Grazing Grass Podcast | Rotational Grazing, Soil Health & Profitable Livestock Farming

Grazing Grass
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The Grazing Grass Podcast features insights and stories of regenerative farming, specifically emphasizing grass-based livestock management. Our mission is to foster a community where grass farmers can share knowledge and experiences with one another. We delve into their transition to these practices, explore the ins and outs of their operations, and then move into the "Over Grazing" segment, which addresses specific challenges and learning opportunities. The episode rounds off with the "Famous Four" questions, designed to extract valuable wisdom and advice. Join us to gain practical tips and inspiration from the pioneers of regenerative grass farming. This is the podcast for you if you are trying to answer: What are regenerative farm practices? How to be grassfed? How do I graze other species of livestock? What's are ways to improve pasture and lower costs? What to sell direct to the consumer?

  1. 213 | Huw Foulkes, North Wales | Swimming Against the Current: A Micro Dairy with Red Polls and a Case for Regenerative Farming

    2D AGO

    213 | Huw Foulkes, North Wales | Swimming Against the Current: A Micro Dairy with Red Polls and a Case for Regenerative Farming

    Huw Foulkes runs Pentrefelin Dairy in North Wales in the UK, where he has built a grass-based cow and calf micro dairy around native Red Poll cattle while also stacking direct-to-consumer beef and other enterprises to serve his local community.  In This Episode, We Explore: Starting a cow and calf micro dairy with a low-input, grass-based mindsetWhy Huw chose Red Polls for a dual-purpose dairy and beef systemManaging long rest periods and mob-style rotations to build soil and drought resilienceFarming on dry, light sandy soils and what that changes in grazing decisionsOutwintering strategies including bale grazing and standing hayBuilding a direct local market through farm gate sales, coffee shops, and educationUK requirements for legally selling milk, inspections, and testingKeeping infrastructure simple, including milking with a portable machine in an older parlorHow beef boxes help move the whole carcass and teach customers new cutsAdding poultry, pigs, and trees to stack enterprises on the same acresUsing farm tours and courses to educate the public and support local food systemsWhy This Episode MattersThis conversation is a practical look at building a resilient, small-scale livestock business by matching the animal to the land, keeping inputs low, and connecting directly with local customers. If you are thinking about micro dairy, direct marketing, or stacking enterprises, Huw shares what worked, what he had to learn the hard way, and how education and transparency can turn customers into long-term supporters. Resources Mentioned Food Standards Agency (UK)Denbighshire local council food business registration (mentioned as the local authority process)Pasture for Life (study tours and farm visits)Find Out More Instagram | @pentrefelin_Website | www.pentrefelin.comYouTube | Pentrefelin Dairy Looking for grass-based breeders? Explore the Grass Based Genetics directory. Upcoming Grazing Events Noble Profitability Essentials - Jefferson City, Mo, March 24-25, 2026Visit our Sponsors:Noble Research Institute Redmond Agriculture Grazing Grass LinksWebsiteCommunity (on Facebook) Original Music by Louis Palfrey

    1h 19m
  2. 212 | Mike Guebert, Oregon | How Two Former Vegetarians Built a Multi-Species Direct-to-Consumer Farm

    FEB 25

    212 | Mike Guebert, Oregon | How Two Former Vegetarians Built a Multi-Species Direct-to-Consumer Farm

