Case Study 5: Memel, Eastern Free State

This is an ideal Russian grass floodplainand toeslope ecosystem in Memel in the Eastern Free State. It is the coldest place in South Africa with just 120 summer growing days. Note the mountain in the background, with water seeping down through a footslope and toeslope to a floodplainvlei year round. In winter it is -15 degrees Celcius. This is prime Russian Grass country, able to handle the intense cold, short summer growing season and long winter growing season, annual veld fires and very high grazing demand for high protein all winter long.
This is an ideal Russian grass floodplainand toeslope ecosystem in Memel in the Eastern Free State. It is the coldest place in South Africa with just 120 summer growing days. Note the mountain in the background, with water seeping down through a footslope and toeslope to a floodplainvlei year round. In winter it is -15 degrees Celcius. This is prime Russian Grass country, able to handle the intense cold, short summer growing season and long winter growing season, annual veld fires and very high grazing demand for high protein all winter long.
Note the waterlogged flooplane area in the center of the Memel valley with seepage from both sides of the valley. This picture was take in September end of winter, with shallow subsoil moisture 5cm deep.

In winter a crust of dry soil forms on which cattle can walk while it is continually wet from 5-30cm down. In extremely wet years it looks like a rice paddy on the floodplainplaces and it is under water as per the videos below.
Note the waterlogged flooplane area in the center of the Memel valley with seepage from both sides of the valley. This picture was take in September end of winter, with shallow subsoil moisture 5cm deep.

In winter a crust of dry soil forms on which cattle can walk while it is continually wet from 5-30cm down. In extremely wet years it looks like a rice paddy on the floodplainplaces and it is under water as per the videos below.
Local Eco type Community Hybrid Breeding:

1. If it is a dry year, we can burn the vlei, prepare a fine seedbed and commence planting with a Piketberg no-till fineseed planter.
2. If it is a very wet La Nina year, we get 70mm of rain in 30 minutes and the toeslope and floodplainis under water without conventional tillage possible.
3. Our logic chain: begin with the footslope areas which we can plant with a Piketberg No-till fineseed planter in rainy season.
4. Wait for the toeslope to dry out and then identify the appropriate way to establish seed there. It may be no-till of the upper toeslope, ridging lower down, it may be broadcast seeding, it may be hydro seeding, or a combination of everything.
5. Planting date for footslope: early rainy season.
6. Planting date for toeslope: as possible mid to late rainy season.
7. Planting date for floodplainvlei: late summer to early winter.
8. Timeline for first grazing on footslope: 4-6 months, beginning winter.
9. Timeline for first grazing on toeslope and flooplane, when safe to do so in winter.
10. Ecological risk: premature grazing by cattle of the late plantings.

The mountains act as water catchment area, with water filtering down due to gravity year round. In late winter subsoil moisture is still available. The dead grass in this picture is dead because it doest grow in the cold-it is a genetic drought and not a moisture drought.. In the exact same conditions Russian Grass is going to flourish provided we can get it established from footslope toe toeslope and eventually in the floodplane, to lower the water table and get to a 5cm dry soil layer above the subsoil moisture. The footslope is average soil, the toeslope is goo soil and the floodplainis great soil, provided we can dry it out a little with a high Russian Grass plant population upland from it. The key question, how long will it take us to structure down to access this high fertility hotspot and turn it into red meat daily weight gains? 1-3 years, depending on the season and issues and our skill, commitment and capabilities.

With a deep taproot Russian Grass is able to access this subsoil moisture layer and perform as if it is planted under irrigation-self irrigating, lowering the water table. During the winter it remains green and growing and yields high protein powerfeed when ruminant livestock need it most. The dry summer grass is only 1% protein during winter and only good as roughage. At present our customer makes money with cattle in summer but high diesel and fertilizer feeding cost is eroding profitability with winter feeding. The economic goal is to establish the Russian Grass once, get cashflow positive, graze it every year, but not have any/many costs from year 2 onwards as with cutting and baling and feeding. We need to leverage against the Russian grass genetics.

