Field Restoration & Weed Control (after severe drought)

[drafthorsey]

Monsanto sent out a representative to talk with farmers/ranchers about field restoration after severe drought. Can’t speak for anyone else but I did appreaciate her information on field, soil, and weed control after a severe drought like we’ve suffered the past two years. After a gift of of 7 inches and change of rain the past week, a warm winter the weeds are really off to a flying start. You’d have to figure into the equation trying to catch Johnson grass and shaddercane in the bar ditches and edges of the field as well or they’ll take over with a weakend bermuda root system. Short term, sure I could spray 2 or 3 times this spring to catch as much of the weedstock as possible. But that money’s already spent on seed for burnt up alfalfa acreage. Besides, we need something a little longer term than 50 gallon drums of weed killer.

Are there any folks who’d tried goats? Since most folks like to know “what kind”, I’m looking hard at Kiko goats. This is a long term investment, not trying to follow any fad. My question is what size herd might I be looking at one day if the goal is to forage 60 – 180 acres?

And as we like to say out here, “The closer you get to Texas, the more things there are that’ll eat your horse”, so any thoughts on protectors from burro to dogs is welcomed as well.

Thanks for your thoughts in advance ….

[Anonymous]

It depends on what your end goal is. If you are working on pastures that are weedy a strong grazing plan will take care of that, heck some weeds are actually better forage than we think if they are grazed at the right growth stage. As for working bare ground for grains I am no help there, I have never done any conventional farming just sweat equity.
Goat grazing densities will depend on what kind of pasture they have. For example up here in the northeast if we are doing daily rotations with adequate rest on good pasture we can pack in almost 1 cow per acre or 6 sheep. That is on the high side but doable. Goats are browsers and need a diverse pasture both in species and in plant heights. if the goats are just for weed control then a small flock will work fine, you just move them around to the problem areas and graze it off. check out the stockman grass farmer paper there are a few good goat experts that contribute from areas of the country more like yours.

Jared

[Author]

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