INPUT ARTICLE: Article: In order to start on a path to new beginnings and to change what you're doing now into something better, the time is now to start making goals. Make SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, timely); ones that are going to make you think about what is logically possible in the near future. Goals encompass lifestyle, finances, resources, and for the livestock operation, production.  Goal-setting begins by looking at where you're at now, and where you want to be in the future. They also make you look at what is practical given your situation and resources, and just what you can do to improve on or get what you don't have. It doesn't have to cost you any, or much, money. It will certainly cost you time, and discussions with family and friends, but consider that time well-spent.  Think about how goals can elevate you to be somewhere where you always wanted to be, or better. Implementing those goals requires change on your part, and with no change, you become stagnant, and don't get you where you have always wanted to go or be. It's very important to be flexible. Things never go to plan, and things don't always turn out the way you predicted.  Strategic goals are the "how" to where you want to be in 5 or 10 years. They are the tactical, step-by-step procedures to take you to your goal. These involve creating partial budgets, business plans, pasture design plans on paper (or graphic arts software program), those sort of things. Or better yet, perform a SWOT analysis (SWOT = strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats). This should be a list compiled of all the things that need improving, are already doing well and don't need improving, where you opportunities lie, and what kind of things may negatively influence change or stagnation you choose to make.  Add to the list an aerial map of your farm–Google Earth is an excellent resource to use for this–to locate fence lines and watering points where you are seeing various problems, including crowding, bare-spots, overgrazing, etc. Keep an open mind as you are doing this. There may be some details that you may or may not be comfortable with admitting are in need of improvement. These best come about with having a second opinion from others that work with you and see the operations, or even a pasture management consultant. Use this as an opportunity for them to do a SWOT analysis/list of the operation to see what their opinions are. More than one point of view is often a very good thing to have!  When doing a SWOT analysis of yourself, you get to see what your own limitations are. For instance, how much time do you have for moving livestock versus how much time can you make? What's your financial situation? How far or often do you need to travel (to work, between farms or land bases)? Are you personally able to move cattle, check fence, check water, or do you need to hire someone? Those sort of questions, and more, are important to consider. Use Google Earth or, even better, Google Earth Pro, to see where current fences, watering points, buildings, and other things are. These are what you are going to start from, and where you need to start working from. It's impossible to work from a clean slate if you are starting with a current operation that needs improving. It's a different story if you are starting with a land base that is clear of fences and watering facilities. As in the next step, working from a clean slate may require more work, more planning, but on the other hand, much more flexibility. The management end is going to be the hardest part to work at. Planting fence-posts and stringing up wire will be the easy stuff. But, if you're starting over again, by improving a farming operation that largely used no management to graze its livestock, you should consider the option of starting small and slow. Start with the smallest pasture, or a part of a pasture, and work up from there.  Please remember that it's not worth starting off big (as in changing everything in a matter of one or two years) if you're financially and temporally tied up. It's a smarter choice to start small, and remind yourself of the phrase, "Rome was not built in a day." Planning is going to probably take a huge chunk of your time. But you can plan and plan and plan until you are blue in the face and never be happy with what you want. There's a point in time where you need to plan first, then act second. So, don't let the planning portion take up too much of your time. A second opinion will certainly help with this decision process. Once you have set your goals and performed your SWOT analyses (and gathered those of others that influence the operation of your farm or ranch), it's time to get out a good pencil and eraser (no pens are allowed), some lined and graphing paper, fire up Google Earth Pro, and start planning.  If you think you need to hire a consultant to help you with this planning process, then do so. There are several pasture planning consultants out there for you to contact, so ask a pasture or forage specialist that may know of someone you can contact. The type of vegetation your farm or ranch has will influence the type of grazing system you wish to have. Rotational or intensive grazing may not be the best choice for an arid area with limited moisture, even though it is included in the title of this article. You will need to plan out a type of grazing system that works for you and the vegetation in your area. Management-intensive grazing (MIG) may or may not include rotational grazing. Rotational grazing basically means rotating animals around a pasture from different paddocks, and it also means rotating different species of animals through paddock systems. MIG, though, does take rotational grazing into account making it a part of the MIG-management scheme.

SUMMARY: Create your goals and objectives. Look at all the strengths and weaknesses of both yourself and your operation. See what facilities you have now, and how they are laid out. Understand how much work, time, and money that you may need to put into this. Begin the planning process.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you are worried about the fall of civilization or a bombing, your best bet might be to seek shelter underground.This might be a bunker, bomb shelter, or underground shelter. There are many companies that specialize in custom designing and producing these types of shelters. History has shown that people panic during doomsday-like events like terrorist attacks or bombings. If you want to keep yourself and your family safe, you may want to consider hiding and staying as remote as possible. This type of surviving is often described as “living off the grid,” and is total isolation from society. If you have to escape familiar surroundings, it is important to know how to find shelter from the elements. This includes:  Knowing your local geography in case you have to camp out. Learn about dangerous elements such as land formations and wild animals. Knowing how to make a quick shelter. Depending on your surroundings, you can use nature around you to build a sufficient shelter like a lean-to, that will help protect your body from the elements.

SUMMARY:
Go underground. Stay hidden. Protect yourself from the elements.