Tap into your observational senses to mark progress anytime you’re out in your pastures.

The field was ablaze with thousands of their fluttering, flame-orange wings.
Once a solid bermudagrass monoculture, the rancher aimed to add diversity to restore the grazing land to its native prairie. That fall, the yellow blooms of the golden crownbeard (cowpen daisy) stood vibrant against the green growth. Thousands of migrating monarch butterflies took note of one of their favorite nectar sources, and Noble Regenerative Ranching Advisor Will Moseley got to bear witness.
“Talk about an ‘ah-ha’ moment,” Moseley says. “To get to walk amongst that pasture with that rancher and his family was truly unbelievable. I’ll remember that moment forever.”
This moment offered a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into the progress the rancher was making toward his goal to add more life to the land. Still, Moseley says, it’s also important for ranchers to mark day-to-day improvement.
Measuring soil health doesn’t have to involve big, flashing ‘ah-ha’ moments; deep scientific analysis; time-consuming sampling or pricey tests. Instead, he suggests, when you’re out in a pasture fixing fence, restocking salt and mineral or checking water, take a minute or two to tune into your senses of sight, sound, smell and touch.
TAKE NOTE OF GROUND COVER, DIVERSITY, EROSION
The first step is to stop merely looking out across your pastures, Moseley says. Instead, look straight down. Whether you’re in your side-by-side, on your horse or on foot, look down and imagine throwing a hula-hoop at your feet. Consider the ground cover that would land inside that circle.
The goal of keeping soil covered is to armor it and reduce the amount of exposed, bare ground. If you were at 70% cover last year, and this year you see 75% or 80%, you’re making progress.
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