pasture management

Join us on a journey with Russ as he narrates his inspiring transition from conventional dairy farming to the rich pastures of regenerative agriculture. Listen in as he shares the pivotal moments that sparked his move towards rotational grazing, reducing inputs, and ultimately transforming his Northwestern Pennsylvania farm into a beacon of sustainability and profitability. Russ's candid account of the challenges he faced, and the guidance he received from agricultural specialists, paints a vivid picture of the resilience and innovation at the heart of modern farming.

In this engaging conversation, we tackle the intricacies of managing livestock rotations and watering systems across diverse soil types. Discover the art of soil management that dictates the movement of cows, sheep, donkeys, hogs, and chickens, and the logistical finesse required to design paddocks and watering systems that enhance soil health. Russ highlights the use of innovative tools like the Weave Valve and his shift towards using guardian donkeys over dogs, underscoring his holistic approach to pasture management that eschews traditional practices for more natural, regenerative methods.

Wrapping up, Russ imparts invaluable advice for budding farmers on starting a profitable operation, emphasizing the importance of avoiding debt and smartly leveraging resources like leased property. His passion for assisting the farming community shines through as he discusses his resources available for farmers, from his website to his YouTube channel and articles. If you're seeking wisdom on fostering a thriving farm that aligns with nature's rhythms, this episode is a treasure trove of practical knowledge and heartfelt guidance.

Russ' Links
https://linktr.ee/russwilson

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Website: https://grazinggrass.com/

Facebook: Grazing Grass Podcast

Instagram: @grazinggrass

Twitter: @grazing_grass

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Join us as we welcome Connor from LauKant Farms and Serrated Shade to the Grazing Grass Podcast, where he shares his insightful transition from a college student to a successful grass farmer managing a substantial grazing operation. Listen in as Connor details the strategic moves that propelled his farm forward, including rotational grazing inspired by his neighbor and the utilization of government programs to transform traditional cropland into lush grazing pastures. His story is not just about cattle but also the innovative venture Serrated Shade, which we'll explore in this engaging discussion.

Lastly, don't miss our chat on the challenges and triumphs of grazing management, where Connor explains the innovative solutions for water systems on his terrain, calving schedules, and cattle breed selections. We also highlight the importance of portable livestock shade for animal comfort and the future prospects of acquiring more land for expansion. Whether you're a seasoned farmer or just starting, this episode offers a wealth of practical advice, personal experiences, and a dash of humor to guide you on the path to farming success.

Facebook
Laukant Farms
Serrated Shade LLC

Website
Serrated Shade

Instagram
Laukant Farms

Follow us on social media!

Website: https://grazinggrass.com/

Facebook: Grazing Grass Podcast

Instagram: @grazinggrass

Twitter: @grazing_grass

Affiliate links:
Riverside - Create professional-quality podcast episodes with ease using Riverside's seamless recording and editing tools.
Podium - Unlock your podcast's potential with Podium, the AI copywriter for show notes, articles, social posts, and more!

Join me as I sit down with the multi-talented Angela Boenisch of Highview Pastures, and we explore her fascinating transition from urban life to the heart of agriculture. Listen in as Angela shares her rich farming narrative, from her roots in dairy and hog farming to her current diverse homestead bustling with meat goats, cattle, rabbits, and layers. We cover everything from the joys and challenges of scaling up her farming operations to the integration of livestock with vegetable CSA, and even delve into how Angela's son's passion for rabbits sparked a new business venture.

In our engaging conversation, Angela and I also tackle the nuanced world of cattle breeding, highlighting the significance of temperament in farm management. Angela recounts her experiences with different breeds, such as the switch from Holstein-Angus crosses to more manageable lowlines, and the decision to move away from larger, aggressive breeds for the safety and ease of handling. Moreover, we discuss the importance of sustainable farming techniques, like summer slump bale grazing, and how Angela uses social media innovatively to market her farm products.

