Grazing Management Principles with Dr Judi Earl
Gain the principles, theory and practical knowledge you need to regenerate your land using holistic grazing management
Why grazing management principles?
Improved soil quality
When grazing animals are managed correctly they can heal even the most degraded soil ecosystems. This results in more productivity with fewer inputs, healthier plants, animals and ecosystems.
100% Ground cover
A common thread in any healthy ecosystem, using correct grazing management principles can result in more ground cover more of the time. This leads to greater soil & animal health.
Monitoring
Without adequate measurement or system monitoring it is impossible to know whether your system is improving or depleting. Judi gives you all the tools you need to understand the health of your farm & its assets.
Planning
Judi has worked with thousands of graziers around the planet to improve their land management skills & planning. You can learn how to work with nature within your own unique context.
"So interesting and informative! This information is a revelation."
JULE
QLD, AUSTRALIA
Holistic Grazing Managment
Do you want to learn the principles for holistic grazing management?
This course is designed to provide an introduction to the theory of the range of ecological processes that occur in grazing environments and provide a practical guide to regenerative grazing management.
All Smartsoil courses are totally self-paced, to offer maximum flexibility in your busy farming life. However, rest assured you are not alone, with 24/7 technical support, direct access to educators, and an active social learning area, help is never farm away.
The most powerful tool to regenerate land.
Made by farmers, for farmers
- Grazing Management Courses
- Downloadable resources
- Exclusives social learning area
- Live Q&A with industry experts
"Good information delivered in a straight forward manner and content is not too intense"
TRISH
NSW, AUSTRALIA
Programmed for your success
Smartsoil’s in-house learning enhancement team will ensure you get the most out of your learning experience.
Vast Knowledge
You can't beat lived experience. Learn from the best farmers on the planet.
Live Q&As
We can learn a whole lot more together. Tune in to virtual Q&A's to get your qustions answered.
Community
Study alongside other incredible farmers and share the journey.
Support
Conversations ignite new learning. Gain access to the best farmers on the earth.
What do I get with the GMP Course?
- Access to the community learning area. We have teamed up with Regrarians to connect you to over 3000+ regenerative farmers from around the world and a mountain of additional content.
- Live Q&As with course hosts. All complete members will be invited to bi-monthly webinars with course leaders and participants to ask questions and share experiences.
- Access to regen-radio. Can’t get enough of Regen Ag? Neither can we! Join weekly live calls with industry legends. Hang out, and talk farming news and keep your finger on the pulse of the industry.
Meet the Regenerative Pioneers
Decades of experience will help you fast-track your regenerative journey
Dr Judi Earl
Judi Earl has been preaching the virtues and importance of livestock for land health for over 20 years. After advising and training hundreds of graziers and land managers, Judi decided it was time to put the principles into practice. The purchase of ‘Glen Orton’ – ‘the GO’ – in 2011 provided the perfect opportunity to showcase the capacity of grazing animals to regenerate land.
Colin Seis
Colin Seis owns and runs a 2000 acre grain, sheep and kelpie enterprise in Gulgong, mid-western New South Wales which is all Pasture Cropped. Colin is the developer of this technique and has partnered with Smartsoil EDU to deliver a comprehensive Pasture Cropping online course. There are now estimated to be over 3 million acres around the world “Pasture Cropped” with Colin already on-boarding over 2000 farmers in Australia who are now known to be using these techniques successfully.
+ your smartsoil helpers
We are always by your side, whether you need technical support or just some friendly encouragement.
David Lewis
Course Manager
Jack Mackay
Technical Support
Grazing for plant diversity on the 'GO'
- The planned grazing regime adopted on the GO incorporates long periods of rest to enable pastures and all associated organisms to achieve their potential.
- Desirable plants have sufficient time to recover from a graze event and small animals, birds, reptiles and soil biota have long periods uninterrupted by the large grazers to progress their growth cycles and enhance their habitat condition.
