NW PA Project Grass Field Day On August 24, 2024

Aaron Miller of Miller Livestock, Inc. presented a demonstration of Mob grazing techniques where a large number of cattle are confined to a limited space within the pasture to promote more competitive grazing habits between cattle which improves the overall utilization and efficiency of available forage. Cows are rotated daily to fresh pasture grass and water to take advantage of adequate grass growth and rest periods to provide the most available forage quality and quantity. Livestock is processed to provide good quality beef to retail consumers through direct marketing and to commercial restaurants. Strategies and management techniques for Bale grazing for winter months feeding was also demonstrated, as well as calculating available forage on pasture, sizing of grazing paddocks for the number of animal units you are managing, and improving soil health were also presented by NRCS and Conservation District staff. The rainfall simulator also helped participants understand the relationship between direct storm runoff and water infiltration on different cover types from a rainstorm event.

Mike Kovach of Walnut Hill Farm located near Sharpsville, PA presented an overview of his diverse multi-species farming operation which consists of raising grass-fed angus beef cattle, silvo-pastured hogs, goats, laying hens, broilers, and fresh turkeys which are sold through his own on-farm market. His rotational grazing system includes following the grazing cows through a pasture with a portable poultry pen setup pulled by a tractor where the laying hens and broilers can feed of the natural bugs and insects as well as the grass that was left behind by the grazing beef herd and the poultry manure actually fertilizes the grass to promote new and vigorous growth of the grass for the next time that the cows will come back.

Hannah Durkin of USDA NRCS discussed soil health and demonstrated the rainfall simulator to help folks compare the difference in direct runoff from rain storms and infiltration of water into the soil when you have different soil cover conditions. In the picture above the unit provided the equivalent of a 2 inch rainstorm per hour onto 5 different soil cover types. From left to right the 5 soil cover conditions were conventionally tilled cropland, no til cropland, rotationally grazed cool season grass pasture, warm season grass stand (clipped), and continuously grazed pasture. The top row of jars collected direct runoff from each sample and the bottom row of jars collected the water which infiltrated the soil cover type into the ground to retain moisture rather than runoff. Note the difference in quantity of water in each sample and the color or turbidity of the water in each sample.

Results show that the most direct runoff showed in the conventionally tilled cropland and continuously grazed pasture on the top row of jars. On the bottom row the most water soaked into the ground rather than running off on the rotationally grazed pasture, the warm season grass,, and the no tilled cropland.