Ranching Returns Podcast

Latest Episodes:

23: Jim Gerrish - Western vs. Eastern Ranching Jul 12, 2021

Show notes

In part 2 of our two part conversation with Jim we discuss the differences in environment, and management of grasslands in arid Western environments and Midwest and Eastern high moisture environments. We discuss how every location has it's own advantages and disadvantages and how to work with them. Jim shares grazing infrastructure and management tips and wisdom and wherever you ranch there is something of value for you in this episode!

Resources Mentioned:

https://www.americangrazinglands.com/

As always, check out the Herd Quitter Podcast on Facebook and Instagram as well as at Herdquitterpodcast.com. You can also check out Pharocattle.com for more information on how to put more fun and profit back into your ranching business!

22: Jim Gerrish - Kick the Hay Habit Jul 05, 2021

Show notes

Jim Gerrish is an experienced grazing expert and well known author of Management Intensive Grazing, and Kick the Hay Habit. In part 1 of a 2 episode series we discuss the expense of making hay and how to reduce hay making through extending your grazing season. We also talk about how to manage your grazing during drought, which many of us across the country are in today!

Resources Mentioned:

Kick the Hay Habit

https://www.americangrazinglands.com/

21: August Horstmann - Changing Perspectives Jun 28, 2021

Show notes

August had his eyes set on building a profitable angus cattle operation operating in the old school way of high inputs and labor. After getting started he quickly realized it wasn't as easy as it seems. A coworker recommended he look up Gabe Brown, Greg Judy, and Ray Archuletta and from there is regenerative grazing farm journey began. Today, he and his wife Katelyn are taking their family land base and transitioning it into a profitable, regenerative grazing based farm. We'll learn about all the enterprises they manage and how they are building a direct marketing brand, Horstmann Cattle Company.

Resources Mentioned:

YouTube - Greg Judy & Allen Williams

Soil Health Academy

Working Cows Podcast

Ranching Reboot Podcast

20: Wes Eaton - Ranching in the Desert Jun 21, 2021

Show notes

Wes ranches in the Chihuahua Desert of Southeast New Mexico. Of all the people I have talked to, his environment might be the toughest to run cattle in. It's dry on an average year, and he's currently in the 3rd year of a drought. Grass is in short supply and his cattle have to travel several miles to water when they aren't out eating brush and cactus to survive. We discuss how he got into ranching, the challenges of his environment, and how PCC bulls are working in it. Despite the many challenges, Wes recognizes that his ranch also offers some unfair advantages, such as cheap lease rates and easy winters. Listen in to hear how he is building a ranching business in some of the toughest country in the United States.

Resources Mentioned:

Stockman Grass Farmer

Holistic Management

Working Cows Podcast

19: Kit Pharo - Debt in a Ranching Business Jun 14, 2021

Show notes

Kit and I discuss the role that debt plays in a ranch business. It certainly can have a place to help a business when used wisely. However, Kit believes, and I agree, that it's not a necessity and that freeing yourself from debt can lead to a more enjoyable business with more peace of mind. He talks about what he thinks may be acceptable uses of debt, and what is never ok to borrow to own.

As always, check us out at Herd Quitter Podcast on Facebook and Instagram as well as at Herdquitterpodcast.com. You can also check out Pharocattle.com for more information on how to put more fun and profit back into your ranching business!

18: Wally Olson Part 2 - Sell/Buy Marketing Jun 07, 2021

Show notes

Wally joins us for a second week to discuss the Bud Williams sell/buy livestock marketing concept. We discuss how it is applied to stocker enterprises and cow/calf enterprises. We get more in depth on a few of the things we discussed last week like understanding the value of different classes on cattle. This is one you'll want to listen to more than once to fully absorb the information he shares.

Resources mentioned:

Dougs Market Intel - Doug Ferguson

17: Wally Olson - Building a Profitable Ranch May 31, 2021

Show notes

Wally Olson says the primary thing an individual needs to be concerned with is profit. In this episode, Wally discusses the many things he has found to help ranches increase profitability. He shares how he implemented them in his ranching career both working for and operating his own ranch.

Resources Mentioned:

Ranching for Profit

How Not to Go Broke Ranching - Walt Davis

Knowledge Rich Ranching - Allan Nation

Chip Hines Books

https://www.ranchrightllc.com/

16: Bobby Thoman - First a Businessman, Second a Cowboy May 24, 2021

Show notes

Bobby Thomans family got out of the cattle business long before he wanted to bring it back, leaving it to him to research and determine the right course of action for his cattle enterprise. He was intentional about selecting a type of animal that fit his goals for his ranch and worked hard to build both a direct to consumer meat market as well as a seedstock business. He has since become a cooperator for Pharo Cattle Company and breeds genetics that thrive in his environment!

15: Joshua and Tara Dukart - Journey Back to the Ranch May 17, 2021

Show notes

Joshua and Tara never planned on going back to the family ranch. They were told it wasn't a viable option, and Tara wasn't sure that's the life she wanted. But after a number of experiences and connections made them realize that they could make a living on the ranch and they began to understand the connection between food and our human nutrition and mental health, both Tara and Joshua agreed that going back to the ranch was the best decision for their family! Today they operate a holistic management education business providing trainings and consulting to farms and ranches around the country. They also run Seek First Ranch where they raise and direct market meat. We talk about the entire journey from leaving the farm, to realizing it might be a possibility, to making it happen.

Resources mentioned:

https://www.seekfirstranch.com/

Bible

Ranching for Profit

North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition

Soil Health Academy

14: Kit Pharo - Heifer Development May 10, 2021

Show notes

Kit Pharo and I discuss heifer development programs, and how a low cost program can make heifer development a profitable enterprise despite the percent bred. We also discuss how a low cost development program produces heifers that will thrive on the ranch for many years to come and how high input heifer development programs can result in unintended consequences such as early fall out rates, and high input cows that don't fit a real ranch environment.

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