- Since the change of management on the GO Judi has discovered an additional 235 species of vascular plants
"Good information delivered in a straight forward manner and content is not too intense"
TRISH
NSW, AUSTRALIA
This sounds great, but what exactly will I learn?
Truly unique, you won’t find a grazing management course like this anywhere else.
This module will constitute a brief introduction to the topic highlighting the importance of grasslands as an ecosystem locally and globally. The learner will appreciate the value of grasslands and the critical role that grazing livestock have to play in maintaining and regenerating grassland health and production. It will introduce the course presenter and outline Judi’s experience with the subject matter and her journey of application of the the principles of Holistic Management.
Participants will:
- gain an appreciation of the importance of grasslands
- understand the impacts of grazing on grassland health
- learn the components of the grazing ecosystem
- receive an introduction to the presenter
- learn the fundamental principles of the practice of HM
- gain an insight how Holistic Management has been applied on the presenters property ‘Glen Orton’
This module will describe how grasses grow. To effectively manage grasses and grasslands a basic understanding of the physiology of grasses is a useful starting point. It will describe the factors that influence grass and pasture growth and product and how defoliation, particularly by grazing animals, effects growth. The importance of the root system of grasses for plant and pasture health and production will be emphasised. The relationships between individual species and the influence of grazing animals creates a dynamic environment, diversity is important to maintain stability and ensure resilience.
Participants will:
- understand how grasses grow
- learn the factors that influence plant growth
- understand that grasses have different growth cycles
- appreciate the impact of defoliation on grass growth
- learn that roots are the most vulnerable part of the grass plant
- understand the relationships of different species within a grassland community
- understand the importance of diversity for grassland health
Soils are the foundation of a productive grassland, pasture and grazing enterprise. Soil health starts with the process of photosynthesis which is influenced by grazing animals.
The key elements of soil health as they relate to ecological health and production in a grazed grassland environment will be covered in this module.
Participants will:
- learn the importance of plants/grass growth for soil health
- understand the role of soil carbon
- learn the basics of soil biology, what is the rhizosphere and why it’s so critical
- the relationship between soil structure and soil water
- gain an appreciation of the influence of the soil chemical composition on soil characteristics
- understand how the grazing animal through it’s impact on the grass plant influences soil health
Grazing animals through their impact on pastures and interaction with individual plants have an important role in determining the health of a paddock, property or grassland ecosystem. Often blamed as the primary cause of land degradation, livestock are the most impartant tool the grazier has on hand to regenerate land.
The interaction betweek the grazing animal and the grass plant will be covered in this module.The use of dietary supplementation can influence the intake of grazing livestock. We’ll look at the Importance of appropriate supplementation on pastures and animal health.
Participants will:
- understand the importance of livestock to land health
- appreciate the grazing habits of different species
- learn how, when and why animals selectively graze different plants and plant parts
- learn why ruminant nutrition is important for grassland health
- understand the need to change supplements
- matching animal production cycles to pasture production cycles
Far from the simple act of opening the gate to allow animals onto an area of ground, grazing management is an enormously complex process that involves interactions with a vast number of organisms within the landscape and the environment. The outcome of these interactions will vary in response to many external factors including the seasons and between years.
The goals of the manager will also be an important contributing factor in influencing the effect on the land. This module will introduce the elements involved in managing grazing livestock, the range of approaches that have been applied historically and their effects.
Participants will
- gain an appreciation of the complexity of the grazing ecosystem
- learn the range of approaches
- understand the consequences of each approach
- know the difference between stocking rate and stock density
- understand the effect of grazing management on the four ecosystem processes * the water cycle
This module will highlight the value of planning the grazing and why it is the most important activity a grazier will conduct during the year. The key elements and features of creating a grazing plan will be covered.
Some guidelines for determining the appropriate number of paddocks will be presented. An effective grazing plan by default includes a drought plan. Since you never know when a drought has started until you’re in it, a proactive approach is needed so you are prepared for any scenario at all times.
