Managing mixed farming holistically - food

production for farms of all sizes.   

•Holistic Context.  •Starting where you are.•Improving your landscape function/fertility.•Making it happen.

My motivation is to help My motivation is to help famers and food producers famers and food producers

of any size and location.of any size and location.

• Improve their land,Improve their land,• Improve their income, Improve their income, • Improve their product, Improve their product, • Improve their home and their Improve their home and their

community.community.

The History of Holistic Management

Allan SavoryRecipient of the Banksia Award in 2003

The History of Holistic The History of Holistic ManagementManagement

• Total ranch managementTotal ranch management..• Ranching for profit.Ranching for profit.• Time controlled grazing.Time controlled grazing.• ““Cell grazing”.Cell grazing”.• Savory grazing method.Savory grazing method.• Coordinated resource Coordinated resource

mgmt.mgmt.

• Integrated resource Integrated resource management.management.

• Ecosystem management.Ecosystem management.• Collaborative holism.Collaborative holism.• Adaptive management.Adaptive management.• Management intensive Management intensive

grazing.grazing.• Etc.Etc.

1955 1980

10,000 ranchers, academics trained 1979 - 84

Holistic ResourceManagement.

1984

HolisticManagement

1 Herd4 paddock

system

Rest rotationsystem

2006_0319trainandcows0027.JPG

Kym & Lionel.

Things we did that made Things we did that made no difference to our no difference to our

enterprise.enterprise.

Forage sorghum. Irrigated pastures.Forage sorghum. Irrigated pastures.

Forage Turnips. 4 different types of Forage Turnips. 4 different types of bulls.bulls.

Molasses and urea. Controlled breeding.Molasses and urea. Controlled breeding.

Cut foliage / native flowers. Creep Cut foliage / native flowers. Creep feeding.feeding.

Feed lotting of our animals. Re Seeding.Feed lotting of our animals. Re Seeding.

May 2003

Things we did that Things we did that made a lasting made a lasting

difference to our difference to our enterprise.enterprise.

Planned Grazing.Planned Grazing.

Direct Marketing.Direct Marketing.

Holistic Financial Planning.Holistic Financial Planning.

Holistic Decision Making.Holistic Decision Making.

Using cows to control weeds..

300 plus 12 mth old Hfrs, in 4 acres for 7 hrs

May 2003

May 2014 ,

May 2014 , on average 1000 mm per year for ten years and still no grass.

Rats Tail Grass Grazing in Gympie, 4 cows on a ¼ acre for 24 hrs.

Holistic Holistic ManagementManagement

Is simply a decision making Is simply a decision making process that helps people to process that helps people to

get their actions get their actions approximately right instead approximately right instead

of dead wrong.of dead wrong.

Why a Holistic Why a Holistic perspective for your perspective for your

situation is critical for situation is critical for your long term success your long term success

??

What are your What are your problems?problems?

What are the ‘issues’ in your What are the ‘issues’ in your district and your catchment?district and your catchment?

What is holding you back from What is holding you back from achieving your goals and achieving your goals and

objectives? objectives?

Community ‘Issues’ (or Community ‘Issues’ (or problems)…problems)…

Community ‘Issues’ (or Community ‘Issues’ (or problems)…problems)…

• Soil erosion Soil erosion • Declining river health Declining river health • Salinity Salinity • Weed and insect outbreaks Weed and insect outbreaks • Increasing frequency & severity of Floods Increasing frequency & severity of Floods

and Droughts and Droughts • Increasing inputs and declining Increasing inputs and declining

profitabilityprofitability• Urban drift Urban drift • Increasing bureaucracy and ‘control’Increasing bureaucracy and ‘control’

A lot of Dollars Spent A lot of Dollars Spent Annually on These Annually on These

Symptoms?Symptoms?Soil erosion

Flooding

Droughts

Noxious weeds

Disease

Poverty

Problem insects

Violence

Water loss in wells

Genocide

Fire

Cause and effectCause and effect

The hammer and aspirinThe hammer and aspirin

What if they are not What if they are not interconnecting?interconnecting?

Soil erosion

Flooding

Droughts

Noxious weeds

Disease

Poverty

Problem insects

Violence

Water loss In wells

Genocide

CommonCause?

Water loss In wells

Problem insects

Poverty

ViolenceGenocide

Disease

Droughts

Flooding

Soil erosion Noxious weeds

What if there is a common cause

HumanDecision Making

Africa vs. West Texas Africa vs. West Texas USAUSA

• OverpopulationOverpopulation• Overstocking and Overstocking and

overgrazingovergrazing• Communal Communal

ownership of land ownership of land • Poverty and no Poverty and no

access to capitalaccess to capital• Lack of education & Lack of education &

trainingtraining• Incompetent Incompetent

corrupt corrupt governmentsgovernments

Low & falling populationLow & falling population Few livestock left after Few livestock left after

100 years of de-stocking100 years of de-stocking Private ownership & Private ownership &

people love the landpeople love the land Great wealth & easy Great wealth & easy

access to capitalaccess to capital Good universities & Good universities &

extension servicesextension services Basically good Basically good

government with low government with low level of corruptionlevel of corruption

““Causes”Causes” ““Opposite”Opposite”

West Texas SituationWest Texas Situation

Sand dunes forming.Sand dunes forming.

