Foraging Into the Future
What this talk is about….
•
•
•
•
Introduction – who/what are we?
What do we do? – our mission
Range/pasture EKG Monitoring methods
Courses available
– …this presentation on line at www.ekgcan.com
LAND EKG-CANADA
an overview
• Land EKG™ -Canada is a
subsidiary of Land EKG™ Inc .
• Cornerpost Consulting Ltd.
operates Land EKG-Canada on
behalf of Land EKG
Our Mission
• We are motivated by the belief in those
farmers and ranchers providing food, fibre
and, clean water and air for the world.
• We specialize in supporting, training &
equipping land managers with effective ways
to pay attention to the land, its condition, its
function, and of course, its grazing
management
Monitoring based on Measurement
• Land EKG™ Inc. was built on the premise that
you can't manage what you don't measure,
and you can't defend what you don't verify.
• Our monitoring methodology is intended to:
– clearly validate land condition & function,
– help make grazing or other management decisions
– provide rapid benefit for users of the system…
easily and professionally
For graziers - business profit is based
on grassland health
And health depends
on soil fertility
and photosynthesis
by plants
– lots of plants
The profit is in the grass
In other words…
A thriving “Ecosystem” is the only way to create
$$$
Optimum Ranch Profit
It is about the health
….. of the land resources
Land EKG™ Inc © 2013
Land EKG - Canada Specializes in…
Training & equipping
graziers with the most
effective ways to monitor
and manage their grazing
landscapes:
•
•
•
Simple approaches
Practical methods
Profitable results
Land EKG™ Inc © 2013
Simple Approaches
• Easy to measure cover parameters such as;
– leaf litter, basal plant cover, bare ground, etc.
• Photographic records
– Designed to be repeatable from year to year
• Detailed precipitation
• Annual recordings – record data from the
same place in successive years to establish
trends in a short period of time
Practical methods
• Well defined sampling techniques & methods
• Actual production measurements to
determine lbs/acre plant material and litter
for each year
• Applies to both native and tame pastures
– Not dependant on plant ID or native plant
community types
• Easy to use database
Monitoring Must Have Purpose
…Not just create more work…
• Help make grazing or other management
decisions ..… productivity and profit
• Clearly validate land condition & function
1. Rapid/ Consistent / objective measurement
2. Defense of management practices
Land EKG™ Inc © 2013
Of what use is measurement if you
can’t use it easily?
Land EKG™ Inc © 2013
Measurement data stored & available to you
24/7
Count what counts & use what you need
A better way to monitor range/pasture
condition
Measure the same place in successive years
Keep a permanent record of the sample location
Keep information that counts
Information such as production & key health
indicators….
…and grazing info…
Keep a photo record from year to year
Keep a photo record of specific sample sites
(eg. hoops)
So what aspects of EKG Monitoring are
useful for most producers?
• Rancher friendly monitoring methods
– EKG blink monitoring – Great 1st step
• Tracking ecological health – “count what
counts”
• Focus on the info that increases profits &
healthy pastures
• Protect your rights to use the land
Land EKG™ Inc © 2013
Land EKG-Canada provides two types
of training
1. Google Earth Ranch Mapping
– With this introductory on-line course, you'll be
confident using Google Earth to:
• map basic ranch borders, pasture fences, trails, ponds
and water points
• develop and archive annual grazing plans, historical
land use practices and development planning….
Google Earth Ranch Mapping Cont’d
– map weeds and management strategies - verify
the most effective practices
– track and develop your land monitoring program
– plan future land and pasture improvements (ie
waterlines, fencing, veg control etc )
– print maps and specific management plans for
employees, agencies and others.
– easily share map files with others back and forth
GE Maps….
• Will help you locate
where & what to
measure as you
plan your
monitoring
program
2. EKG Monitoring Schools
• EKG Blink Introduction (2- Day)
–Participants will leave this two-day
course with well-practiced abilities in
choosing monitoring sites, transect
layout mechanics, and EKG photo
procedures.
–This class is designed for any rancher
or conservation manger seeking a
rapid, repeatable monitoring program,
right away.
EKG Blink Monitoring Cont’d
– Participants will practice thorough land
monitoring basics, soil survey introduction using
Alberta Soil Information Viewer, grazing indexing,
forage production measurement
methods, surface cover percents, and EZ-EKG
assessments, but will spend the majority of time
learning monitoring mechanics for EKG transect
lines.
– Additional time will be spent on “situational
monitoring” and site recording techniques
including an introduction to EKG DataStore.
Monitoring kits will be available for those wishing
to purchase this item.
Also soils maps are a good thing to
have…
• Soils maps tell us
the basic patterns
of soils polygons &
their properties
• EKG Monitoring
takes this into
account
Achieve a healthier and more productive
landscape
THANK YOU!
•
•
•
•
ted@ekgcan.com - email
@tedekgcan –twitter
www.ekgcan.com – website
Telephone – 403.764.7402
• EKG Blink Schools being scheduled for 2015
– Call us for more details