Grazing Grass Podcast sharing Regenerative Ag Stories

Matt Goble joins the Grazing Grass Podcast to share how he’s built a profitable, resilient wool sheep operation in a high-elevation mountain valley using entirely private and marginal land. While working a full-time W-2 job, Matt manages 450 ewes with a strong focus on grazing efficiency, soil health, and thoughtful breeding decisions. His system blends management-intensive grazing, cover crops, and perennial pastures, all adapted to a short growing season and limited irrigation.In this episode, we cover:Grazing irrigated pasture and marginal land in a mountain valleyUsing cover crops to build soil before establishing perennial pastureManaging sheep with daily and multi-day grazing movesLambing systems, jug management, and efficiency at scaleBreeding strategies for maternal traits and terminal lambsUsing ear notching and simple visual systems to reduce decision fatiguePredator pressure and why net fencing matters for sheepBalancing stocking rates during drought yearsAdding chickens and turkeys to improve soil and diversify incomeMatching enterprise scale to land capacity and lifestyle goalsWhy This Episode Matters: This conversation is a clear example of how management, not acres, often determines success. Matt shows how intentional grazing, simple systems, and observation can double productivity without doubling land or inputs. His practical insights into lambing efficiency, breeding decisions, and drought planning offer valuable lessons for anyone managing livestock on limited or challenging ground.Resources Mentioned:The Soil Owner’s Manual by John StikaThe Art and Science of Shepherding (Premier 1 Supplies)Field Area Measure (mobile app)Find Out More:Facebook: Dry Bottom FarmsSnow College Agriculture Department (Utah) Looking for Livestock that thrive on grass?  Check out Grass Based GeneticsUpcoming Grazing EventsVisit our Sponsors:Noble Research InstituteRedmond AgricultureGrazing Grass LinksWebsiteCommunity (on Facebook)Original Music by Louis Palfrey

In this Field Notes episode, Cal slows things down to share a simple way to think about soil health principles that actually sticks when you’re in the pasture. Instead of another list to memorize, this episode introduces CRADLE, a practical framework that organizes well-known soil health principles into something easier to remember and apply in real-world conditions.In this episode, we explore:Why soil health principles are easy to understand but hard to recall in real-world decision momentsHow context shapes the way soil health principles are applied on different operationsHow the core soil health ideas fit together through the CRADLE frameworkWhere disturbance, soil cover, diversity, living roots, and livestock fit within that bigger pictureA simple way to step back and diagnose what might be missing when things aren’t working as expectedWhat CRADLE stands for:C — ContextR — Reduce DisturbanceA — Armor on the SoilD — DiversityL — Living RootsE — Embrace LivestockWhy listen to this episode?If you understand soil health principles but struggle to recall or apply them under real-world pressure, this episode gives you a mental model you can actually use. CRADLE helps move soil health from theory into day-to-day decision-making — without adding complexity.Looking aheadNext week’s Field Notes tackles a listener question on low-cost corral options, focusing on what actually matters, what you can skip, and practical ways to work animals safely without overspending on infrastructure.Thanks to our partnersField Notes is made possible by the continued support of Noble Research Institute and Redmond Agriculture. Their commitment to soil health education and stewardship helps make these conversations possible.More grass. Better soil. Happier livestock. Keep on grazing, and we’ll see you next week. Looking for Livestock that thrive on grass?  Check out Grass Based GeneticsUpcoming Grazing EventsVisit our Sponsors:Noble Research InstituteRedmond AgricultureGrazing Grass LinksWebsiteCommunity (on Facebook)Original Music by Louis Palfrey

In Episode 201 of the Grazing Grass Podcast, Cal Hardage sits down with Jacob Morin of Target Angus and Le Paysan Gourmand in Quebec. Jacob shares how a college humanities class unexpectedly set him on a path toward regenerative agriculture and how he and his family transitioned a conventional cow-calf operation into a diversified, grass-based farm. Together, they discuss intentional grazing, winter management in cold climates, infrastructure decisions that make daily moves possible, and how direct-to-consumer beef, market gardening, and livestock diversification work together to support the next generation on the farm.Topics covered in this episode include:Intentional grazing and adaptive decision-makingWinter grazing and bale grazing in cold climatesGrazing infrastructure: fencing, water systems, and daily movesDirect-to-consumer beef sales and pricing challengesDiversification with vegetables, hogs, and value-added productsTransitioning family farms and planning for future generationsLessons learned from trial, error, and staying flexibleWhy you should listen: This episode is packed with real-world insight for producers navigating cooler climates, land constraints, and direct marketing. Jacob’s story highlights how thoughtful grazing, diversification, and intentional choices can build resilience—both in the soil and in the family running the operation. If you’re balancing tradition with change or looking for practical ideas to strengthen your grazing system, this conversation will resonate.Resources mentioned in the episode:Target AngusLe Paysan GourmandSalad Bar Beef by Joel SalatinPastured Poultry Profits by Joel SalatinThe Bold Return of Giving a Damn by Will Harris Looking for Livestock that thrive on grass?  Check out Grass Based GeneticsUpcoming Grazing EventsVisit our Sponsors:Noble Research InstituteRedmond AgricultureGrazing Grass LinksWebsiteCommunity (on Facebook)Original Music by Louis Palfrey