    Mike Guebert of Terra Farma in northwest Oregon joins Cal to share how he and his wife built a multi-species, direct-to-consumer farm over more than 20 years, from early days as first-generation farmers to running meat CSA sales, improving grazing systems, and teaching others through the Oregon Pasture Network.   In This Episode, We Explore:   Starting a first-generation farm from a blank slate with invasives, no fencing, and rough infrastructure  Moving from vegetarian to raising and processing poultry on-farm  Building a multi-species operation including beef, pork, sheep, goats, poultry, and more  Managing grazing in a high rainfall, dry-summer region without irrigation  Chicken tractor evolution, daily moves, and using a winch system for efficiency and injury prevention  Marketing changes over time including launching a meat CSA in 2020 and the plan to transition away from it  Stopping raw milk sales after losing liability insurance and regaining time and flexibility  Moving toward a more seasonal, grass-only beef model to reduce winter feeding  Teaching and producer support through pasture walks, cohorts, mentorship, and events with Oregon Pasture Network  Conservation district work including farmland protection tools like conservation easements  Why This Episode Matters  This conversation is a practical look at how farm enterprises, marketing, and even personal capacity change over time, and why building community learning opportunities like pasture walks and cohorts can help producers avoid common pitfalls while improving grazing, profitability, and quality of life.   Resources Mentioned   Acres USA annual conference  Ranching for Profit School  Executive Link (Ranching for Profit)  Oregon State University Small Farms Conference  Oregon Pasture Network pasture walks  Oregon FarmLink (Friends of Family Farmers)  Find Out More   Terra Farma website | terrafarmaers.net  Terra Farma Instagram | @terrafarmaers  Oregon Pasture Network | oregonpasturenetwork.org  Friends of Family Farmers | friendsoffamilyfarmers.org  East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District | emswcd.org   Looking for grass-based breeders? Explore the Grass Based Genetics directory. Upcoming Grazing Events Noble Profitability Essentials - Jefferson City, Mo, March 24-25, 2026Visit our Sponsors:Noble Research Institute Redmond Agriculture Grazing Grass LinksWebsiteCommunity (on Facebook) Original Music by Louis Palfrey

    1h 24m
  3. 211 | Tyler Flynn, Northern California | Back to Grandfather's Land: Building a Beef Operation and a YouTube Channel From Scratch

    FEB 18

    211 | Tyler Flynn, Northern California | Back to Grandfather's Land: Building a Beef Operation and a YouTube Channel From Scratch

    Tyler Flynn runs a small beef cow-calf operation in Northern California at Farmer Tyler Ranch, where he also grows hay and raises a few pigs and chickens for family use while documenting the work and lessons learned through his YouTube channel. In This Episode, We Explore:  Coming back to a family ranch and building a cow-calf business on small acreage  Northern California conditions, including irrigated pasture, rice country, and seasonal rainfall patterns  How and why Tyler uses irrigated pasture rotation, including short rest periods in his context  The shift from small square bales to round bales and what changed his mind  Using hay equipment as a pasture improvement tool, including baling pastures after grazing  Tackling smut grass by cutting, baling, and managing where those bales are fed  Breed composition over time, including Hereford roots and adding SimAngus genetics for heterosis  How YouTube influenced management decisions and helped drive experimentation  Practical YouTube lessons for farmers, including audio, camera stability, and consistent postingWhy This Episode Matters  This conversation is a good reminder that management has to fit the place and the people running it. Tyler shares what works on irrigated pasture in Northern California, how he thinks through rotation length, equipment decisions, and weed pressure, and why consistency and realism matter when you are balancing time, labor, and livestock. Resources Mentioned  - GoPro cameras  - Tripod (video stability)  - Microphone (audio quality) Find Out More   Farmer Tyler Ranch on YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@farmertylerranch4399   Looking for grass-based breeders? Explore the Grass Based Genetics directory. Upcoming Grazing Events Noble Profitability Essentials - Jefferson City, Mo, March 24-25, 2026Visit our Sponsors:Noble Research Institute Redmond Agriculture Grazing Grass LinksWebsiteCommunity (on Facebook) Original Music by Louis Palfrey

    1h 36m
  4. 210 | Kasie Harriet, Oklahoma | The Milk Cow That Changed Everything: Raw Milk, Direct Sales, and the Gateway Drug to Farming

    FEB 11

    210 | Kasie Harriet, Oklahoma | The Milk Cow That Changed Everything: Raw Milk, Direct Sales, and the Gateway Drug to Farming

