Can't re-find magazine article

retiredbop · #1 10/21/09, 08:26 AM

Most likely magazines: Countryside, Hobby Farm, Rural Heritage or Grit.

It was a very nice article about rotational land management. Lady described how their farm wasn't doing so well on typical big agri-business concept of petro-fertilizers. They returned to a rotational management system (similar to a four year rotation, maybe five years) and things got much better. One of the keys was that her husband actually tilled

and planted the pastures in the rotation as well.

I read it, meant to save it for future application to our land, and I'll be blasted if I can find it now! Any help would be appreciated.

Menglish · #2 10/21/09, 08:33 AM

Can't place which one exactly but it was in Countryside in a fairly recent issue. I'd look it up for you but my sister conficscated all my back issues!

Mike

retiredbop · #3 10/21/09, 08:44 AM

I suspected Countryside, that's why it was first on my list. Fortunately I haven't recycled magazines in a while. Wonder if I can find it on their website?

retiredbop · #4 10/21/09, 09:05 AM

Menglish, thank you. You provided the impetus I needed. I went to the Countryside website and searched. Wasn't much of a search really, it was in the Sep/Oct issue, which means I probably read it sometime in August.

The article, by Jerri Cook, is titled Out To Pasture: Nutrition more Important than rotation. Now to go dig that issue out of the recycling bin. Maybe I should just NOT recycle any Countryside issue?

Menglish · #5 10/21/09, 11:24 AM

Glad you found it. I read and re-read that article with a great deal of interest. It made a ton of sense to me...but I'm no expert for sure!

I keep all the back issues. My sister and siter in law are always borrowing them when I'm done. Usually they return them! LOL

Mike

retiredbop · #6 10/21/09, 01:15 PM

Yeah, it made sense to me too. Guess that's why it stuck in my mind.

When we buy our land it is our intention to run it small, without fossil fuels, and with the intent to make a living not a fortune. I read everything I can get my hands on about successful small-scale farming. I believe a small farm can provide a living. I don't believe a small farm can provide for two cars, a truck, a Harley, a small boat, a tv in every room, the latest video game system, dinner out four nights a week, and an RV.

Darren · #7 10/21/09, 02:49 PM

There's a number of sources for rotation. The USDA published an excellent softcover book on different crops for improving the soil. One of the keys is to limit tillage if there's potential for soil loss. The idea of some cover crops that are frost seeded or planted via no till is avoid cultivation.

Others believe that tilling the soil destroys the soil structure. That takes into account that soil is not just dirt but consists of a world of mostly unseen life that is disrupted by tillage.

madness · #8 10/21/09, 03:35 PM

I knew exactly the article you were talking about! A friend borrowed that copy of countryside and I've been wanting to reread it but she has lost it. ARG!

retiredbop · #9 10/21/09, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madness

I knew exactly the article you were talking about! A friend borrowed that copy of countryside and I've been wanting to reread it but she has lost it. ARG!

Chill! All is not lost. Go to Countryside's site. It's fronted by the current issue, which is the Sep/Oct issue. The article is available for printing. Scroll down on the left side and click on the blue link. I printed a copy, and saved a copy to my hard drive just in case.