Bluestem's editor has the pleasure of knowing grazing expert Kent Solberg, profiled in Sheila McCoy's article in the Morrison County Record article, Farmer mentor stresses soil health for agricultural success.
We're not surprised that Solberg is putting goats to work in fighting two invasive terrestrial species at once. McCoy reports:
For many farmers, the plant, buckthorn, has become a concern.
“Buckthorn has been in Minnesota for about 40 years, but it’s only relatively recent that it has been identified as an issue, both in agriculture and in forestry,” said Kent Solberg, livestock and grazing specialist with the Sustainable Farming Association (SFA). . . .
Since buckthorn is a host for soybean aphids and shades out the ability for native trees to reproduce, Solberg said he looks at various ways to help combat the spread of the plant.
One more natural way than just using mechanical ways to remove buckthorn, such as by using chain and brush saws, is to integrate goats.
“The goats eat the buckthorn and actually like it a lot. . . .
When soybean aphids reach bean fields, one of the tools farmers turn to are neonics--and the drift from this treatment can have a negative impact on pollinators near the fields. Hats off to creative farmer mentors like Solberg who can reduce the need for farmers to buy pesticide inputs while profiting from goats.
That seems like a win for just about everyone in farm country except the ag-chemical corporations.
Read the rest of the article at the Record.
Photo: Can goats like these frisky fellows at Paradox Farm help save pollinators by eating buckthorn, the winter host for soybean aphids? Photo via CURE.
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