    Kasie Harriet is the milkmaid at Shepherd Farms, where she and her husband Jacob are building a direct-to-consumer farm business that includes raw milk, sourdough, tallow skincare, and more, while managing cows in a rotational grazing setup and learning what it really takes to run a small dairy at the family scale.  In This Episode, We Explore:   Kasie’s path from FFA and wildlife work into farm life and dairy cows  Why they pursued raw milk and how that led to buying their first family milk cow  Lessons learned from a first cow that tested positive for bacteria and how they handled it  Setting up a movable, low-cost milking stanchion and why “you don’t need a lot to do a lot”  Hand milking vs machine milking and the real-world importance of equipment that is easy to clean  Calf sharing, grafting a calf, and how that can add flexibility to dairy cow ownership  Selling excess milk, managing weekly customers, and handling jars and deposits  What to look for when buying a milk cow: testing, temperament, training, feeding history, and more  Using Facebook to educate customers, build trust, and grow a local direct-to-consumer community  Why This Episode Matters  If you are considering a family milk cow or selling raw milk direct-to-consumer, this episode walks through the practical realities that often get skipped, including cow selection, sanitation concerns, equipment choices, customer management, and the setbacks that can happen even when you do things carefully. Kasie’s story is a grounded reminder to learn, adjust, and keep moving forward.  Resources Mentioned   Keeping a Family Cow by Joann S. Grohman  Keeping a Family Milk Cow, holistic and organic (Facebook group)  Find Out More   Shepherd Farms | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087351095567 Looking for grass-based breeders? Explore the Grass Based Genetics directory. Upcoming Grazing Events Noble Profitability Essentials - Jefferson City, Mo, March 24-25, 2026Visit our Sponsors:Noble Research Institute Redmond Agriculture Grazing Grass LinksWebsiteCommunity (on Facebook) Original Music by Louis Palfrey

    1h 22m
  5. 209 | Jacob Harriet, Oklahoma | From Wildlife Warden to Grazier: Prescribed Burns, Leased Land, and Following the Animals

    FEB 4

    209 | Jacob Harriet, Oklahoma | From Wildlife Warden to Grazier: Prescribed Burns, Leased Land, and Following the Animals

    Jacob Harriet of Shepherd Farms shares how his background in wildlife management in central Oklahoma shaped the way he uses livestock, prescribed fire, and land restoration to build better habitat and a workable farm business. From starting on a small homestead to managing over 1,240 acres through creative lease agreements, Jacob walks through what has worked, what he learned the hard way, and how grazing fits into a broader land stewardship plan. In This Episode, We Explore: Jacob’s path from wildlife law enforcement to using livestock as a habitat toolTurning an over-timbered 80 acres into productive grazing and wildlife habitatUsing rotational grazing to improve land function, manure distribution, and plant recoveryTree and timber management decisions focused on getting sunlight to the groundPrescribed fire vs mechanical clearing for controlling woody encroachment, especially cedarHow burn associations, burn plans, and local support make prescribed fire safer and more practicalManaging land for wildlife needs alongside grazing goals, including turkey and quail habitatFinding and using grants for infrastructure, water, timber work, and prescribed fireBuilding a mixed-species orchard and using chickens to manage pests and understoryA lease model that trades professional habitat management for grazing access across multiple propertiesTracking grazing and land work with mapping tools and documentation Why This Episode Matters This conversation is a practical look at connecting grazing, habitat, and land access in a way that works in the real world. If you are trying to improve a neglected property, reduce cedar pressure, learn why prescribed fire matters, or find a creative path to more grazing acres without buying land, Jacob’s approach offers clear ideas you can adapt to your own place. Resources Mentioned Natural Resource University (podcast network)OnX Hunt Maps (phone app)NRCS (local office support for conservation programs and grants)National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF)Quail ForeverTy Ty Nursery (trees for the orchard)Find Out More Shepherd Farms | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087351095567 Looking for grass-based breeders? Explore the Grass Based Genetics directory. Upcoming Grazing Events Noble Profitability Essentials - Jefferson City, Mo, March 24-25, 2026Visit our Sponsors:Noble Research Institute Redmond Agriculture Grazing Grass LinksWebsiteCommunity (on Facebook) Original Music by Louis Palfrey

    1h 24m
  6. 208 | Glenn McCaig, Ontario | Stop Trying to Fix Everything: Simplified Systems for Pigs, Cattle, Sheep, and Sanity

    JAN 28

    208 | Glenn McCaig, Ontario | Stop Trying to Fix Everything: Simplified Systems for Pigs, Cattle, Sheep, and Sanity

