mow or graze

[Texasmark]

Any time we have tried to bale winter grass it's been a real pain to get it dry enough. It takes at least a week to cure and spring weather is very unpredictable here. You live in sunny Ca so probably not a problem for you.

That's what I'm looking at currently. I ran Haygrazer for high volume production for years, but with the funny weather we have been having it wasn't working out. So Last year I started in on Rye (fall planting) in that field. With our monsoon spring last year I got rained out and baled a very mature crop. This year I planted in our recent dry, warm spell, and maybe I can get it off a little later when ripe for the picking. Farmer's Almanac says normal rain for the spring. We'll see.

 

[cat fever]

My biggest concern for this situation would be; I'll say I like the goat idea.
When the land has been eaten down and it's time for the goats to go, do you trust the goat owner to come get his goats and go?

 

[ultrarunner]

Every year the Goats-R-Us comes through for fire abatement... they charge $800 an acre to do the work.

The fence is simple rebar with a single insulator that is electric... several hundred goats with one goat tender in a slide in camper and two herd dogs...

The dogs are awesome... they never rest and two dogs keep the herd in check...

Goats R Us - Home

 

[DT86]

Every year the Goats-R-Us comes through for fire abatement... they charge $800 an acre to do the work.

The fence is simple rebar with a single insulator that is electric... several hundred goats with one goat tender in a slide in camper and two herd dogs...

The dogs are awesome... they never rest and two dogs keep the herd in check...

Goats R Us - Home

Something like this what I figured OP meant when talking about goats. Looks like we'll never know as he has started 6 threads and doesn't reply to any.

 

[smstonypoint]

Every year the Goats-R-Us comes through for fire abatement... they charge $800 an acre to do the work.

How many years between fire abatement treatments?

Steve

 

[ultrarunner]

They come every Spring... it is a big deal... if not addressed the city/county can and has hired the work out and liens the property... they also charge for reinspect ion here.

It was not always this way and some have gotten in trouble for being too aggressive like discing or tilling in a endangered species zone.. mowing is preferred... grazing ok.

 

[dchemphill1]

Mowing and then turning soil fastest way to start on your next project. Grazing goats take time and money. I have been using a few goats to get a pasture area under control. They are fun and provide for some good fertilizer. I help remove trees and shrubs after they kill them. I also mow it late in fall just to clean up stubble. The goats do the rest. 7 goats per acre is recommended but for a fast clean up 600 would look like a locust plague!