Over time we aim to establish legumes and special Clovers higher up from the Russian Grass on the backslope upland areas, probably by aerial broadcast seeding, in order to increase the nitrogen run-off in the water reaching the Russian grass downhill.
The mountains act as water catchment area, with water filtering down due to gravity year round. In late winter subsoil moisture is still available. The dead grass in this picture is dead because it doest grow in the cold-it is a genetic drought and not a moisture drought.. In the exact same conditions Russian Grass is going to flourish provided we can get it established from footslope toe toeslope and eventually in the floodplane, to lower the water table and get to a 5cm dry soil layer above the subsoil moisture. The footslope is average soil, the toeslope is goo soil and the floodplainis great soil, provided we can dry it out a little with a high Russian Grass plant population upland from it. The key question, how long will it take us to structure down to access this high fertility hotspot and turn it into red meat daily weight gains? 1-3 years, depending on the season and issues and our skill, commitment and capabilities.

With a deep taproot Russian Grass is able to access this subsoil moisture layer and perform as if it is planted under irrigation-self irrigating, lowering the water table. During the winter it remains green and growing and yields high protein powerfeed when ruminant livestock need it most. The dry summer grass is only 1% protein during winter and only good as roughage. At present our customer makes money with cattle in summer but high diesel and fertilizer feeding cost is eroding profitability with winter feeding. The economic goal is to establish the Russian Grass once, get cashflow positive, graze it every year, but not have any/many costs from year 2 onwards as with cutting and baling and feeding. We need to leverage against the Russian grass genetics.

Over time we aim to establish legumes and special Clovers higher up from the Russian Grass on the backslope upland areas, probably by aerial broadcast seeding, in order to increase the nitrogen run-off in the water reaching the Russian grass downhill.
Russian grass would do well here due to shallow subsoil moisture visible in this valley in Memel. Note the backslope, note the footslope, note the toeslope and note the floodplane. Poor soil on the backslope, average soil on the footslope, good soil on the toeeslope and great soil on the floodplane. Easy to establish on the footslope, harder to establish on the toeslope, very hard to establish on the backslope and in the floodplane.

Real short answer as to how we will establish it?

“using Breeder Seed and making our own luck.”
Russian grass would do well here due to shallow subsoil moisture visible in this valley in Memel. Note the backslope, note the footslope, note the toeslope and note the floodplane. Poor soil on the backslope, average soil on the footslope, good soil on the toeeslope and great soil on the floodplane. Easy to establish on the footslope, harder to establish on the toeslope, very hard to establish on the backslope and in the floodplane.

Real short answer as to how we will establish it?

“using Breeder Seed and making our own luck.”
Shallow subsoil moisture level on floodplainend of winter, maybe 30cm deep. The deeper the water table, the longer period before the Russian Grass sinker root reaches it and begins self-irrigating. Our climatic risk is to use late summer rainfall during establishment until we get to taproot irrigation and to then switch to seepage water year round. We need to use the first few seasons to get the population density up and then lower this water table so that it remains 5cm below the soil surface whenever possible. Millions of Russian Grass plans growing in winter and drinking from this water table will accomplish this. It means we need a large scale establishment project.
Shallow subsoil moisture level on floodplainend of winter, maybe 30cm deep. The deeper the water table, the longer period before the Russian Grass sinker root reaches it and begins self-irrigating. Our climatic risk is to use late summer rainfall during establishment until we get to taproot irrigation and to then switch to seepage water year round. We need to use the first few seasons to get the population density up and then lower this water table so that it remains 5cm below the soil surface whenever possible. Millions of Russian Grass plans growing in winter and drinking from this water table will accomplish this. It means we need a large scale establishment project.
Note the mountain slope with gravity water seepage down the footslope and toeslope to a central waterlogged floodplainarea. All 3 are ideal for Russian Grass production year round in Memel and the Eastern Free State and KZN. Apply what you learned against what you see in front of you. This is a prime ecological niche area for Russian Grass.
Note the mountain slope with gravity water seepage down the footslope and toeslope to a central waterlogged floodplainarea. All 3 are ideal for Russian Grass production year round in Memel and the Eastern Free State and KZN. Apply what you learned against what you see in front of you. This is a prime ecological niche area for Russian Grass.
Note the high mountains funneling water down bedrock to a central waterlogged area in the valley bottom at the footslope/toeslope of the hill. Ideal for Russian Grass. We use 5-10 ha worth of mountain catchment area for rain and then channel this down on the bedrock to the central valley floodplainarea where we increase the carrying capacity on the Russian Grass by 5 x (and potentially to 10 times if we implement legumes, microbes, earthworms etc ) using this water and soil fertility run-off.
Note the high mountains funneling water down bedrock to a central waterlogged area in the valley bottom at the footslope/toeslope of the hill. Ideal for Russian Grass. We use 5-10 ha worth of mountain catchment area for rain and then channel this down on the bedrock to the central valley floodplainarea where we increase the carrying capacity on the Russian Grass by 5 x (and potentially to 10 times if we implement legumes, microbes, earthworms etc ) using this water and soil fertility run-off.
Instead of cutting and baling summer grass to get 10-12% protein in winter from expensive bales good for maintenance only, Russian Grass is planted on the footslope, toeslope and on the valley bottom waterlogged areas and grazed directly in winter, yielding 25-35% protein. That is our long term goal. It is established once and persist permanently never requiring replanting once succesfully established. We use the Breeder Seed multi-generational aspect to leverage from the footslope into the toeslope and from the toeslope into the floodplane. In wet years, we have better seepage in winter but more floods during heavy rains in summer.

