The Power of Positive Thinking

[PureCountry]

It sure is Sean. I've had some of Randy's heifers with mine and some cows, too, for a total of 48 head on a half section of pasture in the river valley, and you can't tell anything's been there at all. It's a real treat to watch this year.

[grassfarmer]

Kato, you hit the nail on the head there
"We've adopted a policy of contrariness" sums up what all us mavericks replying to this thread are doing. I love it when my neighbours all think i'm crazy. I think it is the road to success, life is exciting being on the edge!

Randy, Why do you need a permanent fence to create a wildlife and habitat sanctuary? Can't you achieve all these effects within your current dynamic of banked grass, rotational pasture, non-hay cutting etc? If you can't what are the impediments in your system to wildlife and trees thriving?
Our wildlife are thriving so well I thought we had a cougar living in an area of bush last week. Strong smell of tom cat all through it, no deer to be seen and even the coyotes were quiet for the week. Does that sound like the effect of a cougar?

[PureCountry]

Sure does Iain. We've had some around Hardisty now for a few years. Find tracks in the river valley maybe once or twice a year. Some folks got pictures of one right on the edge of town last summer, and a couple friends of mine saw one run across the golf course earlier this spring. Makes you think twice about checking fence on foot in the old river hills by yourself unless your packin'.

[PureCountry]

Almost forgot....Whiteface, my most sincere apologies for not including your name in my original post.(And any others who found themselves offended, disgruntled, or burdened with feelings of loneliness or thoughts of rejection)

[rkaiser]

I guess I neglected to tell the whole story Iain. Two of the three areas have water bodies and we are attempting to create bird habitat, nesting ground, and grow some trees. No matter the time of year that you graze a paddock you will risk destroying new growth trees. You are right about most wildlife, but some birds and things like squirrels and I will even argue deer will come to areas never trodden by our domestics. I mow trails through some of these areas with my lawn tractor and it is always a sight to see a little whitetail use the trail to explore the area.

The third area will be used as a woodlot for our outside wood burning heat source. Lots of spruce in the area (not much left in our whole part of the county) and I have yet to see even an extremely well managed coniferous paddock produce new seedling growth like a fenced out one. One area just beside this new one was fenced to stop any grazing in two separate projects in the past. Incredible seedling development at both stages.

Don't worry Iain, I am not suggesting that anyone else do such a thing, just one of those things that I do. It is also a place to go and simply feel good about as in the title to this thread of Darcy's. Call it my spiritual retreat - especially when negotiating with Encana; whose lease road borders the side of this place, or as day of battling the unmentionables.

[PureCountry]

cswilson, where's your boy up this weekend? Travellin' all over Saskatchewan with that crew of bronc-busters?

[DiamondSCattleCo]

".(And any others who found themselves offended, disgruntled, or burdened with feelings of loneliness or thoughts of rejection)"

Yeah, my feelers were hurt, you rotten bugger. Almost made me not wanna post. :P

Rod

[grassfarmer]

I understand where you are coming from Randy, just stirring the pot with my contrary thinking trying to set some folks thinking. Somebody has to play devils advocate now that Cowman no longer graces these forums!

We planted over 10,000 trees in the late 90s in Scotland on our property, returning some formerly wooded areas to their original habitat. Oak, chesnut and ash for longterm woodland and spruce for a shelter belt component. This was under an environmental program so we were farming Government too - I think to the tune of 70% of cost if I remember right. Funnily enough the growth of these woodlots is something I'm a lot keener to see on a return trip than the farmland or the building developments.

I won't even comment on the fact your deer need tractor cut paths to travel along, lol

[whiteface]

Thanks PC, yer forgiven...
this time!
I'd like to think that once in a while I'm more than just a pretty face, that there is something more in my head than air and that all the heartache I've had in my life can somehow contribute to the benefit of others. Even if only to provoke a chuckle now and again.
Have a good day all and thanks for reading!

[rkaiser]

I like that "stirring the pot" definition grassfarmer. I would think that most of us on this board are like that rather than leaders who "expect" to be followed. Or at least I would like to say that that is the way I think.

I like the fact that Kato has reasons for using Char bulls and calving in the early spring, and Mr. Wilson is using the grid. We need to encourage diversity in this industry. Diversity and competition in every way possible. If we did not have Cargill setting the bar for the rest of us to jump or pole vault over - where would we be????? wink.

Talk about yer positives. Just made a trip down to Wood Mountain Saskatchewan and back. Incredible grass and great looking crops in almost every area. A bit on the dry side as you go further south but some obvious early season growth.