Adaptive Grazing and Stacked Enterprise Ag Intern

DORSODURO HOLDINGS, LLC
Brad Prewitt, Managing Member
5479 Pontocola Road
Shannon, Mississippi
662.401.3431 / brad@prewittgroup.com
7 Generation Regenerative Grazier Seeks Dynamic, Hands-On Intern

April 12, 2022 / Dorsoduro Holdings, LLC seeks an industrious and capable “Adaptive Grazing and Stacked Enterprise Ag Intern” for its 186 year old, continuous family farm operation in Lee and Pontotoc Counties, Mississippi.

Background / Located on the edge of the once prodigious Black Prairie, Dorsoduro was a conventional row crop and cattle operation until three years ago when family management converted to adaptive grazing principles built upon soil stewardship as its bedrock. Pasture herbicide spraying was ceased to allow broader grass, legumes and forbs seed banks to recover and reestablish. High tensile wire and water line implementation occurred to allow full but conscientious utilization of pasture resources so that pastured animals and the grazing platform could mutually prosper and carry the soil health along with them.

Once or twice daily moves of livestock during the growing season has facilitated the land’s recovery. Species diversification has been discernible in just two years, and insect and bird populations have soared. Additional no-till drill and spin spreader plantings have occurred inputing chicory, clovers, plantains, and other soil builders, while bale grazing and biomass building haying techniques have allowed more intensive soil biology drivers during the non growing season. The goal has been reduction of synthetic fertilizer use and instead to use the herbivore to instill fertility gains as Mother Nature intended.

The farm also respects its water resources, with the headwaters of Tubbalubba Creek on the farm. The creek’s riparian woodland buffer is fenced out of pastures to ensure cows do not wade and wallow and cause sediment loss or nitrogen-flow into the watershed. Fresh water from the community water system allows livestock to drink non-pathogen bearing sources and to allow the ponds on the place stay cleaner and allows fish and water fowl less degraded habitat.

Dorsoduro runs a grass-fed, moderate sized, phenotypically superior Red Angus and Red Baldie stock, in particular, bred heifers, which have almost finished a successful calving season. The farm has three Red Angus bulls of the same phenotype and probably the finest non-sale barn working corral facility in the north half of Mississippi. We would like to incorporate multi-species over time. Dorsoduro also has chickens and world champion TN Walking horses. We have numerous trail riding opportunities across the nearly 700 acre farmstead.

Goals / Dorsoduro has a number of 2022 objectives for possible Intern execution:
1. Cattle / Once calving is complete in late April, the farm will look to add
additional animal units through open heifers for a June through July
breeding window. Additional AU may be obtained by way of stockers and/or
custom grazing. The goal will be driving soil health gains faster while
creating more turnover and cash flow. Working the cattle prior to breeding
and post breeding in the state-of-the-art corral complex is a given. Moving
cattle daily or twice daily based on adaptive principles will be paramount.
2. Sheep / Looking at fencing and watering mods needed and handling facilities
will be the first effort. The flock will be new so on tap will be adapting to the
hot wire placement and protection dogs and other accommodations for these
small ruminants. Working on handling facility adaptations is a given.
Parasite and hoof rot monitoring will be paramount. Planning and executing
a breeding season is a priority and obtaining the requisite rams.
3. Facilities / Dorsoduro has a heated and cooled office and bath in its stable
facility. Placement of farm maps with water line placement and other pasture
complexes shown with dates of use logged is key. The farm has a 10,000 sq
foot enclosed shed. We should convert part of this into cold storage and
packaging for the direct-sales component that is to come.
4. Database / We need good logging of animal unit data and other essential
information, such as calving success, health, numbers, etc…
5. Pastures / We may obtain a no-till-drill from SCS and implement
supplemental plantings of diverse species and or annuals. Paramount is
building more fescue and clover percentages and creating fall/winter/early
spring grazing modules of perennials versus annuals which require planting
annually and are higher maintenance on soil fertility levels, all meaning $$.
6. Social Media and Marketing / Preparing to build a direct sales component,
we need to erect basic social media and marketing platforms including a
website, IG account and Facebook. We need to prepare for marketing and not
attempt to start up when the first steer is ready for harvest. We need to
crawl, walk and run. Starting to sell some “early animals” may be an option.
7. Finance/Revenue and Expenses / Basic bookkeeping on QuickBooks is
needed to build out a true financial picture.
8. Ancillary Duties / Maintenance of horses and chickens is a daily task for our
farm and mowing around barns and maintaining our really exceptional
fences, meaning keeping them woody vegetation free and without breaks.
That is a shared duty so not a requirement. We will run the herd through the
corral on occasion and besides performing those associated tasks keeping
inventory of needed vaccines and other treatments for the herd is needed.
Some tractor time will occur, bushhogging and hay placement. We buy hay
and have a big shed. So no hay cutting, raking and baling. Finally, water lines
have leaks, so having some ability to address that in-house is a good skill.
9. Direct Marketing Corporate Persona / We need to form a new LLC for the
meat provision side, with the farm supplying into that.
10.Processing / Finding a quality partner for processing and scheduling
processing is a critical set of decisions, and timely.
11. Pricing – Storefront/ Building out the storefront of the web-presence is
important. Initial thinking is to sell quarter, half and whole cows after
processing. Doing research and planning and executing on this is key.
Creating the storefront pay feature and other elements of that transaction
side is critical as well.
12.Tourism-Events / Dorsoduro possesses one of the most handsome, prominent
pieces of property in North Mississippi. Views from the Chiwapa ridge are
breathtaking. The property is sprinkled with mature post oaks and hickories
and shortleaf pine. There are good gravel roads throughout enabling tourism
opportunities, particularly since the Natchez Trace is a half-mile away.

While this list is extensive, what is obvious is that one dimensional candidates these days are dinosaurs. Regenerative farms needs broader based skills as the demands are never narrow; trust me, we have had to learn. However, at Dorsoduro we work as a team. Not every skill is covered by one person and that’s okay. Don’t be intimated by our list as it is just that – our list of deliverables. At least we have a plan. And diversity of all types is welcomed and sought.

TERM / Six Months to One Year Internships, or just the Summer to start.

SCHEDULE / Full Time, Monday through Friday for an appropriate 8 hour
period. Occasional flex schedule to cover weekend chores and tasks. If we work
the corral on a Saturday, take a day off during the week, for instance.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS / Negotiable based on the candidate but …
• Monthly stipend of $1,500/month contracted amount so you pay the taxes.
• 2 Bedroom/ 1 Bath Farm-located Brick House, with garage, central A/C and
heat, furnished, with internet and all utilities.

QUALIFICATIONS /
Manager is outcomes based so hours worked are less important versus execution
when on the job. Must be fit and able to perform physical tasks outdoors yearround. Livestock handling, light plumbing (water lines), fencing repair, tractor
experience strongly preferred. (All hay is bought so no hay production.)
Must have an interest in animal husbandry, soil health, and forages. Must be able
to lift 60 lbs. Encouraged to be Social Media experienced and handy with
spreadsheets and web commerce. Must be willing to track animal health and
wellness in a documented fashion.
TO APPLY /
Email cover letter with resume’ to Brad at brad@prewittgroup.com
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