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Buckthorn-eating goats at Clayhill Farm and Forest model sustainability

Goats are behind an electric fence at Clayhill Farm and Forest in rural Brainerd. The goats are raised for meat and also play a significant role in managing invasive buckthorn in the woods, encouraging native plant growth and healthier water and soil.
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Harry Worms
Judy and Harry Worms operate Clayhill Farm and Forest east of Brainerd, MN.

Judy and Harry Worms of rural Brainerd produce maple syrup and hay and raise cattle and goats — which help to eradicate invasive buckthorn to bring back native plants and improve water and soil quality.

BRAINERD — Clayhill Farm and Forest has been in Judy Worms' family since 1955. She and her husband Harry have evolved the farm into a multifaceted operation with a focus on environmental stewardship.

Along with traditional farming of cattle and hay, the Worms also produce maple syrup and raise Boer goats. In a recent KAXE Morning Show conversation, the Worms talked about how goats help them eradicate invasive buckthorn.

A farming husband and wife smile broadly in matching plaid shirts.
Judy and Harry Worms operate Clayhill Farm and Forest east of Brainerd, MN.

In 2009, the Worms began harvesting maple sap for syrup, and realized how quickly buckthorn choked out other species in their woods. Not wanting to use chemicals that could affect plant life or animals, they found a solution in a perfect kind of weed eater: goats.

“We cut a path through the woods, put an electric net around the goats to keep the predators out and the goats in,” Harry explained. “We let them in there for a couple of days and then we start cutting off all the tops of buckthorn that they can’t eat, or reach.”

The Worms' 13 goats consume the buckthorn and strip the leaves and bark, and over a few years time, effectively kill the plants. In addition, this non-herbicide approach to eradicating buckthorn encourages the return of native plants and improves habitat for wildlife.

Judy said the goats devour the buckthorn. “It’s a food source we can make use of,” she said, adding the goats are also raised for meat, another product of their farm. “They have a purpose and they’re doing it with great gusto.”

Goats forage in the forest on invasive buckthorn at Clayhill Farm and Forest, east of Brainerd.
Contributed
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Harry Worms
Goats forage in the forest on invasive buckthorn at Clayhill Farm and Forest, east of Brainerd.
A mason jar of locally produced maple syrup.
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Clayhill Farm and Forest FB pagehttps://www.facebook.com/clayhillfarmandforest
Judy and Harry Worms of Clayhill Farm and Forest in Brainerd produce maple syrup.

The practices the Worms have adopted at Clayhill Farm and Forest are called regenerative agriculture.

“What we’re trying to do is promote the soil health, the water quality, the wildlife habitat, and in in doing so, putting all of this into a sustainable ecosystem for food production," Judy said.

The Worms belong to the Minnesota Sustainable Farming Association, where they network with other farmers and food producers.

“It’s literally farmer to farmer, sharing ideas,” Judy said.

Listen to the full conversation above for more about their goats, maple syrup operation, cattle, hay and other crops.


Are you overrun with buckthorn? Got any solutions? Let us know!

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Heidi Holtan is Director of Content and Public Affairs. She manages producers/hosts and is the host of the KAXE Morning Show, including a variety of local content like Phenology, What's for Breakfast, Area Voices, The Sports Page and much more, alongside Morning Edition from NPR.
Jennifer has worked at Northern Community Radio since 2006 and spent 17 years as Membership Manager. She shifted to a host/producer position in 2023. She hosts the Monday Morning Show and is the local host of National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" a few days a week. She also writes public services announcements and creates web stories.