Wrapping up our talk, Angela and I exchange insights on the resources that have shaped our farming philosophies, such as Gabe Brown's "Dirt to Soil," and the crucial role of learning from a variety of agricultural practices. Angela's candid sharing of the hurdles she faced, like domain name squatting for Highview Pastures, is a testament to the unpredictable yet rewarding nature of farming. Tune in for a dose of real-world farming advice and the opportunity to connect with Angela's journey at Highview Pastures.

https://www.highviewpasture.com
https://www.facebook.com/highviewpastures

Follow us on social media!

Website: https://grazinggrass.com/

Facebook: Grazing Grass Podcast

Instagram: @grazinggrass

Twitter: @grazing_grass

Affiliate links:
Riverside - Create professional-quality podcast episodes with ease using Riverside's seamless recording and editing tools.
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- Dr. Shannon Ferrell

- Oklahoma State University Ag Law & Ag Policy

- Oklahoma Agriculture Mediation Program

- Oklahoma Wheat Commission

- Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association

Video of the OSU Student Garden

Lynda Carrier

Matt Beartrack

In this podcast episode, Clay Price, of Price Family Farm, shares his journey from sports performance coach to managing a local ranch and transitioning to cattle farming. Clay discusses the challenges and successes he faced while managing his family's cattle farm in East Texas, such as dealing with drought and focusing on one species at a time. He also shares valuable insights into different cattle breeds, rotational grazing management, and the importance of community and quality food in his life.

Books/Resources Mentioned:

The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs by Joel Salatin (Amazon) (Bookshop)
Salad Bar Beef by Joel Salatin (Amazon) (Bookshop)

Social media:
Instagram: @pricefamilyfarmtx

Follow us on social media!

Website: https://grazinggrass.com/

Facebook: Grazing Grass Podcast

Instagram: @grazinggrass

Twitter: @grazing_grass

Affiliate links:
Riverside - Create professional-quality podcast episodes with ease using Riverside's seamless recording and editing tools.
Podium - Unlock your podcast's potential with Podium, the AI copywriter for show notes, articles, social posts, and more!

In this episode, Kevin Cunningham of Shakefork Community Farm shares his experiences in sustainable farming, from managing grass-fed cattle, dairy cows, and pasture-raised poultry to using draft animal power with oxen. Kevin discusses his approach to farm fencing, pasture management, and the challenges posed by the local Roosevelt elk population. He also talks about his apprenticeship program, which offers hands-on experience in both vegetable and animal production. He also provides valuable insights into sustainable farming practices and the benefits of training oxen.

Books/Resources Mentioned:

Holistic Management Handbook by Alan Savory (Amazon) (Bookshop)
Grass-fed Cattle by Julius Ruechel (Amazon) (Bookshop)

Social media:
Website: https://www.shakeforkcommunityfarm.com/
Instagram: @shakeforkoxen, @shakeforkcommunityfarm

Follow us on social media!

Website: https://grazinggrass.com/

Facebook: Grazing Grass Podcast

Instagram: @grazinggrass

Twitter: @grazing_grass

Affiliate links:
Riverside - Create professional-quality podcast episodes with ease using Riverside's seamless recording and editing tools.
Podium - Unlock your podcast's potential with Podium, the AI copywriter for show notes, articles, social posts, and more!

Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr interview Penn State Equine Extension Educator, Laura Kenny about how to know if your pasture is adequate, if improvements need to be made, or if it’s a total loss that needs to start over through pasture evaluation techniques. 

Laura also shares some tips on how to get the most out of a pasture to benefit the horse and the environment. Laura and Dr. Cubitt talk about why horse owners should determine their goals with their horses before reseeding or improving pastures, and finding a good balance between what is good for the pasture and soil but what is also needed for specific horses, particularly ones struggling with metabolic disorders.

They also discuss foxtail, including what it is, how to identify it and differentiate it from timothy grass, and how to get rid of it.

Have any topics you want to hear more about? Let us know at podcast@standlee.com.

