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A View of Holistic Management Practices
by Greg and Carol Hoadley, “ Dunwoodie", Glenmorgan, QLD
Although originally
skeptical about some of the warm and fuzzy claims made by its
proponents, we had seen enough over the last 50 years to know that
none of the methods we were using to manage our country, were
totally successful.
The decline in grass
production, loss of fodder species, regrowth problems and siltation
of watercourses have always been put down to over stocking. This
doesn't ring true when you have very lightly stocked country going
backwards.
Holistic Management is
really a framework for decision-making in which logic prevails over
preconceptions. It is therefore useful in any enterprise. As it
applies to grazing livestock we have used it to increase the number
and size of plants in our pasture. The result, apart from more feed,
has been increased water retention through less runoff, better
infiltration and less evaporation.
One of the unexpected
benefits has been that cattle know when a white ute appears in the
paddock and the horn is sounded, all they have to do is follow it
and they will end up in a fresh paddock of good feed. Sometimes that
paddock is the stockyards, but they still follow. Mustering was
never like that in the good old days. As we have gotten older and
health has deteriorated, this ease of handling by itself would
justify the switch to Holistic Management.
Probably not everyone
will find this a suitable system but if you are not totally
satisfied with what you have done in the past, this has to be worth
a good hard look. Most Holistic solutions seem to require more brain
work than money to implement so that goes straight to the bottom
line.
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Battling the drought
armed with a Holistic Management Grazing plan
by Peter and Narelle Campagnoni
Having done the Holistic Management
Course in 2000, we embarked on a subdivision plan for our property.
We then battled through the 2002 –
2003 drought; spent massive amounts of
money on feed and weaned the calves early. This resulted in far too
many poddy calves,
we became severely stressed but maintained our beloved breeders! But
at such a cost.
Of course, the seasons deteriorated
again. In March 2005, Peter went to a Holistic
Management event in Armidale. He came home determined to sell
and reduce our breeder numbers. There was much resistance from
Narelle! But eventually the decision was taken to sell about ¾ of
our beloved breeders – an emotional decision as we have an
80-year-old herd.
We were able to manage the dry years
following – with much less income but also with no expenditure on
feed and much less stress. We continued with our timed grazing
management, attending a refresher course with Inside
Outside Management in late 2005, early
2006.
It did eventually rain! Though the
rain was not a great amount – because the country had been allowed
to recover, there was a good growth in the grass which enabled us to
buy cows at a time when most people were still selling. We have
actually been able to buy back better quality cows – something we
thought was only a dream! Another paradigm!
There is now an
abundance of grass with the recent rains and we have enjoyed not
having to compete in the market to
restock, having replaced our breeders so much earlier.
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Holistic Management offers
positive change to one family's businesses
In
tough times like these when the drought has invaded our businesses and
our lives, it is more important than ever to make decisions that are
sound in all dimensions; economically, environmentally and socially.
Holistic Management provides the framework to make these decisions.
In 2006, Trent and Carol
Vincent and their son Bryan,
daughter Tanya
and son-in-law, Wade, all attended a Holistic Management course run by
Brian Marshall, and Brian Wehlburg and Helen Lewis of Inside Outside
Management.
Trent comments, “The
training is unique in that all family members are encouraged to complete
the training. This allows a greater understanding of one another and the
direction that everyone wants the business to take.” All fired up, they
immediately started implementing changes on their property, Hidden
Springs; in addition Carol and Tanya organised training for all the
staff at their Roma shop, Mind Body Soul, a natural health, beauty and
wellness centre in Roma. “Holistic Management practices allow staff
members to contribute and to have ownership in the business. It allows
us all to identify the direction we are heading towards as a business
which the staff, as well as the owners, are passionate about.”
The Vincents utilised
the Holistic Grazing Planning process last year and did not have to
drought feed their stock.
“We made the decision to
implement a few low cost changes to the property’s internal fence system
to utilise available feed and allow plants time to recover. Even on
minimal rainfall there has been a considerable change in plant structure
and quality. There are now plants growing on areas that were previously
bare,” explains Trent. “Holistic Management ensures you make decisions
that are environmentally sustainable; i.e. maintaining ground cover,
retaining and promoting green plants." Trent uses Holistic Management
principles
to combat pest problems.
“I now look at what
environment a pest lives in and I create an environment that does not
suit it.”
Carol’s natural health
business is not land based but she feels that the training has shown her
how the environment is integral even at a business level in a
non-agricultural field, and how all decisions we make now affect the
environment now and in the future. “It is excellent to see business
training that incorporates environmental factors,” she says.
The Holistic Management
financial planning module emphasises focusing on wealth generating
expenditure, providing a framework for identifying the expenditure that
results in the greatest return for the least amount of output.
Both Trent and Carol like
the decision making process offered by Holistic Management as it reduces
the conflict that can arise when making business decisions. “I like
Holistic Management as it makes you focus on the grass-root when making
decisions and provides an easy commonsense tool. It has brought our
family closer together and helped us focus on common goals. It also
makes you realise that what is important to one family member is not of
concern to another, and allows for the differences to be taken into
account,” Trent says.
“The training has given us a clear direction
on where we are heading,” adds Carol.
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