MORE THAN TWO DECADES INTO A CAREER FOCUSED ON ADAPTIVE ROTATIONAL GRAZING, DARRYL STOLTZ IS STILL AS EAGER TO GET OUT INTO THE FIELD AS HE WAS WHEN HE STARTED.
What began as a job has become a lifelong pursuit of healthier pastures, stronger ecosystems, and better ways of working with the soil.
As a grazing specialist, Darryl works closely with Island producers to develop grazing plans and coach adaptive grazing management practices. He also organizes and leads pasture walks, grazing clubs, and workshops that bring farmers together to learn from one another and explore new approaches to pasture management.
What he enjoys most about these events is seeing producers embrace new ideas and put them into practice. "Every producer wants to maximize their farm’s potential and sustainability efforts, and we can help them do that."
One of the biggest misconceptions Darryl encounters is the belief that pasture productivity depends solely on the weather. Management plays a significant role. Well-managed perennial pastures typically have short grazing periods of one to three days, followed by recovery periods of 30 to 40 days or longer. This allows forage plants to move beyond survival mode and thrive, building strong root systems and creating healthy organic matter in soil, which in turn helps water-holding capacity.
These are the kinds of concepts Darryl explores in his workshops, helping producers understand how grazing management can benefit both their operations and the environment. Darryl's commitment to learning is matched in his commitment to sharing that knowledge with others.
Darryl hopes to inspire Islanders to think differently about the connection between livestock, healthy soils, and long-term farm sustainability. He points to the important role livestock and perennial pastures play in building healthy soils and supporting environmental sustainability.
“Adaptively managed perennial pastures are an excellent carbon sink and incorporating livestock into crop rotations plays an important role in improving soil health.”
