Emily Macdonald
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willow fodder block

Started this discussion. Last reply by Joanne Vaughn Oct 4. 5 Replies

Can anyone share experiences with willow fodder for sheep?  What cultivars did you use? Good sources for obtaining cuttings? What density did you plant?  How did it work out? Did the sheep like…Continue

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Joanne Vaughn replied to Emily Macdonald's discussion willow fodder block
"We have been working on it for several years now. We have had a lot of trouble getting willows started. Seems like every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to eat them, pull them out of the ground etc.  I have one now under surveillance on my porch in a…"
Oct 4
Erica Frenay replied to Emily Macdonald's discussion willow fodder block
"Thanks Jane! Really fascinating to learn what you've been working on, and I am very much looking forward to hearing your results. In addition to farming, I work part-time for the Cornell Small Farms Program and am always looking for stories…"
Sep 16
Jane Hammer replied to Emily Macdonald's discussion willow fodder block
"Hi Erica, Emily, I have been helping out with a grant funded project here in NE Massachusetts established pasture, planting all willow blocks (along renewed agriculture ditches) intended first for beef cattle fodder/enhanced insect and bird…"
Sep 11
Emily Macdonald replied to Emily Macdonald's discussion willow fodder block
"Hi Erica, Thanks for your reply. Not yet, but we are planning to do so if we receive funding from a grant. The idea is to plant willow, mulberry, and American hazel in hedges or blocks that can be browsed by sheep periodically. Like you, we would…"
May 6
Erica Frenay replied to Emily Macdonald's discussion willow fodder block
"Hi Emily! I just planted a willow fodder block for my sheep last Spring, and am adding more density to it this year (and probably for the next few years, as I figure out how dense I want it to be. I'm sorry to say I don't have answers for…"
May 6
Emily Macdonald posted a discussion

willow fodder block

Can anyone share experiences with willow fodder for sheep?  What cultivars did you use? Good sources for obtaining cuttings? What density did you plant?  How did it work out? Did the sheep like it?Thank you !See More
Mar 20

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Please note - you must provide your full first and last name (above) for your membership request to be considered.
Emily Macdonald
State where you live or work?
Michigan
County where you live or work?
Berrien
What is your occupation relative to silvopasture? (for example, owner/producer, extension specialist, agency specialist, etc.)
owner/producer
Please describe, with two or three sentences, why you are interested in silvopasture. Your answer helps us ensure that only those people truly interested in silvopasture are added as members.
I'm interested in producing lamb, forage, and tree products in an integrated intensively managed system.

Comment Wall (2 comments)

At 10:21am on November 1, 2018, Jonathan Bates said…

Hello Emily,

Fun to read about your experiences with trying tree foods with your animals :) I appreciate many of the qualities you are looking for in fodders. One that I am particularly interested in is establishment time! If I can find a handful of fast growing, well liked forages, those are the ones I'd like to plant. My new experience and research with Paulownia is showing me that, although it won't grow to a full tree in my climate, as a very large winter killed perennial, it has a lot of potential. The reason is, that it will grow significant biomass regardless of dying to the ground each winter. For example, the next fastest established, high biomass tree, so far that I've tried, that will also be eaten by my livestock, black locust, has THORNY ROOT SUCKERS!!! So, although I haven't given up on black locust, some of its characteristics aren't fabulous for me as the purveyor :) Willow, the next most impressive forage tree/shrub needs to be robust enough to come back and thrive after each browse. That's looking like 3 to 4 years before it can be successful in a silvopasture. Next, popular... probably beyond 4 years unless you plant out tons of trees, and then be willing to coppice them back to keep them at browse hight, otherwise you've just planted a forest! Which tree can we look to then for establishing the powerful technique called intensive silvopasture in the Northeast USA? https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/theworldpost/wp/2018/05/30/carbon-farming/?utm_term=.b366463e0cc9

At 9:30am on April 16, 2020, James Pollard said…

Good Day,

How is everything with you, I picked interest on you after going through your short profile and deemed it necessary to write you immediately. I have something very vital to disclose to you, but I found it difficult to express myself here, since it's a public site.Could you please get back to me on (mrjamespollard@aol.com) for the full details.
Have a nice day
Thanks God bless.

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Forum

willow fodder block

Started by Emily Macdonald. Last reply by Joanne Vaughn Oct 4. 5 Replies

Can anyone share experiences with willow fodder for sheep?  What cultivars did you use? Good sources for obtaining cuttings? What density did you plant?  How did it work out? Did the sheep like…Continue

How Can We Know If Livestock Benefit or Harm Our Trees?

Started by Scott O'Bar Aug 29. 0 Replies

I was watching this conference with Ian Mitchell Innes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27fUjjlwm7UAt about…Continue

Off-grid low flow rate pumps

Started by Scott O'Bar. Last reply by Scott O'Bar Jun 1. 2 Replies

Anyone know of some 12v water pumps that can produce a small trickle of water through a very small diameter tube. Interested in putting cattle on my property, but the water situation is difficult.Continue

Forages, Grasses, Legumes

Started by Travis Hermance Mar 18. 0 Replies

I am clearing my woodlots for silvopasture in the Mid-Hudson River Valley in New York State. Can anyone recommend a good mixture of grasses and legumes that are more shade tolerate for my new…Continue

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