| first
year. EQIP applicants are ranked according to both state and local
resource concern priorities. Steve Yelverton, NRCS District
Conservationist for Covington County, said, "Mike stayed the
course. I tell all the producers who apply for EQIP to be patient. If
they don’t get approved this year, perhaps they will be approved next
year." That was the case for Birge. His EQIP contract was signed in
March 2006 and it called for the installation of several conservation
practices to improve the environmental conditions of his land.
One
of Birge’s goals was permanent hay fields and pasture. NRCS talked
with him about the various types of grasses available. Birge selected
Tifton 85 Bermuda grass for the hay fields. He cut the pine trees and
established pasture. For the permanent pasture, Birge planted 22 ½
acres of Tifton 9 bahiagrass. The pastures were cross-fenced to
establish a rotational grazing system. A 410 foot deep well was
installed along with three water troughs, making water available in all
his paddocks. Birge said, "We fenced the wet-weather pond
completely out of the program. The cattle no longer have access to this
water source, which improves the water quality on the farm."
Through
hard work and persistence, Birge completed all the conservation
practices in his EQIP plan by April 2007. And, what has been the result?
Birge has established a rotational grazing system that has thrived,
despite drought conditions, and the cattle have responded. Birge said,
"I check the cattle twice a day. I watch the pasture. When I see
that the grass is getting low, I walk them out of that pasture and into
another section. The cattle are so tame I can just shake a bucket and
they will come to me. My cattle are just as fat right now as they were
in the winter. The cross fencing gives me time to let the pasture rest
and recuperate. It also allows me to spread the cow piles, which helps
eliminate flies and other pests. During the summer drought, I went eight
weeks without rain. I did feed hay during that time, but, because of the
grazing system, it was probably 50 percent less hay than I would have
fed."
Yelverton
said, "The practices Mike installed through the EQIP program have
worked very well for him. He has a beautiful cattle operation. He was
ready. He and his wife had been working toward improving their cattle
operation, and it worked just right for him. Any time you rent land, you
are subject to lose it. Mike did lose his rented land this year, but
with the improvements he has made, he could move the cattle to his own
farm. With the established grazing system, he had enough forage to
supply their needs. His grass had a year to get established before he
put the cattle on it. The pastures are well established and I think he
will be in good shape to move on."
Eddie
Jolley, NRCS Agronomist, said, "Although we don’t know what the
future holds, we can be certain there will be droughts from time to
time. Livestock producers will be faced with the painful dilemma of
managing for those conditions. The rotational grazing system that Mike
Birge has established has certainly proved beneficial to him during
recent drought conditions."
When
asked if he would recommend a similar grazing system to others, Birge
said, "I sure would. Everyone I see, I tell them about the benefits
of my grazing system."
Yelverton
said, "The cattlemen in Covington County have really benefited from
the assistance provided by the EQIP program." The grazing system
that Mike Birge established demonstrates those benefits.
Julie
A. Best is the Public Affairs Specialist with USDA-Natural Resources
Conservation Service in Auburn, AL. |
