Step 1: If you don't have great pasture grass, start reading here

Are you tired of feeding hay because you have no grass? Do you want to use your land better, but you don't know how to get started?

If you are like many farms without great grass, you are not alone. The good thing is that we have the plan to help you move in the right direction. You may not be completely independent on hay for the rest of your life, but we can help you manage your grass better so that your animals (horses, cows, sheep, etc) have a constant supply of succulent pasture grass. The way to be successful with adaptive grazing is to understand that the path will look very different from what you are used to with a traditional barn setup. Creativity and "out of the box" thinking is how you break through the mold.

You first need to accept that the road ahead will take a lot of work (initially), but you will save money in the long run. Your land will also become healthier by the year, offering more nutritious grass after every grazing cycle. Adaptive grazing is "adaptive." Each day, you will make decisions based on what your animals are eating, how the grass is looking, and growing, recent rain, trampling effects which have (or need to) take place, plus much more.

The second thing you will need to realize is that pasture areas will look much smaller. You may not think small daily paddocks will provide enough food, but you have to trust us: they will. You will be putting together paddocks of grass that horses can eat within 24 hours before you move them. Don't worry initially if you get it wrong. Many horses are not used to grazing consistently, so it will take a few days to get them into the routine. Also, your eye will need to be trained on the available forage. It will all come together with time.

If you think you are still willing to start, read my next article on "planning your spaces."