Participants will:
- understand the importance of feed budgeting
- know how to conduct a feed budget
- be aware of the need to match stocking rate to carrying capacity, at all times
- understand how carrying capacity can increase by planning the grazing
- know how to gather the information required and create a grazing plan
- understand the influence of the number of paddocks per mob on the land
- understand why it is necessary to always have a drought strategy prepared and built into the plan
As a grazier, your pastures and your soil are the basis of your business.
The importance of measuring and monitoring the condition of your resource base cannot be overemphasised. The number of livestock you can sustainably carry will be determined by the amount of grass you grow, which will be influenced by the health and condition of your soils. Monitoring allows you to be proactive in your response to constantly changing environmental conditions, to match stocking rate to the capacity of your land and potentially increase your carrying capacity in a safe and sustainable manner. A number of KPIs for pasture condition and production will be introduced in addition to a series of soil health indictors.
Participants will:
- understand the importance of monitoring the condition of their resource base
- be able to design their own monitoring program
- be able to confidently measure herbage mass
- be able to calculate pasture growth rate
- be able to calculate water use efficiency
- be able to calculate pasture utilisation %
- recognise the indicators of soil health
- have the skills to measure key soil heath characteristics
- use the information collected to inform management decisions
The location and condition of the infrastructure on a property can have a significant influence on management.
Whether considering a change in grazing management or planning upgrades to existing infrastructure, there are multiple factors that need to be considered. Factors relating to design can influence the utilisation of land by grazing livestock. Water is often the most critical element to consider in the planning phase. A number of practical elements for consideration will be covered as well as cost effective options for fencing depending on the type of livestock to be carried.
Participants will:
- understand the range of factors to be considered when developing a property plan
- understand the concept of land capability
- use the property plan to improve land condition and production
- see the process to select the best plan
- be able to evaluate the most suitable water source, supply rate required and delivery options
- be able to evaluate the most suitable fence type for their purpose
- plan for development over time incorporating the grazing and financial plans.
This module will provide a brief overview of the key principles of the Holistic Management® (HM) framework and the importance of the process in evaluating decisions, particularly in relation to grazing and land management.
Developed by Allan Savory, HM uses decision making and planning processes to provide insight and tools to manage the complexity of natural systems. This approach aims to achieve better, more informed decisions that account for likely social, ecological and financial consequences. Ensuring that people, land and money are considered in every decision tends to result in more positive outcomes in both the short and long term. However, constant monitoring is needed to be sure that what is actually happening around you is in fact what you want.
Participants will:
- realise the critical importance of creating their own holisticgoal
- be in a position to define the ‘whole’ they are responsible for managing
- understand the four key ecosystem process and how every decision made effects our ecosystem
- understand the tools we have available to modify our environment
- learn of the 7 testing questions to be considered in light of your holisticgoal before making any decision to take action
- be introduced to the planning processes associated with Holistic Management®
I'm ready to start
Made by farmers, for farmers
- Grazing Management Courses
- Downloadable resources
- Exclusives social learning area
- Live Q&A with industry experts
"Good information delivered in a straight forward manner and content is not too intense"
TRISH
NSW, AUSTRALIA
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a questions? Chances are we’ve answered it here..
We know farming leaves you with little time to do anything else, thats why all Smartsoil courses are completely self paced, meaning you can learn as it suits you and your busy schedule.
With 24/7 technical support, the Smartsoil team will never be far away if you need any assitance at all. If there is a question you’d like answered, why not ask the communitythrough the social learnig area?
Yes, of course you can. If you’ve got a question pertaining specifically to your enterprise you can either email Judi directly, ask your question in the monthly webinars or book a consultation with the educator.
All webinars will be recorded and available for members to view at any time. Simply log in and head to the media section of your profile to find all sorts of awesome exclusive content.
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