From the Barns: Rough weather

The Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition, the new voice of regenerative grazing in Illinois, is moving forward rapidly with plans and developments. Logan Karcher has been hired to be the grazing coordinator for the southern half of Illinois. He can be contacted by cell at 618-308-2831 or online at burnthillco@gmail.com. Logan operates Burnt Hill Cattle Company LLC near Dahlgren, southeast of Mount Vernon. Logan joins Christian Lovell, who will now be covering the northern half of Illinois as grazing coordinator for ILGLC. Contact him at 317-650-6161 or christian@ilgrazinglands.org.

These leaders are busy organizing our ILGLC grazing schools, pasture walks and other grazing events across the state. If you have a need or wish to host a pasture walk, be sure and make contact and help yourself to any of the services hosted by ILGLC. Visit the emerging website at www.ilgrazinglands.org.

Earlier this year, ILGLC’s multiyear project, Building Illinois Grazing, was one of 49 nationwide projects selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service for funding. Through the BIG project, ILGLC will expand its regenerative grazing events offering with further details coming in the next few months.

Here at River Oak, Carson is on paternity leave, so the old man, just like old times, gets to run the ranch. I moved both groups to fresh digs yesterday morning and that went well. We did have three shorts on the east fences, which took some extra time, but I always want to be sure fences are top-notch when we are turning into paddocks next to the neighbor’s cornfield.

Our clipping season is almost over. It was definitely good to have the fescue clipped as we rotated out of paddocks, as the rains have quickly had a positive effect on regrowth. The cows have been really working for us — not the other way around, us working for the cows — in managing the mid to mature paddocks and not complaining too much. The added bonus is their grazing proved adequate when looking at their manure and no pinkeye cases have developed.

The only negative news to share this month is the effects of the derecho that we suffered on June 29; lots of trees down everywhere, including on top of fences. Electricity was off from noon Thursday to early Sunday. Fortunately, all of the cows were being watered from ponds at the time, so water was not a problem.

Damage was widespread and Carson’s home place suffered more than River Oak with fences, bins, buildings and trees. The bright side was that we received 3.5 inches of rain over the weekend. That amount — added to a 1.25 that we had been luckier than most to receive 10 days before — puts us in far better shape than earlier in June and May.

I took some R&R time in June to visit two of my daughters in Milwaukee and Rockford. On the way home, I diverted to Andrew Paquette’s place near Kankakee and was treated to views of a great grazing operation and beautiful Polled Hereford cattle. Andrew and his father have selectively developed an outstanding herd of near-perfect udders and feet and docility, as well.

The paddock system is extensive and well utilized and would make a perfect spot for a very informative pasture event. Andrew is also making plans to convert some ground to winter grazing and also do more rolling out of round bales for winter feed right in his paddocks to help soil health. It was a very worthwhile and enjoyable three-hour visit.

Hope you all have received rain while dodging the rough weather. Stay safe and sane.