Working Cows - Regenerative Ranching to Maximize Profitability and Soil Health

When it comes to regenerating landscapes hay fields present a particular set of challenges. Keith Berns of Green Cover Seed joined me to share what he has seen work well in helping those hay fields improve using cover crops, grazing, and strategy to keep progress moving forward. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today! Sponso...

Northern Environments can be challenging. From ice and snow to bitter cold temperatures there are a different set of challenges in the North. Blain Hjertaas and Michael Thiele of Understanding Ag have a lot of experience making Regenerative Agriculture work in these challenging environments. We discuss the strategies and practices that they have found helpful in overcoming the many challenges of t...

Cow poop is an ecosystem unto itself. There are many insects and other organisms living in a dung pat that can help us to make use of the nutrients excreted out of the back end of a cow. Dr. Ryan Schmid shares with me what he has seen work well as far as taking advantage of the helpful insects and mitigating the impact of those that can become pests if the system gets out of balance. Thanks to our...

You will go farther with people than you can go by yourself. To succeed with people you will need to build different skills than it takes to manage grass, money, and livestock. Josh Kerpan is seeking to equip ranchers with the skills they need to manage their people well. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today! Sponsor: Ranc...

America is a global leader in agriculture. Our influence has an incredibly broad reach. The problem with that is most places around the world don't have the infrastructure and supply chains to support feeding cattle like we do in America. The result is that many places around the world that have used American beef genetics (Taurus and Indicus) now routinely have 40% calf crops with most females on...

The Midwest can be a difficult place to graze for a host of reasons. The competitiveness of the cash rent market, parasite load, mud, forage quality, and many other issues face those seeking to profitably graze in this region. Today we are joined by John Hays and Jeremy Sweeten of Understanding Ag to discuss their own experience with profitable grazing businesses as well as what they have seen wor...

As Taylor Moyer and his wife have sought to bootstrap their ranch operation they have had to think outside the box from an enterprise mix perspective, marketing perspective, and as it pertains to the potential sources of revenue the ranch can produce. This has led them to many capitalize on many different opportunities including custom grazing poultry and using “weeds” as a backdrop in senior phot...

Supply management may not line up with free market principles, but the fruits of it to this point have been positive for Sean Smith and his family. These strategies have helped the to remain profitable at a scale a family can manage. They have also freed them up to experiment with some more regenerative practices. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to...

We are facing water quality and quantity issues across a broad swath of the agricultural landscape. This impacts not only our rural communities, but also those in cities and towns downstream from our operations. Brian Dougherty and Eric Fuchs join me today to discuss the simple methods agriculturalists can use to improve their land’s ability to hold on to more water. This will simultaneously fix m...

In this world we will have trouble. We will experience pain, suffering, loss, and difficulty. How do we do that well? What role does faith play in helping us to successfully navigate these challenges. Dalton Darnell of 3:10 Ranch Life shares about his experience in dealing with Psoriatic Arthritis. We discuss the role of community, exercise, and his walk with Jesus in helping him overcome all of t...

As we progress down the regenerative journey we will see many changes on the landscape. Not the least of which is the diversity of wildlife that will be attracted to our operations. Jeremy Sweeten and Kent Solberg join me to discuss the ways to create spaces for wildlife as well as strategies for capitalizing on the wildlife that come as the landscape becomes more attractive to them. Thanks to our...

Tyson Langland started his career with a data and analytics firm that worked with NFL football teams. When he decided to come back to the family farm and take over the cowherd, he brought that expertise with him. He achieved some goals regarding maternal traits early on, but that left him wanting more in the realm of performance. Since that time, they have been on a journey using genomic testing t...

The US Military has millions of acres within the US Border. In addition, they have the opportunity to impact many more acres outside of the United States by assisting those around US Military installations abroad to bring their management into alignment with regenerative principles. Maj. Eric Czaja is working to see this happen starting here at home and spreading abroad. Thanks to our Studio Spons...

Your ideal customer is looking for what you are selling when you are selling it. They are willing to pay more because you have what they are demanding when the supply is lowest. Knowing your ideal customer isn’t just for direct-to-consumer business. In fact, Matt Stone of Dakota Growth joined me to discuss how Cow/Calf operators can find their ideal customer and be the guide to help the hero in th...

If we are going to grass-finish our animals, we should do it excellently. There are many pieces to accomplishing this. It is possible in almost all latitudes and longitudes. Today, Dr. Allen Williams shares with us what he has learned about grass-finishing in nearly 30 years of doing it. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation toda...

If we aren’t measuring what matters we can’t manage it. First, we need to decide what we are trying to accomplish and then start measuring the data that correlates to that goal so that we can make good decisions for profitable businesses. Eric Jasinski of Ambrook helps us think about how we can get started on this journey. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingA...

Principles are powerful tools that can help us to avoid the temptation to follow the crowd and ranch like everyone else. Today we talk to Bart Carmichael and Pat Guptill about their new venture together, Principled Land Managers. We discuss both of their histories with regenerative agriculture as well as how they work to foster the kind of mutual mentorship relationship they have enjoyed among tho...

Burke Teichert has a long track record of success in managing profitable ranches. Over that time, he has noticed some commonalities among successful ranch managers. He has boiled it down to Five Essentials. Today we discuss these 5 Essentials and how to apply them in a way that all resources under management are on a continuous plane of improvement. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag!...

Neil Thorsteinson of Range Ward and Powerflex Supply joined me to discuss his journey into regenerative ranching as well as his work with Range Ward over the years. We discuss Powerflex Supply’s Rancher Success Program, the history of the companies, as well as the versatility of these systems. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultatio...

It won’t be long until everyone living was born after a time when electricity was ubiquitous in it’s availability. How does that fact change our society? Vance Crowe, of Legacy Interviews, joined me to discuss how this project has impacted him as well as some of the common lessons people share with him as he captures their life story. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to Un...

A positive beef eating experience depends on more than flavor and marbling. Frank Hendrix has discovered the genetic marker that is 100% accurate in predicting exceptionally tender beef. We discuss his journey into this discovery as well as the bottom line of profitability related to finding animals that display this marker. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to Understandin...

Goats are notoriously difficult to contain. Daniel Magalsky joins me to discuss the tools and skills necessary to keep goats in as well as ensure their success as a family unit. We also discuss how goats continue to be more profitable than cow/calf enterprises even in our current market conditions. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consul...

Sheep like “weeds.” They will eat them first. This makes them a great tool for improving all kinds of landscapes, including forage crops. Matt Goble, a sixth-generation sheepman from Utah, joins me to discuss the different strategies he and his family employ to make their wool sheep a very profitable enterprise. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to bo...

Are we consistently applying the Six Principles of Soil Health to all of our acres? Even our gardens? Marni Thompson of Understanding Ag joins me to discuss the lessons she has learned in applying these principles in her garden. We discuss the challenges, best practices, and the role of compost in the success of this strategy. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to Understand...

Horses are severe grazers. They are capable of causing almost unparalleled damage in a pasture. Meg Greski joined me to discuss the lessons she has learned in developing a horse grazing business that is regenerative and profitable. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today! Sponsor: PowerflexSupply.com RangeWard.com