In conventional grazing systems not enough attention is paid to the need of the plants so as to keep them in an optimum condition. Key parts of the Voisin system concern the periods between grazings and the length of time that livestock is kept, in a paddock

Tired of cash flows that leave little money in your pocket? If you're feeding livestock in confinement rather than on pasture, you're working too hard and spending too much money. Your permanent pasture is a valuable resource that up till now has been wasted. Forget about how pastures are. Think of how they could be if they were managed with the same amount of attention that you give to your other crops. Voisin management intensive grazing takes into account the needs of both animals and plants, rather than animals alone. Its use can at least double or triple your pasture's productivity. This book explains why and how to use management intensive grazing, and what to expect from its use. It shows a way to simplify your farm operation, reduce its labor needs, increase its productivity, and improve your quality of life.

Pasture has been a wasted resource. "Planned, controlled grazing management defined by Andre Voisin has proved to be a low-cost, highly productive way to make pastures a valuable asset. The method relies on livestock to manage weeds & soil fertility, minimizes need to buy feed, manure-storage facilities & haying equipment, & reduces soil erosion. Everyone raising livestock should carefully consider this important book that blends fundamentals of pasture science with practical information in an interesting & easy-to-read style." Ken McNamara, The New Farm. "More than just a technical how-to guide, GREENER PASTURES is a philosophical look at the way we farm. Murphy gently invites us to climb out of our tractor seats, walk with the cows, & really look at our pastures -- to the benefit of our animals, our land, & ourselves. This is not flaky back-to-nature stuff, but a common sense system which improves the quality & quantity of forage produced while enhancing the quality of life for both animals & farmers. All livestock producers owe it to themselves & their farms to read this book." John & Lorraine Merrill, New England Farmer. Order from: Arriba Publishing, 213A Middle Road, Colchester, VT 05446. $19.95 plus $1.50 shipping. (802) 878-2347.

Grazing management might seem simple: just put livestock in a pasture and let them eat their fill. However, as Sarah Flack explains in The Art and Science of Grazing, the pasture/livestock relationship is incredibly complex. If a farmer doesn't pay close attention to how the animals are grazing, the resulting poorly managed grazing system can be harmful to the health of the livestock, pasture plants, and soils. Well-managed pastures can instead create healthier animals, a diverse and resilient pasture ecosystem, and other benefits. Flack delves deeply below the surface of "let the cows eat grass," demonstrating that grazing management is a sophisticated science that requires mastery of plant and animal physiology, animal behavior, and ecology. She also shows readers that applying grazing management science on a working farm is an art form that calls on grass farmers to be careful observers, excellent planners and record-keepers, skillful interpreters of their observations, and creative troubleshooters. The Art and Science of Grazing will allow farmers to gain a solid understanding of the key principles of grazing management so they can both design and manage successful grazing systems. The book's unique approach presents information first from the perspective of pasture plants, and then from the livestock perspective--helping farmers understand both plant and animal needs before setting up a grazing system. This book is an essential guide for ruminant farmers who want to be able to create grazing systems that meet the needs of their livestock, pasture plants, soils, and the larger ecosystem. The book discusses all the practical details that are critical for sustained success: how to set up a new system or improve existing systems; acreage calculations; paddock layout; fence and drinking water access; lanes and other grazing infrastructure; managing livestock movement and flow; soil fertility; seeding and reseeding pastures; and more. The author includes descriptions of real grazing systems working well on dairy, beef, goat, and sheep farms in different regions of North America. The book covers pasture requirements specific to organic farming, but will be of use to both organic and non-organic farms.