USARAAI SUMMIT 2019 Part 2
Part 2: Finding Faithful Stewards of the Land
The three-day event hosted several speakers. Three ag professors from UT, Russ Wilson of Pennsylvania, several product vendors, along with Ray Archuleta and Gabe Brown rounded out the presentations. They were all informative and interesting, but Gabe and Ray had my ear.
Gabe’s first presentation started with his story of failures, which turned out better than he could’ve hoped for. He continued with the definitions and break-down of the 6 principles of a healthy ecosystem. These are: minimal soil disturbance, keeping the soil covered, building diversity, keeping living roots in the soil, and integrating animals. He expounded on each in a way that anyone could understand. He explained that plants have a high level of intelligence, and we should observe and then react accordingly. Simulate Nature. There are no good or bad plants, as all have a job to do in the cycling of nutrients and healing the soil. Weeds/forbs are nutrients and are part of the revitalization of soil.
My mind was filled with the methods they were teaching and the microscopic actions I could see on the slides! How had I let my awareness of the life under my feet become so dull? The good thing was, it was becoming sharp again as I heard explanations and definitions for so many soil activities that pieced the puzzle together. I felt as though I was at a wonderful feast of earth-care.
Speaking of feast, it was time for lunch. Let me first say that the morning offerings of coffee, juices, fruit, granola bars, and locally made pastries were top-notch. And the lunches each day were as good as any 5-star restaurant. Wagyu burgers, farm-raised locally sourced chicken, hot dogs, and sides and trimmings that would make one’s mouth water. Then there were the desserts made and donated by local churches. Everyone got their plates filled then found a seat under the tent, where the conversations were abuzz with regenerative talk and changes to come.
Returning to our seats inside, with full bellies, I was ready for more. The bulk of the presentations for the afternoon and the next day dealt mainly with correct pasture management, rotational grazing, winter bale grazing, and water management. I don’t have cattle, but the soil lessons were pertinent as I have chickens, ducks, and goats. I learned that all soil tests are wrong, but some are useful; that native grasses work well for diversifying and improving forage, and which ones work best; and how important nutrient cycling is in pastures and crop ecosystems. Both days ended with a pasture walk where we could see, smell, and touch the soil as they explained the differences in each.
On Saturday Russ Wilson, of Wilson Land and Cattle Co., Spoke at length on transitioning from a conventional mindset to a pasture-based, low input grazing system. Again, I don’t have cattle, but I found the information interesting, and very helpful for those who are looking for that change. Russ has been very successful in practicing having a low-input cow herd and explained it well.
When I left the last day, I felt like I’d been to the best meetings I’d ever been to! I was refreshed in my thinking and knowledge base, had a renewed respect for all soil life, and a deep sense of concern for the impact humanity is having on the very resources we must have to survive. I also left hoping I could pass on some of what I’d learned.
