Pasture Seeding Update

 Last month, we described several R&D projects we've taken on to help improve margins as part of continual-improvement on the ranch.  One of the more exciting projects is the seeding of the pastures with a warm-season grass, Piper Sudan Grass.  This is a sorghum/sudan grass hybrid, which is a cross between sorghum grass (often used as a grain for animal feed), and sudan grass.  The grass grows quickly, produces tons of biomass, and has a vigorous root system.  It establishes quickly, and is relatively drought tolerant.  The aggressive root system pushes carbon deep into the soil, and will improve soil conditions over time, allowing for better water infiltration when it rains, more soil biology for nutrient cycling, and more native bunch grass production in the winter and spring.

Summers at TLR are the hardest time of year, as pastures dry up, and only the most well-adapted plants can survive the dry conditions.  The native grasses in our area are all cool-season "bunch" grasses (they grow in clusters, instead of spreading by root rhizomes), and tend to be on the short side (less than 50cm).  Sorghum-Sudan grass, on the other hand, is a warm-season grass, which grows rapidly, and tall.  The test plot we are growing this year grew over 7 feet, and the stand was so dense, you could easily get lost within it.  Although it was just a small trial this year, we do believe that this is a viable option going forward for summer grazing.  We will use the data from our trial this year to calculate the efficacy going forward.  Below is a video showing the stand shortly before we turned the goats loose on it for a tasty snack:




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