““Ghost towns proliferate in West Texas”Ghost towns proliferate in West Texas”Austin, Tx headlineAustin, Tx headline

Typical Texas Ranchland.Typical Texas Ranchland.

Grasslands turning to desertGrasslands turning to desert

Typical Texas Ranchland.Typical Texas Ranchland.Grassland turning to thick Grassland turning to thick

MesquiteMesquite

Australian Situation.Australian Situation. Low & falling population.Low & falling population. Few livestock left after 100Few livestock left after 100

years of destockingyears of destocking Private ownership & people Private ownership & people

love the landlove the land Great wealth & easy access to capitalGreat wealth & easy access to capital Good universities & extension servicesGood universities & extension services Basically good government low levelBasically good government low level

of corruptionof corruption

But land is still deteriorating!But land is still deteriorating!

Is our situation veryIs our situation verydifferent from the U.S.?different from the U.S.?

Is current management of our Is current management of our resources sustainable?resources sustainable?

Our businesses, families, Our businesses, families, communities, nation dependcommunities, nation dependon reversing land degradationon reversing land degradationWhat are we to do?What are we to do?

Need to Know Cause.Need to Know Cause.

• Unlikely to solve a problem by Unlikely to solve a problem by addressing it’s symptoms.addressing it’s symptoms.

• What is causing biodiversity loss / What is causing biodiversity loss / land degradation?land degradation?

• Unless you address this cause Unless you address this cause your results will be no better your results will be no better than others who have gone than others who have gone before.before.

We tend to blame land We tend to blame land deteriorationdeterioration

on the lack of knowledge on the lack of knowledge

Are We Dealing With the Are We Dealing With the Cause?Cause?

•Many people trying to Many people trying to improve land and increase improve land and increase profits?profits?

•Is it methods, systems, ‘best Is it methods, systems, ‘best practice’?practice’?

•What is the root cause of What is the root cause of land degradation?land degradation?

Common Denominator = Common Denominator = CauseCause

• What was common to all situations now & in past What was common to all situations now & in past centuries?centuries?– Political system?Political system?– Level of technology?Level of technology?– Possession of livestock?Possession of livestock?– Levels of knowledge?Levels of knowledge?– Greed?Greed?– ??????????

Only one common denominator in every Only one common denominator in every situation: ?situation: ?

Human Human ManagementManagement

# #

# ## #

##

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##

# ## #

# ## #

##

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# ## #

How many Hash How many Hash signs ??signs ??

How many Hash How many Hash signs ??signs ??

# = 7# = 7

# #

# # 88

% %

8 8 # 8# 8

%% % %

##

8 8 # 8# 8

%% % # % #

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8 8 # #

8 % 8 % # 8# 8

%% % # % #

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8 % 8 # 8 % 8 #

8 8 ##

8 % 8 % # 8# 8

%% % # % 8 # % # % 8 # % ??% ??

##

8 % 8 # 8 % 8 #

8 #8 #

• 8 = 8 = • % = % = • # = # = • ? = ? =

• 8 = 6.8 = 6.• % = 6% = 6• # = 6# = 6• ? = 2? = 2

How do we Manage or make How do we Manage or make Conscious Decisions?Conscious Decisions?

• Do humans make millions of Do humans make millions of management decisions in thousands of management decisions in thousands of different ways?different ways?

oror• Do humans make millions of Do humans make millions of

management decisions using management decisions using one one universal frameworkuniversal framework??

Conventional Decision-Conventional Decision-makingmaking

We make all conscious decisions toward anWe make all conscious decisions toward an• Objective – GoalObjective – Goal – Mission - Vision – Mission - Vision..

• We base decisions on 1 or more of:We base decisions on 1 or more of:– Past experience, expert opinion, research resultsPast experience, expert opinion, research results– Production, profitability, cash flowProduction, profitability, cash flow– Media, marketing, compromise, expediency, peer-pressureMedia, marketing, compromise, expediency, peer-pressure– Cultural norms, friend’s advice, fear, emotion, intuitionCultural norms, friend’s advice, fear, emotion, intuition– Rules, laws, regulations, etc.Rules, laws, regulations, etc.

• Think about your business, community or family.Think about your business, community or family.

Areas of Areas of Successful Successful

Human Human ManagementManagement• Development of:Development of:

– Transport – air, land, Transport – air, land, water.water.

– Communications.Communications.– Weapons.Weapons.– Computer – medical Computer – medical

and other technologyand other technology– Energy – nuclear, etcEnergy – nuclear, etc– Genetic engineeringGenetic engineering– Film, video, Film, video,

entertainment.entertainment.– Mass food production.Mass food production.– EtcEtc

• Management of:Management of:– Agriculture Agriculture – Forests & Rangelands,Forests & Rangelands,– Fish and wildlife.Fish and wildlife.– Economies.Economies.– Diseases.Diseases.– Human relationships – Human relationships –

violence.violence.– Governance.Governance.– Natural resource Natural resource

policies.policies.– Globalization (Globalization (intelligent intelligent

authors using terms like authors using terms like “spiraling out of control“spiraling out of control””

Areas of Problem Areas of Problem Human Human

ManagementManagement

Humans have a linear thinking

process.