Adam Daugherty joins us from southern Indiana to share the story of how a few cows, some encouragement from family, and a willingness to try rotational grazing transformed his operation. Adam talks through the early days of partnering with his grandfather and great-aunt, the moment rotational grazing finally “clicked,” and how semi-permanent fencing, flexible water systems, and strategic winter feeding have reshaped his pastures. He also walks us through his approach to genetics, cow size, docility, and marketing calves directly to a feedlot rather than selling through a barn—plus what he wishes new graziers would know before they start.Topics CoveredGetting started with cattle through family partnershipsHow one brother-in-law pushed him toward rotational grazingUsing fiberglass posts and high-tensile wire as low-cost subdivision fencingBuilding water hubs, temporary pipelines, and later upgrading to buried linesUsing a movable tank and quick-connect valves for efficient daily movesHow rotational grazing changed pasture health, weed pressure, and animal behaviorManaging winter feeding with concrete pads and strategic hay unrollingBenefits of a sacrifice paddock—and why we shouldn’t be afraid to use oneBuying and developing genetics within the family herdManaging docility and safety while working a W2 jobTheir marketing system: preconditioning and selling directly to a local feedlotFuture plans: warm-season grasses, tire-tank siphon systems, and refining geneticsWhy You Should ListenAdam exemplifies the reality for many graziers: juggling off-farm jobs, limited time, and a desire to do better with what you already have. His story is packed with practical, low-cost ideas—from fencing to water to winter feeding—that can help new and seasoned graziers rethink their systems. If you’ve ever felt too busy to start rotational grazing or unsure where to begin, Adam’s journey will show you exactly how doable it can be.Resources MentionedLocal NRCS & Soil and Water offices (mapping, design, & technical support)Graber Farm Supply (fiberglass posts & materials)Purdue’s Southern Indiana research farm (SIPAC)Daily Manufacturing bale unroller Looking for Livestock that thrive on grass?  Check out Grass Based GeneticsUpcoming Grazing EventsVisit our Sponsors:Noble Research InstituteRedmond AgricultureGrazing Grass LinksWebsiteCommunity (on Facebook)Original Music by Louis Palfrey

Rachel Bouressa of Bouressa Family Farm joins us from central Wisconsin, where she’s a fifth-generation farmer and second-generation grazier managing 120 acres with a soil-first mindset. After returning home following a barn fire, she rebuilt her operation using perennial forages, diverse annuals, and a willingness to experiment. Today she’s deeply involved with Grassworks, Wisconsin Farmers Union, NRCS conservation planning, women-in-conservation mentoring, and the Upper Fox Wolf Demonstration Farm Network—all while running a thriving direct-to-consumer beef business.Topics Covered in This EpisodeRebuilding the family farm after a barn fire and starting with just 15 acresDeveloping a soil-first grazing philosophy and “earned efficiency”Working closely with NRCS and building strong planner–farmer relationshipsConverting row-crop ground back to pasture using rye, diverse cool-season mixes, and sorghum-SudanChoosing cattle genetics: British White Parks, Devons, and Murray GreysDirect-to-consumer beef sales and transitioning to Barn2DoorExtending the grazing season toward ChristmasAudubon Bird-Friendly certification and creating habitat valueWhy You Should ListenIf you’re looking for a grounded, real-world example of what soil-first grazing looks like in practice, Rachel brings hard-earned wisdom, humility, and a spirit of experimentation. Her story is full of practical insights—from pasture renovation to breed selection to extending the grazing season—and she offers a refreshingly honest look at the challenges and rewards of growing a regenerative, community-connected grazing operation.Resources MentionedGrassworks ConferenceNRCS grazing resourcesAudubon Conservation Ranching ProgramWendell Berry — Unsettling of America, The Gift of Good LandFred Provenza — Nourishment Looking for Livestock that thrive on grass?  Check out Grass Based GeneticsUpcoming Grazing EventsVisit our Sponsors:Noble Research InstituteRedmond AgricultureGrazing Grass LinksWebsiteCommunity (on Facebook)Original Music by Louis Palfrey