The Role of Livestock in Water Conservation

Amidst the sprawling expanse of pastures across the U.S. emerges a figure whose dedication to sustainable practices, water conservation and soil enrichment stands as a beacon of innovation. Russell Taylor, a seasoned crop advisor and conservationist, embodies a profound commitment to leveraging humic and fulvic acids, known as plant biostimulants, to revolutionize the agricultural industry.

At the helm of Live Earth, a family-run business championing humic shale derivatives for fertilizers and animal feeds, Taylor’s journey epitomizes the essence of the American dream intertwined with a passion for water conservation and soil health.

“We truly embody the American dream. My father envisioned coming out to the desert, digging his fortune from the hillside and building a thriving business,” Taylor said. His dedication to mining for humate and passion for water conservation practices in agriculture has not gone unnoticed as he was honored with the 2023 Certified Crop Adviser Conservationist of the Year award.

The significant materials mined by Live Earth, humic acid-based products, enhance plant productivity by enriching soil organic matter.

Farmers can enhance nutrient management and water conservation by improving soil structure and increasing organic matter content through livestock grazing management.

Meet Russell Taylor

Russell Taylor is a mineral specialist and organic beef farmer practicing effective livestock management to improve soil health and conserve water. Taylor told AcreageLife that rotational grazing techniques prevent overgrazing and promote sustained root growth.

In addition to being omniscient about minerals and plant biostimulants, Taylor can give a TED Talk about livestock farming. In central Utah, he has been raising organic beef since 1999 and proudly holds the title of the state’s first certified organic beef producer.

“Livestock grazing management is underappreciated in influencing soil organic matter levels and water conservation. Maintaining adequate plant height is one of the biggest drivers for producing robust root systems. By avoiding overgrazing and allowing sufficient plant mass to remain, roots can continue to grow. These deeper, healthier roots increase soil organic matter and improve soil structure,” Taylor said.

“When you start talking about how grazing and overgrazing affect soil organic matter, you can better understand how this practice impacts water-holding capacity and soil health.”

By moving livestock on and off grass quickly, plants will avoid being overgrazed, enabling them to develop robust root systems.

Boost Soil Organic Matter

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages livestock producers to balance the requirements for watering livestock and crops with conserving water. A USDA National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) program, called the 1% program, urges farmers to change their soil organic matter and helps ranchers with several conservation practices that build healthy soil.

“Conservation is the main reason for improving soil organic matter; you use less water because you lose less water. Remember, soil organic matter helps store water from rain and irrigation lost by surface runoff or infiltration through the soil. As your soil organic matter increases, those losses decrease significantly,” Taylor said.

Taylor told AcreageLife that the USDA NRCS program is built on the idea that your soil’s organic matter is your pantry for the soil.

“That’s where your water and nutrients are stored,” Taylor said.

The top strategies to ensure sustainable water usage include: 

Reduce or eliminate your tillage. Organic no-till systems, such as the roller-crimper, have helped organic producers reduce the intensity of soil disturbance in annual crop rotations.

Always have something growing and producing roots. Sometimes people plant one crop but keeping plants growing throughout the year feeds the soil.

Improve rotational grazing. Rotational grazing plays a role in preventing overgrazing. This practice allows vegetation to recover, promoting root growth.

Implement cover cropping and plant diversity. This protects the soil from erosion and adds organic residues. Many cover crops like peas can extend your grazing season. Plant diversity helps with crop growth but can also impact animal gains.

Use tools like the free web soil survey. This tool helps a homeowner or farmer learn more about their soil. This provides information about your starting point and potential for your soil type. Some soil types are predetermined to be bad due to texture and salinity.

Feed humate to your livestock. Feed humate to livestock free-choice and use it as a soil amendment. Humic and fulvic acid-based products can help with nutrient management to help increase forage production. These products improve soil structure, enhance nutrient uptake and increase microbial activity. (Feeding animals free-choice involves providing unrestricted access to various feed options. This method allows animals to regulate their intake).

“Water management is more than just adding humate and compost. Implementing no-till or reduced tillage practices can help retain soil moisture and improve soil health. Planting cover crops during the off-season protects the soil, reduces erosion and enhances water infiltration. Choosing drought-resistant or early-maturing crop varieties can reduce water needs and adjusting plant spacing to optimize water use efficiency is beneficial,” Taylor said.

Humic Acid-Based Products 

Humate has organic acids and minerals that can enhance the health of soil. It’s about two-thirds organic acids and one-third minerals and livestock eat it just for the mineral content!

“I feed the humate to the livestock on my ranch free-choice and use it as a soil amendment. Humic and fulvic acid-based products can help with nutrient management to help increase forage production,” Taylor added.

“These products improve soil structure, enhance nutrient uptake and increase microbial activity. Increasing nutrient availability, such as phosphorous, can help produce deeper roots, making pastures more resilient to drought.”

“Anything with hooves, feathers and fins can be fed this mineral supplement. The animals are fed humate and the byproduct is rich in organic acids. ”Humic acids are the backbone of your soil organic matter. For years, farmers have observed positive results from including humates in their livestock feeding programs,” Taylor said.

Research is advancing in areas such as adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) grazing, which optimizes grazing patterns for soil health and uses amendments like humate to improve soil structure and water retention. Research has produced clear data showing that AMP grazing increases carbon sequestration and soil carbon and nitrogen stocks and improves soil microbial life.

Livestock play a critical role in enhancing soil organic matter and water conservation. Taylor and other experts encourage livestock farmers to adopt these practices and stay informed about new trends for sustainable agriculture.