regenerative practices firsthand.
Lincoln University’s College of Agriculture, Environmental and Human Sciences (CAEHS) frequently collaborates with the Noble Research Institute to help producers enhance their operations.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-jacqueline-nix
Categories: Missouri, Livestock