March « 2013 « pdfangus

On Tuesday March 26, 2013 the Hanover – Caroline Soil and Water Conservation District was proud to assist Va NRCS in facilitating a meeting of the State Technical Committee.

It was an NRCS meeting but our district assisted in logistics and set up. The meeting was held in the fellowship hall of a local church and the demonstrations were held at Cabin Hill Farm, the base of Engel Family Farms.

below are photos from the event taken by Marian Moody and Jim Tate of Hanover Caroline SWCD.

Dr Wade Thomason, Discussing his research and CIG grant

Chris Lawrence and Kevin Engel

watching the rainfall simulator

J B Daniel explaining what is happening and why

the rainfall simulator in action

Chris Lawrence explaining what is going to happen

an actual slice of multispecies cover crop from a participant field

LOOK….I found a worm!!!

a slice of multispecies cover crop upside down

chris Lawrence expalining the basicis of soil health

four basic principles are the keys to building soil health

actual multi species cover crops on display

Mr. Bricker presides over the meeting of the State Technical committee

Kevin Engel welcomes the audience to his farm

The results are visual and dramatic

J B Daniel Va NRCS Forage Agronomist

J B Daniel and Chris Lawrenece run the rainfall simulator

Rainfall simulator demo

Chris Lawrence Va NRCS Cropland Agronomist talking about soil health

Jack Bricker Va NRCS State Conserveationist

Jim Tate, HCSWCD Conservation Specialist , telling stories

setting up horse grazing strips on the Ides of March 2013…strips are approximately 6 feet wide by 100 feet long and are targeted to be grazed for one day and then rested for about 60 days. I set up five strips and the next set will be about 9 feet by 100 feet. then we will go to four strips that will be about 15 feet by 75 feet. 12 days grazing using a few rolls of poly wire in one 1/2 acre lot. The grass is already 8 inches tall and will recover rapidly by limiting the stress on the grass. I also protect my horses from grass founder by limiting the daily intake. takes me about ten minutes to move a poly wire fence and make a new grazing strip or lot. I can not tell you how much this improves your grass. Yes I can….this paddock has not had any lime or fertilizer in going on four years….do you have grass like this.? all it takes is grass management and rest for the grass. mother nature will do the rest.