Ranching Returns Podcast

I often wonder if the best route into agriculture might be to get a job with high income that can then be used to reinvest into land and livestock. Jared followed that route and has been buying land and livestock while working full time off the ranch. Resources Mentioned: The Turnaround - Dave Pratt Thoughts and Advice from an Old Cattleman - Gordon Hazard Greg Judy Dirt to Soil - Gabe Brown Atomi...

Eric Bailey shares his experience and research comparing a full season long stocker operation and a doubled stocking rate for half the season. You may be surprised at the results, we discuss them and all the other benefits from this method of doubling the stocking rate. Resources Mentioned: Moneyball - Michael Lewis Check out Barn2Door at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.barn2door.com/herdquitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and receive a...

Duane and his family have done an awesome job of integrating livestock and cropland in a way that benefits both. Piling and grazing crop residue keeps cow winter feed costs low, and rotating cropland into pasture has resulted in organic matters up several percent and significantly reduced inputs. We discuss all that as well as his thoughts on family succession and business planning. Resources Ment...

Dr. Trey Patterson manages the Padlock ranch, a large family owned diversified cattle and farming operation, in Wyoming. He joins me today to talk about their management and marketing strategies, family ranch ownership dynamics and much more! Resources Mentioned: The Advantage If you are looking to add somebody to your team to help with your farm or ranch numbers, check out John Haskell and his te...

Tony Malmberg started his ranching career with with enough setbacks to make most quit forever. He faced bankruptcy, the death of his father and divorce. But after being willing to think differently and ranch differently he ultimately had a very successful career in ranching that many would strive for! He shares his story in this conversation and it's one you don't want to miss! Resources M...

This is the first bonus episode which admittedly has very little to do with grazing, livestock, farming or ranching. Rory Londer shares his story of dealing with addiction, homelessness, prison and more but breaking free and creating a successful business and real estate investments. He was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and has dedicated his life to sharing his story and trying to help peopl...

Steve Kenyon of Greener Pastures Ranching is somebody I've wanted to get on for a while and finally had the opportunity. He's built a business completely around grazing other peoples livestock on nearly 3000 acres of other peoples land! This has resulted in a great lifestyle and a business with low risk and high profit. Resources Mentioned: Ranching for Profit Holistic Management Gerald Fr...

Jared Sorensen is a rancher and host of the Profitable Steward Podcast! He shares his story of building a successful ranch discusses all the enterprises they've got experience with including sheep, cows, custom grazing and direct marketing! Resources Mentioned: Ranching For Profit Savory Institute Understanding Ag Nicole Masters Josh Adams Company Check out Barn2Door at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.barn2door.c...

Rylan has built a large successful cow/calf operation on his own at only 31 years old! Currently owning over 600 cows and acquiring his own land base while expanding on leased land. He shares his strategies for cattle production and growth and what has lead to him being so successful at such a young age! Resources Mentioned: Man, Cattle, Veld - Johann Zietzman Knowledge Rich Ranching - Allan Natio...

Nic De Castro is the founder of Land Trust which partners with farmers and ranchers to help them stack enterprises and monetize different agricultural experiences or recreation opportunities on your farm and ranch. For many it could offer the opportunity to generate revenue with resources you already have that are not fully being utilized. Check out Barn2Door at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.barn2door.com/herdquitt...

James is an Iowa farmer and cattleman discovering ways to integrate feeder and stocker cattle on cropland in unique and profitable ways! We discuss his turning cropland into grass to background stockers, how he uses crop residue as a cattle finishing area, and how he uses cover crops! Lots to learn in this one! Resources Mentioned: Practical Farmers of Iowa Check out Barn2Door at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.barn2...

Taylor isn't afraid to sit down and do the numbers, he looks at each enterprise opportunity and does what makes sense not just what everybody else does. This focus has allowed him to find success starting a farm from scratch on North Carolina farm. In this podcast he shares his career in NASCAR and transition to full time farming. Resources Mentioned: Dirt to Soil - Gabe Brown Kick the Hay Habit -...

If you are a cattle guy, please don't skip past this episode when I mention that todays guest is a goat producer from Iowa. Adam Ledvina shares how goats can be extremely profitable on acres that cattle and even sheep can't fully utilize on steep slopes with overgrown woods, brush and weeds! He explains how he has developed a low input profitable goat herd and how the average commercial pr...

