© Leslie Michel, WSDA
Soil Health Ambassador: Mallonee Family Farms – Diverse Pasture Plantings
Maynard Mallonee uses diverse pasture plantings to build soil health and support his organic milk cows.
December 6, 2024
Author: Leslie Michel, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Quotes from Maynard Mallonee
Just south of the tiny town of Curtis, WA, Maynard Mallonee and his son Jack own a 60-cow dairy. Maynard is a third-generation farmer. Jack is the fourth. Maynard’s family has owned and operated the farm since his grandfather bought the place in 1949. Today, Maynard and Jack milk 60 cows daily using robots. The cows also spend 200+ days on pasture when the weather is nice, and the soil is dry enough.
The Mallonees use diverse pasture plantings, such as cover crops and crop rotation, to improve their soil health and livestock health. Healthier cows mean lower costs and higher outputs.
Maynard frequently uses crops like plantain and chicory, which are high in tannins. These slow down the enteric acid process, which means producing less carbon dioxide and methane naturally.
The Mallonees have also worked extensively with the Lewis Conservation District, most recently installing a manure separator and variable frequency drive. The separated manure solids can be applied to the fields, and the variable frequency drive reduces overall power consumption by varying the speed of the motor based on needs.
Why was it important to you and your farm to begin using diverse pasture plantings?
The reason that I've been using cover crops to improve my soil health is for organic matter buildup, but also the biodiversity cycle. So I grow higher intensity, higher nutrient-dense crops. Then we let the cows out to graze and harvest [the crops], so that's more nutrient density. Then, my cows are more healthful. If my soil is more healthful and my plants are more healthful, which [lowers] veterinary bills or stuff like that and just how my cows live, you know, naturally halving the grass naturally by grazing, that gives me a higher quality product, which is milk, which people like to buy in the store.
So they, you know, they understand me paying attention to my soil, feeding the plants that grow in the soil gives my cows a better life.
MULTIPLE BENEFITS | The diverse plantings at Mallonee Family Farms provide essential nutrients for the milk-producing cows and help to build soil organic matter.
© Leslie Michel, WSDA
What were the biggest challenges to transitioning to diverse pasture plantings?
So we've been trying cover crops for about five to seven years. I started with two acres of land as an experimental project for a couple of years with the Plant Material Center out of Pullman, Washington, and we grew some cover crop trials. I got to see what grows, and what doesn't grow. We bought ten winter cover crops and summer cover crops.
I learned what grows here, what doesn't grow—what my cows will eat and won't eat. And what's better for soil health, some [plants] break down easily, others don’t break down. Being an organic farmer, I make sure that all the seeds are non-treated and non-GMO.
FINDING WHAT WILL GROW | Maynard has tried many different plants in his pastures to determine what works best for his operation.
© Leslie Michel, WSDA
What were the biggest challenges to transitioning to diverse pasture plantings?
The biggest thing is that if you're going to try to cover crops—don't be afraid to fail because if you're not failing, you're not moving forward. You're going to fail. If you're if you're not failing, you're not trying enough stuff. If you're afraid of failing, that's not good because you just have to experiment around with things. But that's what you do. Multiple species or put multiple stands in your fields or your pastures or whatever you want to do. That's why when I'm building a permanent pasture, I'm looking for probably 13 to 15 species of plants that I'm putting in there. So, as my cows are grazing, they're eating a bite of energy with a bite of protein
What would you tell other growers interested in experimenting with these practices?
If you're interested in renovating your pastures or your soil or planting more highly digestible plants, higher in sugar, higher in protein plants like they have today, I would look into cover crops in the summer versus just putting plowing up and planting in the fall because it gives you a crop that's going to build nutrients. Work in little patches, if you own 100 acres, do a five acre test plot every year and work at it that way.
We usually do 5 to 7 acres and always try a new plant that you never tried before to see if that'll grow. I want to try sunflowers. I just haven't done that yet. But we're going to be working those into the rotation somewhere or try something that you think would never grow and it might grow very well in your area.
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE | Mallonee Family Farms uses best soil management practices to ensure the farm can stay in the family for future generations.
© Leslie Michel, WSDA
Learn more
Connect with Maynard via LinkedIn
See Maynard and Jack on the Organic Valley 2024 National Farmers Day Livestream at hr 9:00:00
Resources
Peña-Espinoza, M., Valente, A.H., Thamsborg, S.M. et al. Antiparasitic activity of chicory (Cichorium intybus) and its natural bioactive compounds in livestock: a review. Parasites Vectors 11, 475 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-3012-4
Nwafor, I.C., Shale, K., Achilonu, M.C., Chemical Composition and Nutritive Benefits of Chicory (Cichorium intybus) as an Ideal Complementary and/or Alternative Livestock Feed Supplement, The Scientific World Journal, 2017, 7343928, 11 pages, 2017.
Nguyen T.T., Navarrete, S., Horne D.J, Donaghy D.J., Kemp P.D., Forage plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.): Meta-analysis quantifying the decrease in nitrogen excretion, the increase in milk production, and the changes in milk composition of dairy cows grazing pastures containing plantain, Animal Feed Science and Technology, Volume 285, 2022.
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Leslie Michel
Leslie works with counties on the Voluntary Stewardship Program through the Washington State Department of Agricutlure, providing technical support on their monitoring plans. She also assists with the Washington Soil Health Initiative and Sustainable Farms and Fields program by providing support for soil sampling.
This article was published by the Washington Soil Health Initiative. For more information, visit wasoilhealth.org. To have these posts delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to the WaSHI newsletter. To find a soil science technical service provider, visit the Washington State University Extension website or the Washington State Conservation District website.