> It is better to never graze old apple orchards.
>>
>> Pesticide residues that were legal at the time applied will
>> presist in the soil for very long periods.
Well... We've owned this orchard for over 30 years, it was a
certified organic orchard from the early 1970's until my mother
passed away in 1998. I know the spray history on it for the 20 or so
years before we owned it as well. We also have taken soil samples and
done tests to verify that it is ok before we started putting animals
on it. I would consider this safer land to graze on than many local
hay fields, which are generally heavily sprayed and fertilized.
> >> This land should find another non-agriculture use so that
>> pesticide residues can be excluded from the human food
>> chain. Horses, too, usually will eventually find their
> > way into the human food chain.
Not possible, it's our only arable land on our property. But see
above why I do not feel that it is a problem.
Also FWIW the most common problem people suggest is too much copper.
Our sheep require a lot more copper than normal, even though the
soils test out as adequate, we have to add copper to their mineral to
get their liver tests (on butcher sheep) within normal levels. We
also routinely test a few livers for various metals and trace
minerals each year from the sheep we butcher to see how they are
doing.
Given that this is what i can use for pasture, any suggestions on how
to harvest the forages in it when I can't graze it fast enough?
--
Oogie McGuire - oogiem@desertweyr.com
Weyr Associates - Multimedia and Web Authoring Services & Consulting
Desert Weyr - CMK Arabian horses and Black Welsh Mountain Sheep
http://www.desertweyr.com/
Paonia, CO USA