Cal is a fellow grazing podcaster and farmer/rancher from Oklahoma. We discuss his career and how he's shifted to a low input, grazing management focused grass farmer and has found success in doing that! Resources Mentioned: No Risk Ranching - Greg Judy Noble Research Institute Working Cows Podcast Ranching Reboot Herd Quitter Podcast Just a Few Acres Farmer on Youtube Farmer Tyler on Youtube...

Noah and his family have a diversified farming operation running 180 cow/calf pairs, several hundred hogs for Niman Ranch, feedlot beef and crops. They do a great job integrating livestock with the cropping enterprise through getting cattle out on the land, or diversifying their crop rotation and putting those harder to market grains through pigs or cattle and much more. By doing this they are abl...

Rachelle and her family are crushing it at life and farming down in Southeast Minnesota! Rachelle talks about how they manage to run a dairy farm, 500 goats, 800 sheep, stocker cattle, run a direct market business and raise a family with 7 kids! If you want to see more, check out their youtube at wholesome family farms on youtube! Resources Mentioned: Soil Health Academy Check out Barn2Door at ⁠⁠⁠...

Allen and I discuss how important epigenetic selection is for building an adapted herd of livestock for your farm or ranch. It's when you have a properly adapted herd that you can reduce inputs and significantly improve business profits! We talk about how his cost of production per cow is significantly below national averages. If you are looking to add somebody to your team to help with your f...

Ariel and I discuss her journey to her current ranch in New Mexico. We talk about the differences in the regions and production models they've experienced. How they logistically manage a ranch over tens of thousands of acres and managed a ranch 700+ miles away in another state! Lots to learn from her awesome experience! Resources Mentioned: Quivira Coalition Subtract - Leidy Klotz If you'r...

Aaron has an awesome story of finding a way to build a first generation farm capable of supporting his family! He shares his story in this episode with lots of bits of wisdom we can all benefit from! Resources Mentioned: Executive Link and Ranching for Profit Sell/buy marketing schools Knowledge Rich Ranching - Allan Nation Thoughts and Advice from an Old Cattleman - Gordan Hazard Extreme Ownershi...

Dr. Richard Watson started a grazing dairy business in 2007 which has since expanded to 3 sites totaling over 2000 acres with a capacity to milk over 2500 cows. He is now working on developing a milk processing facility to vertically integrate his business to capture the premium that his grazing model offers but has so far been challenging to capture! We dive into what it took to build his first d...

Kit Pharo has built an incredibly successful ranch and seedstock business as one of the top ten in the seedstock 100 for several years in a row and serving thousands of customers over several decades! I asked Kit to share with me some of his reflections on that experience and what he sees as important traits and actions for somebody who wishes to build a successful business of any kind! Lots of wi...

Fortunate to have the opportunity to have a collaborative podcast with Jared Knock and Justin Fruechte, hosts of the Roots and Ruminats podcast. We discuss everything from our respective operations, to managing diverse farms, farm succession, improved perennials vs. natives vs. annuals and so much more! Check out Barn2Door at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.barn2door.com/herdquitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and receive a free acade...

Will Harris is one of those guys who pioneered much of regenerative agriculture, direct to consumer marketing, vertical integration on the family farm level and so much more! It's an honor to get to share some of what he's learned with you through these conversations. You can hear more of his story on episode 55 or better yet buy his new book "A Bold Return to Giving a Damn". Che...

Stories like Drews are some of my favorite to share on this podcast! Drew didn't grow up on a family ranch, but over the course of the last 15 years or so has built up a successful grazing business which he now does full time and purchased several hundred acres in northern Missouri. To sign up for Wally Olson's online sell/buy marketing class go to www.ranching.fyi/wallyolson Check out Bar...

Gage Iverson is a rancher who has successfully grazed his cowherd all winter long for several years in a row in an environment where so many think it's not possible! Take a listen as we discuss his experience, what it's done to improve profitability and his tips for somebody wanting to do the same thing! Check out Barn2Door at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.barn2door.com/herdquitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and receive a free ac...