The cattle in this picture require 8% protein for maintenance and everything more than 8% is channeled into liveweight gains and reproduction. With 30% protein Russian Grass daily weight gains of 0.8 kg to1 kg per day per animal is sustainable in Memel in this area, once we succeed. This restores profitability during winter months to feedlot levels. This farm is 5000 ha with 1000-2000 cattle and we need 100-200 ha of Russian grass to double carrying capacity on the entire farm.

We aim to achieve this by breaking the choke point of winter feedflow and lack of protein. Our main weapon is Russian Grass Breeder Seed and its F1 seed production capability; with as much seed as required from footslope unto toeslope and from toeslope unto floodplane, until we succeed. What we do not know is how long it will take exactly, as the climate variables is not under our control.

The money that would have gone into diesel and fertilizer and cutting and baling is now going into Russian Grass Breeder Seed. The paradigm is shifting.with ecological and genetic leverage aimed at ensuring long term profitability.
Instead of cutting and baling summer grass to get 10-12% protein in winter from expensive bales good for maintenance only, Russian Grass is planted on the footslope, toeslope and on the valley bottom waterlogged areas and grazed directly in winter, yielding 25-35% protein. That is our long term goal. It is established once and persist permanently never requiring replanting once succesfully established. We use the Breeder Seed multi-generational aspect to leverage from the footslope into the toeslope and from the toeslope into the floodplane. In wet years, we have better seepage in winter but more floods during heavy rains in summer.

The cattle in this picture require 8% protein for maintenance and everything more than 8% is channeled into liveweight gains and reproduction. With 30% protein Russian Grass daily weight gains of 0.8 kg to1 kg per day per animal is sustainable in Memel in this area, once we succeed. This restores profitability during winter months to feedlot levels. This farm is 5000 ha with 1000-2000 cattle and we need 100-200 ha of Russian grass to double carrying capacity on the entire farm.

We aim to achieve this by breaking the choke point of winter feedflow and lack of protein. Our main weapon is Russian Grass Breeder Seed and its F1 seed production capability; with as much seed as required from footslope unto toeslope and from toeslope unto floodplane, until we succeed. What we do not know is how long it will take exactly, as the climate variables is not under our control.

The money that would have gone into diesel and fertilizer and cutting and baling is now going into Russian Grass Breeder Seed. The paradigm is shifting.with ecological and genetic leverage aimed at ensuring long term profitability.
Footslope toeslope waterlogged land in Stutterheim with Russian Grass planted in 2017-2018 and still going strong. This is what we are replicating, with a floodplainadded as the last stage. Footslope seed ensures toeslope success which combined ensure floodplainsuccess.
Footslope toeslope waterlogged land in Stutterheim with Russian Grass planted in 2017-2018 and still going strong. This is what we are replicating, with a floodplainadded as the last stage. Footslope seed ensures toeslope success which combined ensure floodplainsuccess.
Spot the footslope, toeslope and floodplainhere in this Eastwood Memel valley. This area has more sandy soil which dries out more easily than the heavy clay areas next to it. With sandy topsoil we are more vulnerable during establishment and need more follow up rains.