____________________________________

Episode Notes: 

Penn State Extension Equine Team Resources –

• ~21:56 – Horse Pasture Evaluation: The First Step for Improvement
• ~30:59 – Pasture Evaluation Table
• ~49:44 – Common Equine Pasture Forages
• ~50:12 – “Weeds of the Northeast” by Richard Uva, Joseph Neal, and Joseph DiTomaso
• ~ 51:36 – How to Tell Foxtail from Timothy and Control It

Connect with Laura and Penn State Extension on Facebook and their website – 

• Facebook – @pennstateextensionequineteam
• Website

____________________________________

• Love the podcast? Leave a rating and review on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/.../beyond-the-barn/id1541221306
• Leave a rating on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/3dmftQmwLKDQNueUcCJBZa
• Have a topic idea or feedback to share? We want to connect with you! Email podcast@standlee.com
• Share our podcast and learn more about our co-hosts at our Beyond the Barn podcast page
• SUBSCRIBE to the Beyond the Barn podcast email to be an exclusive insider!
• Find us on Apple, Spotify or Google Podcasts and SUBSCRIBE, so you never miss an episode.

____________________________________

• Check out the Standlee Barn Bulletin Blog
• Find more nutritional resources from Dr. Stephen Duren and Dr. Tania Cubitt at https://www.standleeforage.com/nutrition/
• Connect with Standlee on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok

____________________________________

• *Views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of Standlee Premium Products, LLC.*

• Love the podcast? Leave a rating and review on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/.../beyond-the-barn/id1541221306
• Leave a rating on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/3dmftQmwLKDQNueUcCJBZa
• Have a topic idea or feedback to share? We want to connect with you! Email podcast@standlee.com
• Share our podcast and learn more about our co-hosts at our Beyond the Barn podcast page
• SUBSCRIBE to the Beyond the Barn podcast email to be an exclusive insider!
• Find us on Apple, Spotify or Google Podcasts and SUBSCRIBE, so you never miss an episode.

_______________________________

• Check out the Standlee Barn Bulletin Blog
• Find more nutritional resources from Dr. Stephen Duren and Dr. Tania Cubitt at https://www.standleeforage.com/nutrition/ 
• Connect with Standlee on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok

_______________________________

• *Views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of Standlee Premium Products, LLC.*

• Randy Raper Ph.D. 
• OSU Ag Research Facilities 
• New Frontiers Agricultural Hall 

- Karen Hicks Ph.D. 

- Environmental Science Program  

- Oklahoma Noxious Weed Law and Rules 

- USDA/NRCS Introduced, Invasive, and Noxious Plants - Oklahoma 

- ODAFF Weed Free Forage and Mulch Certification Rules 

- Thistle Identification OSU Extension 

• Tyson Ochsner Ph.D. 
• Oklahoma Mesonet 
• Oklahoma State University Soil Physics Program

9-7-22 AJ Daily

Seven Ways to Avoid Prussic Acid Poisoning After Drought-time Rains
Adapted from a release by Marilyn Cummins, Noble Research Institute

Feeding Minds Press Shares Achievements of Norman Borlaug With Next Generation
Adapted from a release by American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture

Avian Influenza
Adapted from a release by Len Steiner, Steiner Consulting Group

CAB Insider: Market Update
Adapted from a release by Paul Dykstra, Certified Angus Beef

Compiled by Paige Nelson, field editor, Angus Journal. For more Angus news, visit angusjournal.net. 

• Nathan Anderson 
• Payne County Extension Office
• NPK Blog post - To bale or not to bale
• FALL SOIL HEALTH FIELD TRAINING
  Thursday, September 1, 2022
  8:30 a.m.
  OSU Agronomy Research Station
• Find resources for crops in the Southern Great Plains at RedDirtAgronomy.com.

Acorn spent a few days at the Florida house repainting a couple rooms, fixing a few things, and being a general-all-around-handyman. Back at the farm, she and Blind Hog are back in the attic preparing to install a louvered gable vent and attic fan.  So exciting!

Was unusually cool today (upper 60's) at the farm but the farmers did not complain. Being up in the attic was quite bearable!  Fingers crossed they can complete the project tomorrow.

Our favorite farmers turned into roof repair techs this past week- hard to turn down an opportunity to save cash.  $1,400 repair estimate from one company, but when Blind Hog and Acorn could score the materials for $300?  Of course!  They did it themselves!  Good news is that the roof ridge has been replaced and should be (knock wood) waterproofed and leak proofed.

