As esteemed equine surgeon Bob Grisel of Atlanta states; “this field used to look more like a parking lot than a pasture” * please see his video on my website* thickerhorsepasture.net Well, why is the question. You and I, like Dr Grisel want our pastures and hay fields to look green and lush, unfortunately that is rarely the case. Did you know that NH3, or anhydrous ammonia, was first used in the Viet Nam war to turn “swampy” wet land into hard, smooth runways where our military could land heavy aircraft? Sound like science fiction right? Look it up if you don’t believe me. Now I am a believer in fertilizer and even some herbicides, in certain situations. However, many fertilizers cause serious damage to your most important resource on our farms; our soil! Stop treating your soil like dirt! It may take a few applications of fertilizer or many, many years, but all those products left in your soil will eventually take a toll on the soil’s life and therefore start a cascade of events that lead to a hard, dry, dead and unproductive platform that you will continue to ask and expect to provide plants to grow in. All soil needs a healthy balance of “good “ bacteria for that soil to provide an optimal environment for plants to grow in. Soil left to its own, usually contains a good balance of microbial life. Due to modern farming practices, overgrazing and weather extremes the bacteria in nearly every acre of land in the USA needs help! If you want to help you r fields be all they can be, and produce more, healthier plants from your fields and pastures check out our products at thickerhorsepasture.net
Well there it is, after 52 years and change, I am writing a summary of my life. A bug farmer. Well, of course there is more to it than that, however the title does fit. I have been a farmer ever since I can remember. I grew up in Southwest Iowa, on a diversified livestock and crop farm. I was the 5th generation to call that corner of the world home. My first memories in life are of the backyard with my dog Kattie. She was a mix- breed, nowadays they would have some fancy name for her. To me she was just Kattie the best dog ever, always there for me when my 4 older siblings were too busy, and ready to do what this adventurous boy wanted to do. The other memories involve the additional 4 legged animals of our sprawling farm. There were two horses, cats too numerous to count, a large hog herd of 50 sows and their piglets born twice a year, and my favorite, the cows. Oh those doe eyed grass-eating creatures that I couldn’t get enough of. From the time I was able to go with my dad, I was always out with the cows, and Kattie was along for the adventure. From spring calving to fall weaning to winter-time feeding there was always something for me to do with the cows. Now back to my title, just a little history to bring it back to the bugs. Everything, not just everything on my family’s farm, but everything on God’s earth relies on bugs. Not the ones buzzing around my head, in Texas now, or the ones you are trying to comb out of your dog’s fur. I am talking to the microbes, fungi and other little creatures that are in our soil. Billions in each teaspoon full, depending on where you are , and how “healthy” your soil is. These little critters hold the balance of nature in their microscopic hands. Before I lose you scientists, the ones with all the letters after your names, I do know they don’t’ have hands, just roll with the metaphor. And if you are easily offended, this isn’t the place for you. Most of you have probably heard, or read about the importance of the “ microbiome ” ,as it is referred to. I am going to attempt to explain what “it” is and most importantly what it means to each and every-one of you. I am just farm kid from Iowa, now living in Texas. I make my living helping people RESTORE life back into their soil. It isn’t just dirt! I hope you continue to follow my story as I try to bring some practical ideas and some of my life-experience to this subject. And together we can try to figure out what a bug farmer is. Steve Williams, bug farmer
What is a weed? Many people have tried to define what makes a certain plant a weed. ALL of us have our own experience with “weeds” most of us define them with ##%$&#@!! and of course everything else imaginable. I recently attended a conference about range management and all it’s challenges and heard what I think was the best definition for the “weed” . Weed ; A plant out of place, I believe that does a great job of summing up, in a quick and simple way, what a weed is. The issue for all of us DEALING with the little, or big buggers is how to get rid of them, or at least stop them from taking over my pasture or field where we are trying to grow something for us or our animals to enjoy. When we are able to support the plants that we want to grow in our pastures then these desired plants will naturally out-compete the weeds. There are many ways to assist with this desired outcome. Proper stocking rates of our 4-legged friends, adequate water and a good fertility program, to name a few. All these issues, and the “weed” are related to the soil and the health of the soil that is the foundation for everything that happens above the ground, including the plants we want and their friends “out of place”. Please go to thickerhorsepasture.net to discover how our affordable, all-natural products can play a vital part in helping you get more out of your precious investments!