Biodynamic Pasture Management

New Zealand grazing consultant Peter Bacchus shares a lifetime of experience on applying biodynamics to pastures.

Author: Peter Bacchus

Publisher: Acres USA

ISBN: 160173039X

Category: Gardening

Page: 147

View: 418

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New Zealand grazing consultant Peter Bacchus shares a lifetime of experience on applying biodynamics to pastures. His multi-pronged approach considers balance of fertility elements, organic matter levels, soil life, and particularly soil life forces. Through biodynamic preparations and other tools he seeks to produce optimum grass quality and production for grazing animals. Also covered are biodynamic methods of pest and weed control.
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The Biodynamic Farm

The increase in production was largely causedby better pasture management. Originally, cows were allowed to graze6 hours/day; now cows are allowed to graze 24 hours/day. Pasture is stripgrazed and electric fencesare movedtwice each day.

Author: Herbert H. Koepf

Publisher: SteinerBooks

ISBN: 9781621511625

Category: TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING

Page: 245

View: 199

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Bankrupt farmers, erosion of topsoil, and poor food quality owing to pesticides, hormones, and other additives-these are the well-known realities of the modern crisis in farming. This problem is the outcome of the limited vision of conventional methods and a system that focuses exclusively on quick results and profits. The need for changes is clear, and Koepf provides a vast array of research data and results, as well as many helpful details on animal feeding, crop rotation, diseases, pests, and fertilizing. He shows that the biodynamic method of farming and gardening is the alternative that can turn farming around. Biodynamics is "the oldest alternative agricultural movement in the world." It is based on the concept of the whole farm as a single organism. Its goals are to protect and nurture the soil, improve the quality of food, and organically integrate the farm into the environment as a whole. This is an essential reference for all farmers who are unsatisfied with conventional methods and for gardeners who wish to improve the quality of life around them as well as the food they serve their families.
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Managing Healthy Livestock Production and Consumption

Grass-fed animals Standards In organic management, 60% of the daily feed intake (as dry matter) of ruminants must be roughage, as fresh, dried or silage in most circumstances. Omnivores (i.e., monogastrics) get roughage as part of ...

Author: Nadia El-Hage Scialabba

Publisher: Academic Press

ISBN: 9780128230510

Category: Technology & Engineering

Page: 276

View: 691

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Managing Healthy Livestock Production and Consumption is a highly interdisciplinary resource based on scientific and empirical evidence. It is illustrated with best practices of low-input livestock systems from different continents and offers predictive modelling alternatives for a more resilient future. By addressing gaps of knowledge and presenting scientific perspective studies of livestock’s impact on the environment and the global food supply up to 2050, this book is useful for those advocating for sustainable food systems. Existing evidence of the effects of livestock production on food quality and nutrition is reviewed. Livestock production and consumption is a highly diverse topic where current publications only include/focus a single aspect of the issues, for example, greenhouse gas emissions or health impacts, leading to unilateral decisions such as refraining from meat consumption. However, animals are necessary to soil fertility and ecosystems balance and a more realistic resource is necessary for researchers, scientists, and policy makers. This book clarifies perceptions by presenting sound scientific evidence across livestock landscapes for the scientific community to better appreciate the ecological web of life and the social web of community related to livestock production. An edited work written by globally diverse scientists and practitioners, including field workers, technicians, and policy makers, this is a valuable resource for researchers, teachers, and development agents working in the area of sustainable livestock production and consumption of animal source foods. National, international organizations, policy makers, and donors interested in sustainable development of the livestock sector will also find the information here practical and applicable. Describes the public-health impacts of sustainable diets and livestock products Presents the impacts of livestock production on the environment and food supply Explores future scenarios (up to 2050) of low input livestock systems Includes current case studies of low input livestock systems that offer potential for scaling-up and replication for sustainable livestock futures
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Organic Crop Production Ambitions and Limitations

Whilst AMF were presumably important for pasture P-uptake on the biodynamic farms, the fungi could not match the P ... Significant imbalances exist in global P management and many developing countries which have agricultural systems ...

Author: Holger Kirchmann

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

ISBN: 9781402093166

Category: Technology & Engineering

Page: 244

View: 511

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Many people believe that organic agriculture is a solution for various problems related to food production. Organic agriculture is supposed to produce healthier products, does not pollute the environment, improves the fertility of soils, saves fossil fuels and enables high biodiversity. This book has been written to provide scientifically based information on organic agriculture such as crop yields, food safety, nutrient use efficiency, leaching, long-term sustainability, greenhouse gas emissions and energy aspects. A number of scientists working with questions related to organic agriculture were invited to present the most recent research and to address critical issues. An unbiased selection of literature, facts rather than standpoints, and scientifically-based examinations instead of wishful thinking will help the reader be aware of difficulties involved with organic agriculture. Organic agriculture, which originates from philosophies of nature, has often outlined key goals to reach long-term sustainability but practical solutions are lacking. The central tasks of agriculture - to produce sufficient food of high quality without harmful effects on the environment - seem to be difficult to achieve through exclusively applying organic principles ruling out many valuable possibilities and solutions.
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Cover Crops and Sustainable Agriculture

With a limited demand for forages, making available government subsidised forage or pasture production has been perceived to be ... Careful and appropriate management of livestock manure, as demonstrated in decades-old biodynamic farms, ...