We need a step by step management process that

enables us to make decisions that consider the

complexity of the real world.

Human Decision-making Human Decision-making Framework.Framework.

• A A single frameworksingle framework universally used: universally used:– Cavemen to modern man.Cavemen to modern man.– Aborigines thousands of years ago to Prime Aborigines thousands of years ago to Prime

Minister today.Minister today.– Illiterate people to a collaborative scientific Illiterate people to a collaborative scientific

team.team.– Common to all ages and cultures.Common to all ages and cultures.– The same framework you are using today.The same framework you are using today.

• Totally unconscious framework only Totally unconscious framework only recently discovered.recently discovered.

Conventional Decision Conventional Decision Making FrameworkMaking Framework

• Here lies the cause of Biodiversity Here lies the cause of Biodiversity loss/Desertification/Global warming -loss/Desertification/Global warming -increasing droughts, floods, poverty, increasing droughts, floods, poverty, etc.etc.

• There is no other known cause.There is no other known cause.

• Until we change the way we make Until we change the way we make decisions do not expect any change.decisions do not expect any change.

• We need to view the environment as We need to view the environment as a whole, not as isolated parts.a whole, not as isolated parts.

Frameworks for Decisions & Frameworks for Decisions & Policies.Policies.

• Objectives- goals.Objectives- goals.• Tech. Rest. Fire. Tech. Rest. Fire.

Small organisms.Small organisms.

• One or more - One or more - Past Exp, Past Exp, intuition, research, intuition, research, profitability, cash flow, media, profitability, cash flow, media, peer pressure, laws, experts, peer pressure, laws, experts, advertising.advertising.

• Reactive – Adaptive.Reactive – Adaptive.

HolisticLinear• Work in ‘wholes’Work in ‘wholes’• Holistic ContextHolistic Context• Nature’s foundation.Nature’s foundation.• Objectives – goals.Objectives – goals.• Tech. Rest. Fire. Tech. Rest. Fire. Small Small

organisms. Animal organisms. Animal impact. Grazing.impact. Grazing.

• One or more - One or more - Past Exp, Past Exp, intuition, research, profitability, intuition, research, profitability, cash flow, media, peer pressure, cash flow, media, peer pressure, laws, experts, advertising.laws, experts, advertising.

• Testing questionsTesting questions• Feedback loop - Feedback loop - Plan, Plan,

Monitor, Control, Re-plan, Assume Monitor, Control, Re-plan, Assume Wrong with environment-not Wrong with environment-not peoplepeople..

• Proactive.Proactive.

Take Home Message.Take Home Message.

The Natural world is a very The Natural world is a very complex place. complex place.

It does not respond well to linear It does not respond well to linear thinking.thinking.

We need to manage with the We need to manage with the whole in mind.whole in mind.

A New Way of A New Way of Making Making

Decisions.Decisions.

Holistic Holistic ManagementManagement

is simply a decision making is simply a decision making process that helps people to process that helps people to

get their actions approximately get their actions approximately right instead of dead wrong.right instead of dead wrong.

Are you truly Are you truly creating the life to creating the life to

truly wish to have ???truly wish to have ???

Or are you waiting for Gold Lotto to Or are you waiting for Gold Lotto to call ????call ????

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.

Theodore Roosevelt

Your life. Your life. ( your whole under management)( your whole under management)

- Who is in charge around - Who is in charge around here ?here ?

( Who are the decision makers in your life. )( Who are the decision makers in your life. )

- Cash in, cash out. - Cash in, cash out. ( Where does all my money go. )( Where does all my money go. )

- Land and livestock - Land and livestock management.management.

( If you have them ? )( If you have them ? )

How my life has to How my life has to be.be.

( Your Holistic Context )( Your Holistic Context )

- What do I value most in my life ?- What do I value most in my life ?( Quality of Life Statement )( Quality of Life Statement )

- What do I have to make and - What do I have to make and create ?create ?

( Forms of Production )( Forms of Production )

- How must things be ?- How must things be ?( Future Resource Base )( Future Resource Base )

Questions Questions

and and

Tea TimeTea Time

Improving your landscape function / fertility.

How How doesdoes your garden your garden grow ????grow ????

For every 25mm (1 inch) of rain over one hectare delivers 250 tons of water in that rain event. Over 4.04 ha or 10 acres with a rainfall recording of 56 inches (1421 mm) in 2013, I received 14,208.50 tons of water per ha or 57,402.34 tons of water over ten acres (4.04ha).

To date this calendar year, over same area with a rainfall recording of 31.4 inches (785mm), I have received 7,850 tons of water per ha or 31,714 tons of water over 10 acres (4.04ha).

I don’t have a rainfall problem !!!!!! Do I ???