Hi Landcarers

Dick Richardson will be once again joining us in the Central West for a workshop further looking into the Grazing Naturally concept.

If you missed the January workshop at Trundle, Dick will still be reviewing the topics that he covered in this first workshop and expanding the concepts.

Dick Richardson is an internationally recognised leader in the practice of natural grazing to improve soil depth and health, water retention, increased biodiversity and animal production. His life is about growing the relationship between people, land and livestock. His experience and application of regeneration grazing principles. Grazing Naturally Grass Groups facilitated by Dick enable members to develop decision making skills within an individual quality of life framework, grazing planning, economic and ecological ‘event’ management.

With a background using regenerative agriculture techniques, particularly Holistic Management, Dick understands the benefits to be gained by utilising the many techniques promoted through holistic management practices. He challenges attendees to consider options beyond sticking to a plan that may have assisted a property to recover initially, but may now be reversing the gains that had been achieved.

The challenge for graziers, and people in general, is that we are all looking for one answer that fixes everything, also known as a recipist (always searching for the perfect recipe, when we need to be thinking about why we are doing something and what the outcome is, not just a perfect recipe that we can rotate and rotate). After committing to the holistic process with a well-established rotation, there can be a tendency to rely too heavily on the recipe that got us to this point, instead of actively seeking new options for each event as it occurs.

In the next workshop Dick will revisit the basics from the first Grazing Naturally day. So if you don’t fully understand the concept, this will be the perfect ‘catch up’. We will be ‘on farm’ for the workshop at ‘Plevna’, so a paddock assessment will be undertaken, looking at health and management requirements.

Dick will also do a feed assessment and provide attendees with a fresh way to look at available feed and the quality. He will also undertake an animal assessment, looking at behaviour, rumen fill and dung scoring etc.

Finally, Dick will look at grazing planning and look at simplified planning for growing and non-growing seasons.

Morning tea and lunch will be provided, but attendees need to RSVP to Paul Stanbrook on 0421 523 130 or book via the Sticky Tickets link on our website, facebook or just type in http://www.stickytickets.com.au/67684

The following week, after the ABBA Festival is done and dusted, we will be hosting Barry Sampson for a weeds workshop in Parkes. Barry has held several successful workshops in Parkes over the past few years and will again be bringing his expertise to share with us about possible biological control solutions for weeds in our area.

We are also pleased to have some local insight into local biological controls with input from the Parkes Shire Council Weeds Officer. This workshop is also free, but RSVP is required to either 02 6862 4914, cwllpo@hotmail.com or go to www.stickytickets.com.au/67639 or text 0418 611 053.

Due to the dry conditions and forecast conditions, we are doing our best to deliver workshops in our area free of charge to attendees, but appreciate your RSVP to make this possible. All links are available via the event listing on facebook @cwllandcare

For more information about anything in this article, please contact Central West Lachlan Landcare on 02 6862 4914, cwllpo@hotmail.com, facebook or our website at centralwestlachlanlandcare.org

 Until next week, happy Landcaring!