final sheep and wool 2002again (1)

8/11/2019 Final Sheep and Wool 2002again (1)

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Holistic Management

An AlternativeDecision-Making Process

A process that simultaneouslyconsidersthe ecological, economical and

social impacts of decisions prior

to their implementation.


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Stated Another Way.Holistic Management is aprocess of goal setting,decision-making andmonitoring which integratessocial, ecological and economicfactors.

(Stinner et al., 1997)


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Story Time...Highlighting the Evolutionof Holistic Management


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Some Key Insights Leading to the

Evolution of Holistic Management

A holistic perspective is essential in

management. Environments can be classified by a new

scale based on the distribution of

humidity throughout the year and howfast dead vegetation decays.


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The only form of wealth that cansustain nations is wealth derived frombiodiversity.

Four fundamental ecosystemprocesses sustain biodiversity; the

water cycle, mineral cycle, community

dynamics and energy flow. Some 20 past civilizations failed as a

direct result of decision-making that

destroyed their biodiversity.

More Key Insights


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More Key Insights

People have a tendency to let theirexpenses rise to the level of theirincome. Similarly, farms andbusinesses have a tendency to allowproduction costs to rise to theiranticipated level of income.

Overgrazing is a result of the timeplants are exposed to animals, not thenumber of animals.


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Grazing efficiency is maximized whenanimals are moved to the right place,

at the right time, for the right reasons.

Causes traditionally attributed todesertification are not supported by

research results nor do they exist insome areas that are turning to desert.

More Key Insights


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Whole Under Management

DecisionMakers

ResourceBase

Money


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Decision Makers- Seth and Sharon

My Whole Under Management - An Example


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Resource Base

Parents, Siblings, Relatives Friends, Neighbors, Community

Clientele, Co-Workers, ProfessionalAcquaintances

5.5 Acres of Woodlands, Blueberries,

Vegetables, Flowers House, Barn, Sauna, Shed

Car, Tractor, Bicycle


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Money

Savings Account

Checking Account

Parents and In-Laws Credit Line


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Forms of production to provide such lives.Future resource base (human & land)

essential to sustain desired lives.

Quality of life sought based uponthings valued most deeply.

Holistic Goal


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Your Holistic Goal

Ties your deepest values to your lifesupport system.

Like magnetic north guides directionwithout being seen or reached.

Ensures objectives, goals and actions

move you to what you want. Decision-making attractor rather

than any goal in a linear sense.


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Example:

Quality of life: We desire a happyprosperous rural farm life, family andcommunity harmony, freedom of religion,

security, time for family and friends, goodhealth, clean food and water.

Forms of production: profit, tolerant

environment, full and meaningfulemployment in community, leisure time,unpolluted environment..


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Future resource base:

Landscape Effective water and mineralcycling, high biodiversity and energy

flow in open parkland and withcomplex small crop fields.Abundant wildlife and perennial

grasslands (see map).

Clients/suppliers, etc. We must be

friendly, professional, good attitude, promptand reliable, honest, open-minded,responsive.

This would drive the process ofdecision-making on this farm.


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Testing Questions

Cause & Effect Weak Link

social biological financial

Marginal Reaction

Gross Profit Analysis Energy/Money - Source and Use Sustainability

Society and Culture


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Ecosystem Processes

WaterCycle

MineralCycle

EnergyPlan

CommunityDynamics


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Tools for Managing Ecosystem Processes

HumanCreativity

LivingOrganisms

Money&

Labor

)AnimalImpact

GrazingFireRest )Technology


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Impacts of Holistic Management?

The following examples were taken from:

The Allan Savory Center for Holistic

Managements web site(http://www.holisticmanagement.org/)

Farmers I am working with

My personal / family experiences

A study from Ohio State University(Stinner et al., 1997)


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Impact of HolisticManagement on Farms

and Families- Personal Anecdotes -


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Bill Burrows15 years ago we were a dysfunctionalfamily of 28 decision-makers on our

ranch, disagreeing on almost every issue,with seven years of red ink decreasingland viability and productivity. We were

losing our dream of being able to holdour ranch in open space for futuregenerations.


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Today our family, ranch andenvironment are no longer dysfunctional.

Our finances have been running in theblack for 13 1/2 years. We havedramatically increased our landproductivity. Our 28 family members

work together as a team.


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Sandy MathesonWe were in debt and getting deeper.There didnt seem to be a way out. Our

farm which traditionally lost a great dealof money, is now profitable. Pastureproductivity has also increased. The plantsare healthier and so are the cattle. Were

spending less money on supplemental feed.Were proud of what we haveaccomplished.


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Philip and Lindsay Theron

Prior to managing holistically, wewere in crisis management. Our inputcosts just kept rising and rising. Butnow we see a reversal of this process.We are very positive about our

future.


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Robert PazstorWith Holistic Management, you find outwhat your kids think and feel and feeland where they want to go and how youcan incorporate that into the familystructure. It really helps to get peopleto a different level of conversation nomatter what relationship they have.


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My PersonalAnecdotes


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SeveralFarmers I work with

have told me about the great benefit

they gained by openly exchanging valuesand beliefs and forming a shared visionabout the future direction of their farm.Some family members expressed feelings

and opinions that others had never heardbefore.


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My personal experiences

Shortly after taking my first class, I returnedhome with an attitude a kin to the proof is inthe pudding. For my wife and me, the puddingcame in short order and was rich. PracticingHolistic Management has strengthened ourmarriage and allowed us to define the life we

want to live together and move towards it in ameaningful way. This not only impacts ourfamily life, but impacts our careers,community work and extended family and

friends.


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The Proofs in thePuddingA Study of

Holistic ManagementPractitioners Stinner et al.,1997


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25 farmers living throughout the U.S. andpracticing Holistic Management wereinterviewed.

The scale of operations ranged from 18 to

over 222,000 acres.

Time practicing Holistic Management rangedfrom 1.5 to 17 years.

24 of the 25 farms were using plannedintensive grazing on some of their land.


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Results of the interviews:

24 of the 25farmers observed increasedbiodiversity since they began using HM.

80%reported increased profits from their landsince practicing HM.

16%reported little-no profit increases, butwere optimistic about the future.

91%reported improvements in their quality oflife because of changes in their time budgets.

52%reported decreases of up to 40-60% inlabor requirements in their operations.

Almost allinterviewees reported observingimprovements in the ecosystem processes on

their farms.


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Self-Test

How do you make decisions?

What do you consider when making a

major decision? When making minordecisions?

Do you consider the impact of an action

on your family, your workers, theenvironment and your check bookbefore moving forward with a decision?


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Do you even have the informationto consider all these factorsbefore making a decision?

If not, what is the cost you pay interms of the quality of your life,

the productivity of your farm, and

the condition of your financialsituation?


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Helping You Put Knowledge and Research to Work.

Wh W t th W ld


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Why Wasnt the World

Overgrazed Before Humans?

Millions of herbivores & pack-hunting predators.

Two strategies handled predator packs.

All young dropped over short time.

Large herds bunched.

Bunched animals dung & urinate in concentration.

No animals like to feed on own feces.

Animals only return when feces weathered.

So no overgrazing.


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final sheep and wool 2002again (1)

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