– Victor Shelton, Retired NRCS Agronomist/Grazing Specialist
Beware poisonous plants like perilla mint under droughty conditions.
As I write this in late September, the pastures, woodlands, cropland, yards, and gardens all appear to be settling into autumn earlier than normal. This is due primarily to prolonged dry conditions. As wet as it was earlier in the year, and with most area rainfall totals being about normal for the year, I still find myself about four inches behind on rain for the present time frame, but thankfully with rain in the forecast.
This has certainly been a good year to be a watchful grazer—but that is always a good thing! I still have both sheep and cows, and I often ask myself why. The answer is that sometimes a flerd is better. The cattle focus most of their grazing on grasses, legumes, a few random forbs, and some tree leaves within reach while the sheep most often prefer forbs and legumes over grasses.
Sheep are more selective about quality than cattle. Not to say that cattle can’t be selective, but sheep have the ability to choose individual leaves and plant pieces with their mouths, whereas cattle eat by wrapping their tongues around a good bite, tearing it off, and consuming whatever is in it. Cattle may try to Continue reading Practicing creativity while grazing a flerd