Author: Rafiq Islam

Publisher: CRC Press

ISBN: 9781000407112

Category: Science

Page: 326

View: 751

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This book will not serve as the "encyclopedia of cover crop management," but it’s close. The benefits of a wide range of individual cover crops and blends/mixes for specific agronomic crop rotations and geographic locations are included. Descriptions, photographs, and illustrations show how cover crops look in the field, including plant height, leaf architecture, and rooting patterns. Long term benefits are described for soil health, soil structure, water quality, nutrient contributions, soil biodiversity, air quality and climate change. In addition to the "whys" of cover crop use, the book includes details on the "hows:" how to choose cover crops for specific applications and locations; how (and when) to plant; how to manage and maintain the cover for maximum benefit; and how and when to terminate. Planting options include: drilling/planting between rows of an agronomic crop at planting time, or when the crop is short (i.e. corn in early June); "aerial" seeding with an airplane or high-clearance machine shortly before the crop reaches maturity; and drilling/planting immediately after harvest of the agronomic crop. Selected cover crops (blends) can help with pest and disease management. Cover crops are an economic input with an expected return on investment, similar to pesticides and fertilizer. As part of a continuous no-till system, cover crops provide long-term biological, chemical and structural benefits. The resulting increase in soil organic matter means the agronomic crop yields benefit from better water infiltration and water holding capacity, greater availability of nitrogen and other nutrients, deeper rooting, and increased soil microbial activity in the root zone.
627 Download

Breaking Through Grass Ceiling

Examples include wool manufacturing and marketing,pasture/grazing management systems,herbsand essential oils, organic/ biodynamic agriculture, aquaculture, ostriches, speciality dairy products and native flowers ...

Author: Margaret Alston

Publisher: Routledge

ISBN: 9781134436057

Category: Business & Economics

Page: 288

View: 995

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First Published in 2000. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
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Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture

Pasture nutrient analysis clearly indicated that plant P concentrations were consistently lower ( P < 0.05 ) under BD management compared with CV farms ( mean = 0.25 and 0.35 % respectively , Table 4 ) and differences in P fertiliser ...

Author:

Publisher:

ISBN: UCBK:C094368937

Category: Agriculture

Page:

View: 331

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Grasp the Nettle

This book aims to assist biodynamic farmers and gardeners to observe the processes of life and growth, and to understand how these processes are governed by cosmic forces, so they can use this knowlege in applying their practical skills.

Author: Peter Proctor

Publisher: Penguin Random House New Zealand Limited

ISBN: 9781775530428

Category: Gardening

Page: 196

View: 964

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The expert guide to biodynamic farming and gardening. In this revised and updated edition of Grasp the Nettle Peter Proctor tells the reader how to apply biodynamic methods of farming and gardening to a wide range of conditions in New Zealand and in other countries. The book provides practical observations and techniques, and relates these to the spiritual scientific knowlege upon which that biodynamic practice is based. Peter gives tips on how to recognise healthy soil and pasture, and on how to make your own biodynamic preparations. He also gives examples of farms that are successfully using biodynamic methods. This book aims to assist biodynamic farmers and gardeners to observe the processes of life and growth, and to understand how these processes are governed by cosmic forces, so they can use this knowlege in applying their practical skills. Peter Proctor, past national field advisor for the NZ Bio Dynamic Farming and Gardening Association, now teaches and advises farmers on biodynamic methods around the world.
171 Download

Organic Dairy Production

... the organic milk market and sourcing affordable feed for your livestock • Maintaining soil health and managing manure sustainably • Crop production and grazing management, including information on forage species, pasture management, ...

Author: Sarah Flack

Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing

ISBN: 9781603583510

Category: Technology & Engineering

Page: 90

View: 435

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Part of the NOFA guides. Includes information on: Organic poultry basics Establishing the facilities (housing and equipment, choosing and using litter, outdoor access, brooding, grazing and pasturing) Purchasing and brooding chicks Organic feed and supplements Poultry health care in the organic system Management challenges (production and culling, spotted shells, yolk color) Slaughter and Processing Marketing Production expectations and economic viability
731 Download