Stage 1 – footslope

Stage 2 -toeslope

Stage 3-floodplane

Note: Russian grass seed only moves downhill with gravity and rainfall events. We cascade seed to lower elevations and make our own luck in eventually seeding the floodplane. Once done we graze it hard and continuously, with regrowth becoming dominant instead of seed production.
Spot the footslope, toeslope and floodplainhere in this Eastwood Memel valley. This area has more sandy soil which dries out more easily than the heavy clay areas next to it. With sandy topsoil we are more vulnerable during establishment and need more follow up rains.

Stage 1 – footslope

Stage 2 -toeslope

Stage 3-floodplane

Note: Russian grass seed only moves downhill with gravity and rainfall events. We cascade seed to lower elevations and make our own luck in eventually seeding the floodplane. Once done we graze it hard and continuously, with regrowth becoming dominant instead of seed production.
Note the shallow subsoil moisture due to gravity seepage from 3 sides. Once we hit the subsoil moisture with our Russian Grass taproot system we can sustain the plant year round and set seed and increase the population density and protein levels and make some money from feedlot nutritional plane 30% protein grazing in winter. This allows us to turn off fattened animals out of season earning a premium.
Note the shallow subsoil moisture due to gravity seepage from 3 sides. Once we hit the subsoil moisture with our Russian Grass taproot system we can sustain the plant year round and set seed and increase the population density and protein levels and make some money from feedlot nutritional plane 30% protein grazing in winter. This allows us to turn off fattened animals out of season earning a premium.
Note the sloping land on all sides. This is a water catchment area. It has a lot of wind. We need to risk planting footslope and toeslope land with rain and wind and get enough pioneer plants established so that we fill in the floodplainvlei with F1 seeds. That is the discipline and challenge. In a La Nina very wet year this sandy soil vlei will do better than a heavy clay vlei as it allows water to drain away.
Note the sloping land on all sides. This is a water catchment area. It has a lot of wind. We need to risk planting footslope and toeslope land with rain and wind and get enough pioneer plants established so that we fill in the floodplainvlei with F1 seeds. That is the discipline and challenge. In a La Nina very wet year this sandy soil vlei will do better than a heavy clay vlei as it allows water to drain away.
Note the water funnel to a waterlogged area ideal for Russian Grass here in Memel. 6 months after planting we want seedheads of Russian Grass standing here with F1 seed drop slowly converting this vleu from useless dry grass in winter to continuously green Russian Grass. In 12 months we want fat cattle end of winter grazing this area. The Russian Gras convert the subsoil moisture to plant protein and the cattle convert the plant protein to red meat protein and the farmer makes money selling fat animals out of season. Cows calve easily because they are in condition. Calves grow well because they get lots of milk. The Breeder Seed is the key to this chain of events, cascading down from average soil on the footslope to better soil on the toeslope to great soil in the floodplane. Each echelon improves the conditions for the plants coming below it, with the combined might lowering the water table and ensuring that the eroded alluvial deposits from the last 1000 years or so become accessable. That is paydirt.
Note the water funnel to a waterlogged area ideal for Russian Grass here in Memel. 6 months after planting we want seedheads of Russian Grass standing here with F1 seed drop slowly converting this vleu from useless dry grass in winter to continuously green Russian Grass. In 12 months we want fat cattle end of winter grazing this area. The Russian Gras convert the subsoil moisture to plant protein and the cattle convert the plant protein to red meat protein and the farmer makes money selling fat animals out of season. Cows calve easily because they are in condition. Calves grow well because they get lots of milk. The Breeder Seed is the key to this chain of events, cascading down from average soil on the footslope to better soil on the toeslope to great soil in the floodplane. Each echelon improves the conditions for the plants coming below it, with the combined might lowering the water table and ensuring that the eroded alluvial deposits from the last 1000 years or so become accessable. That is paydirt.
Ideal floodplainvlei paydirt.

This is where all seed drop will come to. Visualize the subsoil moisture filled with Russian grass roots, and the nitrogen run-off from legumes on all sides of the upper hillside backslope seeping down, and the Russian grass roots filtering it out and turning it into fodder and fat cattle being backgrounded.