    Glenn McCaig of Perry's Corners Farm returns to the Grazing Grass Podcast to talk through livestock systems that stay practical when you stop trying to perfect everything. Farming with his wife Megan and their three young children just outside Kitchener, Ontario, Glenn shares what is working on their sandy, rocky ground with Lynch Lineback cattle, English Large Black pigs, Clun Forest type sheep, and pastured poultry. In This Episode, We Explore: What Lynch Lineback cattle are and why Glenn values a closed herd approachCalf-sharing milk cows and feeding milk to pigs as part of a whole-farm systemA gilt-only farrowing system that simplifies pig management and tightens farrowing windowsSelecting boars early using practical traits like teat count and mothering abilityFarrowing in pens vs pasture, and what changed with labor, predator pressure, and piglet lossesUsing simple ear notching to make culling decisions faster and more consistent in sheepClosed-flock sheep management, prolific genetics, and handling triplets and quadsThe realities of wool marketing and why some wool is not worth savingWhy Glenn went soy-free (and briefly corn-free) with pigs, and what he learned trying soy-free layersWhat migratory grazing changed for Glenn, and the cattle behavior he notices nowA calendar-based way Glenn thinks about the summer slump, rest periods, and how hay decisions affect grazingWhy This Episode MattersIf you have ever felt like your livestock enterprise got harder the more you tried to fine-tune it, this episode gives a grounded look at simplifying without backing away from good management. Glenn lays out practical systems for pigs, sheep, and cattle that reduce moving parts, tighten decision making, and keep the farm working in real conditions like predator pressure, winter feeding, and limited labor. Resources Mentioned Acres U.S.A. PodcastBarefoot Biodynamics by Jeff PoppenSteve Campbell (mentioned in context of clean minerals)Burke Teichert (quote referenced)Find Out More Perry's Corners Farm | https://perryscornersfarm.caGrazing Grass Community Looking for grass-based breeders? Explore the Grass Based Genetics directory. Upcoming Grazing Events Noble Profitability Essentials - Jefferson City, Mo, March 24-25, 2026Visit our Sponsors:Noble Research Institute Redmond Agriculture Grazing Grass LinksWebsiteCommunity (on Facebook) Original Music by Louis Palfrey

    1h 35m
  7. 207 | Mason Lautenschlager, North Dakota | Losing the Family Farm at 12 and Building It Back From Nothing

    JAN 21

    207 | Mason Lautenschlager, North Dakota | Losing the Family Farm at 12 and Building It Back From Nothing

    Mason Lautenschlager and his wife Hannah run Arrow L Ranch near Berthold in northwest North Dakota, where they focus on grass-based enterprises including a cow-calf herd, some direct grass-finished beef, and selling multi-bred composite coming 2-year-old bulls developed on forage.  In This Episode, We Explore:   Building a ranch back after his family sold out of farming and ranching  Buying cows at the top of the market and navigating the crash afterward  Shifting the whole operation toward lower labor and lower equipment intensity  Winter grazing decision-making around snow cover, forage quality, and flexibility  Bale grazing setup, timing, and what it changed on poorer soil areas  Water limitations, fencing lanes, and building a system for easier moves  Stockpiling forage and planning grazing around winter and spring needs  Increasing plant diversity through grazing management rather than seeding  Using forage clippings to estimate available dry matter per acre  Developing bulls on forage and selecting for longevity and fertility over max production  Why This Episode Matters  If winter feed, labor, and equipment costs are squeezing your operation, Mason’s story is a practical look at how constraints can force better systems. This conversation gets into the real tradeoffs of stockpile grazing versus bale grazing, how water and fencing design affect what is possible, and why selection for fertility and longevity can matter more than pushing production.   Resources Mentioned   Agriculture Alberta video series: Managing Risk in Winter Grazing  Principled Land Managers grazing school (Bart Carmichael and Pat Guptill)  North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition  DV Auction  Movie: Moneyball  Book: Lasater Philosophy of Cattle Raising (Tom Lasater)  Find Out More   Arrow L Ranch Facebook page | https://www.facebook.com/arrowlranchDV Auction video catalog for the Arrow L Ranch bull sale (opens Feb 6, closes Feb 8 with a soft close)  | https://www.dvauction.com/video_catalogs/13210 Looking for grass-based breeders? Explore the Grass Based Genetics directory. Upcoming Grazing Events Noble Profitability Essentials - Jefferson City, Mo, March 24-25, 2026Visit our Sponsors:Noble Research Institute Redmond Agriculture Grazing Grass LinksWebsiteCommunity (on Facebook) Original Music by Louis Palfrey

