Should you mow your pastures? Maybe, maybe not. Troy Bishopp struggles with the idea and shares his reasons for this year’s clipping.

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About the author

Troy Bishopp

contributor

Troy Bishopp, aka “The Grass Whisperer” is a seasoned grazier and grasslands advocate who owns, manages and linger-grazes at Bishopp Family Farm in Deansboro, NY with his understanding wife, daughters, grandchildren and parents. Their certified organic custom grazing operation raise dairy heifers, grass-finished beef and backgrounds feeder cattle on 180 acres of owned and leased pastures. Troy also mentors farmers on holistic land management for the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Upper Susquehanna Coalition as their regional grazing specialist. This award-winning free-lance writer, essayist and photographer maintains a website presence at www.thegrasswhisperer.com

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1 Comment

1. Michael Stewart says:

   September 8, 2015 at 4:47 am

   i have two of those late 50, early 60 Case 530 Tractors, but none with a loader, so Troy’s Dad got my attention. I have pulled a 10 1/2 ft. Bush Hog cutter behind either one or the Ford 6600 with a loader we use to round out the tractor ensemble. I also have a mounted 8 foot bush hog for the trim and tight space clipping.

   I have found that clipping is only necessary in the absence of pasture management. when we leave the cattle grazing too long in one or many spots, clipping or haying becomes a necessity.

   weeds can be grazed into the ground when they are young and tender and stock pressure is sufficient.

   In years where pink eye can be worse, stalk cutting keeps the cows eyes away from potential injury. Jim Gerrish claims that pink eye can be cured through weaning and cow selection at culling time…

   good article. In natural farming and bio/ nature mimicry when are pastures clipped? Answer: only through intense grazing followed by periods of rest. If we manage for the forage species we want to see as if there is nothing else there, eventually we will be the change(s) we want to see in the pastures we love and manage!