Look at this area and ask where a fine seedbed is possible on the footslope, or whether the season demands that it be no-tilled in on the footslope and toeslope, or whether the seed should be placed on floodplainsoil with a fertilizer broadcast spreader and a roller. Once a pioneer population is in place how will water flow cause seed movement to the central area?
Ideal floodplainvlei paydirt.

This is where all seed drop will come to. Visualize the subsoil moisture filled with Russian grass roots, and the nitrogen run-off from legumes on all sides of the upper hillside backslope seeping down, and the Russian grass roots filtering it out and turning it into fodder and fat cattle being backgrounded.

Look at this area and ask where a fine seedbed is possible on the footslope, or whether the season demands that it be no-tilled in on the footslope and toeslope, or whether the seed should be placed on floodplainsoil with a fertilizer broadcast spreader and a roller. Once a pioneer population is in place how will water flow cause seed movement to the central area?
What do you see?

➢ Backslope area that legumes can be established?
➢ Footslope where Russian Grass can be no-tilled in?
➢ Toeslope where Russian Grass can be no-tilled or broadcast spread in?
➢ Floodplainwhere natural seed dropcan blow, wash and spread into?
What do you see?

➢ Backslope area that legumes can be established?
➢ Footslope where Russian Grass can be no-tilled in?
➢ Toeslope where Russian Grass can be no-tilled or broadcast spread in?
➢ Floodplainwhere natural seed dropcan blow, wash and spread into?
Look closer. Visualize the water flow down the hill picking up nitrogen molecules from legume roots and washing into Russian grass Breeder Seed plants, becoming seeds and those seeds flowing further down to the central vlei area.
Look closer. Visualize the water flow down the hill picking up nitrogen molecules from legume roots and washing into Russian grass Breeder Seed plants, becoming seeds and those seeds flowing further down to the central vlei area.
Do you see 5 cm of soil over permanently waterlogged areas with subsoil moisture year round due to gravity? Do you see the water which can carry nitrogen molecules? Do you see many hectares of backslope that can be established to legumes acting as a fertilizer factory, with gravity bringing the nitrogen run-off down the hill on the bedrock seepage? Can you see the Russian roots forming a thick mat and sucking up these nutrients and tunring it into edible biomass and high protein?
Do you see 5 cm of soil over permanently waterlogged areas with subsoil moisture year round due to gravity? Do you see the water which can carry nitrogen molecules? Do you see many hectares of backslope that can be established to legumes acting as a fertilizer factory, with gravity bringing the nitrogen run-off down the hill on the bedrock seepage? Can you see the Russian roots forming a thick mat and sucking up these nutrients and tunring it into edible biomass and high protein?
Free irrigation seepage with each 100mm ha year = 1 ton of edible material of 30% protein Russian Grass, especially all winter. We want 20 ha uphill to bring us nutrients to turn the lower elevant footslope and toeslope and floodplainareas into 5 x higher carrying capacity areas. At present it has 1% protein in winter, we want to elevate this to 25-35% protein. The water you see is how we will achieve this.
Free irrigation seepage with each 100mm ha year = 1 ton of edible material of 30% protein Russian Grass, especially all winter. We want 20 ha uphill to bring us nutrients to turn the lower elevant footslope and toeslope and floodplainareas into 5 x higher carrying capacity areas. At present it has 1% protein in winter, we want to elevate this to 25-35% protein. The water you see is how we will achieve this.
One of the great advantages of Russian grass is that it remains green and doesnt burn, creating a safety feed buffer in such seepage waterlogged areas. Note the area above the wet footslope vlei that can be planted with legumes so that nitrogen seeps into the Russian grass below it on the footslope. Allow me to equip your mind with more focused pictures and factual material to show you how we will achieve the desired feedlot outcome.
One of the great advantages of Russian grass is that it remains green and doesnt burn, creating a safety feed buffer in such seepage waterlogged areas. Note the area above the wet footslope vlei that can be planted with legumes so that nitrogen seeps into the Russian grass below it on the footslope. Allow me to equip your mind with more focused pictures and factual material to show you how we will achieve the desired feedlot outcome.

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