    1h 18m
  8. 206 | Hayden & Taylor Sievers, Illinois | From Cut Flowers to Cattle on German Heritage Ground

    JAN 14

    206 | Hayden & Taylor Sievers, Illinois | From Cut Flowers to Cattle on German Heritage Ground

    Hayden and Taylor Sievers of Sievers Blumen Farm in the Brussels, Illinois area share how their farm has evolved from a cut-flower business into a growing grazing-focused cattle operation, alongside grain and hogs, while keeping an eye on family, profitability, and building a system that works on limited acres. In This Episode, We Explore: How Sievers Blumen Farm got its name and the cut-flower beginnings behind the brandFarming in Calhoun County between the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, and what that landscape means for grazingConverting a heavily tilled, flood-prone 80 acres into pasture over time while still cash cropping part of itChallenges of establishing pasture on heavy “black stick” clay and lessons learned with broadcast seeding and needing timely rainUsing wheat followed by cover crops and pasture as a transition plan away from cash croppingInfrastructure choices including high-tensile perimeter fence, step-ins, reels, and thoughts on central alley layoutsMoving from Dexters to South Pole-influenced cattle and what they noticed with fly pressure, forage efficiency, and easy-keeping traitsUsing cow-calf as a base herd while considering stockers and sell-buy marketing to capture excess forageTakeaways from stockmanship training, including receiving calves and getting them grazing quickly by focusing on mental and emotional stateRaising meat chickens (including Red Rangers) and layers, plus building and using a chickshaw-style coopTaylor’s path into indie publishing, what she writes, and the discipline of finishing books while raising a familyWhy This Episode MattersIf you are trying to make grazing work on limited acres or on land that is less-than-ideal, this conversation is a practical look at how a young family is building infrastructure, improving soil over time, selecting cattle that fit their system, and staying focused on profitability and quality of life instead of chasing too many enterprises at once. Resources Mentioned Joel Salatin (Joe Rogan Podcast)Greg Judy (grazing and fencing approach)Jim Elizondo and total grazing conceptsHand ’n Hand sell-buy marketing class (Tina and Richard)Stockman Grass FarmerWorking Cows podcastRanching Returns podcast (formerly Herd Quitter podcast)Bud Williams stockmanship (referenced through stockmanship training)Dirt to SoilBraiding SweetgrassFor the Love of SoilThe Creative Penn podcast (Joanna Penn)Wish I’d Known Then podcastThe Two Authors podcastJustin Rhodes Chickshaw (mobile coop design)O’Brien step-in postsTaragate reelsMeyer HatcheryMcMurray HatcheryAugust Horstmann's Ranch (Missouri)Find Out More Website | https://sieversblumenfarm.comInstagram | https://instagram.com/sieversblumenfarmFacebook | https://facebook.com/sieversblumenfarmYouTube | https://youtube.com/@sieversblumenfarmHere is a discount code for our farm shop (https://sieversblumenfarm.com/shop) that listeners can use for 10% off. The code expires in July. GRAZINGGRASS26 Looking for grass-based breeders? Explore the Grass Based Genetics directory. Upcoming Grazing Events Noble Profitability Essentials - Jefferson City, Mo, March 24-25, 2026Visit our Sponsors:Noble Research Institute Redmond Agriculture Grazing Grass LinksWebsiteCommunity (on Facebook) Original Music by Louis Palfrey

    1h 19m
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4.9
out of 5
110 Ratings

About

The Grazing Grass Podcast features insights and stories of regenerative farming, specifically emphasizing grass-based livestock management. Our mission is to foster a community where grass farmers can share knowledge and experiences with one another. We delve into their transition to these practices, explore the ins and outs of their operations, and then move into the "Over Grazing" segment, which addresses specific challenges and learning opportunities. The episode rounds off with the "Famous Four" questions, designed to extract valuable wisdom and advice. Join us to gain practical tips and inspiration from the pioneers of regenerative grass farming. This is the podcast for you if you are trying to answer: What are regenerative farm practices? How to be grassfed? How do I graze other species of livestock? What's are ways to improve pasture and lower costs? What to sell direct to the consumer?

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