The bull Fintan, cow Sorcha and her bull calf went to Tennessee on Monday morning, happy that they will be well taken care of at their new home. That leaves SteelMeadow with three cow-calf pairs, the fewest head of Irish Dexters ever.

Bucklings born in March went to market today. Nice looking group of kids. Very pleased with these Savanna cross breeds- no matter the color or breed of the momma goat, all the kids look alike.

Sam nabbed a huge groundhog- this was not discussed in the podcast. What was discussed in detail was surgical castration of the two bull calves.

Can it get any hotter?  Why yes- yes it can! Drier too as well!

Livestock plans are being altered to accommodate the best interest of the livestock during the drought, not necessarily that of the farmers. Two separate breeding groups of goats are now combined into one big herd.  Get get'm, boys.

Next weekend is the local monthly sheep and goat sale, no doubt volume will be high and prices low.  Cannot help that. Blind Hog and Acorn will load up all the bucklings and drop them off.  A couple Dexter cattle are heading to Tennessee at the start of the week, will take those two off our herd-hands. So, downsizing is always helpful in trying times like these, but overall the farm is in good shape.

Acorn had a week in Florida to pack up papers and personal belongings in the house, had a couple showings and even an offer.  That first offer was exciting, but too low- is the slow season there and demand will spike come "snowbird season."  Acorn will go back down in a week and a half for "curb appeal" upgrades then should be good to stay home for a while.

Hot hot hot, dry dry dry. Wah. Wah. Wah...

Another project completed!  Blind Hog and Acorn dismantled the former "chicken tractor" and turned it into a sweet looking AND functional pellet feeder for the goat kids!  No jumping in the troughs, fouling the feeding area with goat pebbles or mud.  Is a bit crowded at feeding time, however half of the kids will be going to market at the end of the month-  the doelings will remain until they are sold when they have grown a bit more.

Acorn will once again be leaving Blind Hog to man the conn while she is gone to Florida to do estate things, namely selling the car.  He and Sam will be left with a fridge full of goodies, but NO black rice ramen noodles with crispy broccoli and ham.  Apparently Blind Hog was not impressed with that lunch...

Weather is hot and dry at the farm, garden requires watering.  Been three weeks since the last time the lawn was mowed.  pastures now getting a bit brown and crispy.  Like uncut hay out there...

Your favorite podcasting farmers will be back on the air on the 18th.

Company from Baton Rouge have come and gone but in between Blind Hog and Acorn had a grand time.  Much fun was had by all, including a day trip to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, as well as their sister facility, The Momentary.

Goat kids have been weaned, with the exception of Little Helper's 6 week old doeling.  Little Helper is in with the mob of kids, will act as a "trainer" for us, teaching the rest to come when we call.  The farmer s are working on dismantling the chicken tractor/mobile coop to transform it into a mobile goat feeder.

0.80" of rain for the month, and it was 100F when we left to go to the Post Office.  Ground is powdery dry.  Boots throw up "poofs" of dust when you walk.

Cotton Patch geese are very happy, about adult size already. And look WHOOOOOO was watching when Blind Hog and Acorn went to the Post Office!

Blind Hog and Acorn have a most excellent reason for cleaning up the house and grounds- COMPANY IS COMING! Good friends from Baton Rouge on a road trip with a stop at SteelMeadow.

Otherwise, the garden is all planted, irrigation lines reset and all is good out there.

Yummy things have been baked (rhubarb pie and a quiche) and a pot of chicken soup is simmering.

Acorn made an awning for a couple windows, turned out pretty good. Back top last minute chores before the guests arrive!

National Weather Service forecast for the next two weeks will be above  average temps and below average rain.  WAY above and WAY below...  Blind Hog and Acorn are not amused.

Calves are selling, goats are grazing and the bees need to be worked.

Blind Hog changed the oil in the big Mahindra, Acorn tended the goose yard and garden.  Both were soaked with sweat today, and more to come!

At least the HVAC guy came last week and recharged the air conditioner.  It is a geothermal unit, but still needs a bit of refrigerant.  A bit...