Big thank you for all the folks who made their way out to the farm yesterday and to all the volunteers who make it possible.From Russ and Timothy who greet you while getting you parked to Arthur showing each kiddo exactly all the great parts of the play area! It takes a village. Quality Meats Foley, MN thank you for the delicious hot dogs and of course our hosts the Barthel Family.
Dung Beetles Discovered at the Snake River Farm.
Specifically, Aphodius fimetarius, also known as the red dung beetle. Dung beetles are terrifically import to natural ecosystems.
I have been searching our farm for these beneficial insects for decades.
Samantha discovered them and recorded the video.
She also located a closely related companion species, Aphodius lividus.
Aphodius lividus is similar but smaller and has brown wing coverings rather than the brighter red- brown.
Both of these beetles feed on all types of herbivorous dung. Both are major contributors to soil fertility, to soil building, and to carbon sequestration.
On our farm we pasture raise bison, cattle, sheep, hog, and horses. All these animals will contribute to the diet and the habitat of dung beetles.
These insects also certify, in a direct way, that our pastures are totally organic, that our soil is chemical and toxin free. That is especially important to us.
Dung beetles have round bodies, six legs and long flying wings folded under hard, protective covers. Some male dung beetles have strong horns on their heads, too. Found worldwide on every continent except Antarctica, these brilliant bugs live in habitats ranging from hot, dry deserts to lush forests.
They are the only insect that uses the Milky Way to navigate and orientate themselves.
Dung beetles are precious when it comes to soil regeneration.
The video shows a beetle rolling a manure ball that is covered with coarse grains of sand. This view is magnified of course, and bare of vegetation, because the cow pie was dropped on a pasture trail. Our Farm is in the Anoka Sand Plain. This particular spot was sorted for granular size but recent rain, but any way you look at it this is poor soil, in serious need of binding organic material.
For reference, a rich clay soil would have granular particles that are literally less than a hundredth of this size.
The beetle will roll the manure chunk into a ball, then bury it, and lay eggs in it. Whe
Lush pastures on Snake River Farm. #farminglife #bison#sustainablefarming
Thank you to all the wonderful Volunteers, Guests and the Barthel Family for hosting another successful Farm Day.
Yesterday I had internet issues however today it was mostly a struggle with FB stating I was pirating music although I was not so tried turning into a Reel where you get hundreds of musical options, the video is too long so turn on some music and enjoy...my final version does not contain any music.😝
Sometimes I can't find them...sometimes they come find me! #bison #farmlife #luckyme
Do Bison flare their nostrils to warn you? Nope it's part of the mating ritual.
Do you remember my post- Do Bison flare their nostrils as part of the mating ritual or as a warning? I did not stick around to find out. Per my recent conversation with Tom it is part of the mating process. Also wallowing where the Bison rolls aggressively on the ground is another mating behavior. In either situation caution is recommended. They like their privacy too.
Just amazing looking at this sequence how the bison approached the fence and then leapt over. Apparently they have a vertical jump of up to 6 feet, are good swimmers and can spin around quickly to defend themselves against predators. #bisonranch #bison
Gail’s video capture of the Pileated woodpecker feeding her young.
Juan took this 53 second video with his phone while tending to the flock.
It is grainy but worth watching to the end.
It starts with the ewe and one new-born lamb and ends with two lambs.
Birthing is easy for some creatures.
Tom
Snake River Farm Fall Event
