Working Cows - Regenerative Ranching to Maximize Profitability and Soil Health – Details, episodes & analysis

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 work well as they have consulted on a wide variety of operations.

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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 photos and wedding photos. We discuss this and more today on the Working Cows Podcast.

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Sponsor: Get Sea-90 with Garlic for Fly Control at Tractor Supply Today! SD Grassland Coalition Grazing School

Relevant Links: LandTrust.com

Taylor’s Previous Episode: Ep. 138 Taylor Moyer – A NASCAR Crew Chief on Managing People

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 book your consultation today!

Sponsor: Ranch Right SD Grassland Coalition Grazing School

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 many of the water quality issues in urban and suburban environments.

Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today!

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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 the related issues.

Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today!

Sponsor: SD Grassland Coalition Grazing School Ranch Right

Relevant Links: 3:10 Ranch Life 3:10 EDU

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 Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today!

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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 to speed up their movement toward their goal of optimizing maternal traits and performance. Today we get a unique cattleman’s perspective on genomic testing.

Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today!

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Relevant Links: Ep. 027 Bob Howard – Linebred Genetics

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 Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today!

Sponsor: PowerflexSupply.com RangeWard.com

Relevant Links: Soil Health Academy Ecdysis Thousand Farms Initiative

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 this story find what they are looking for.

Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today!

Sponsor: Ranch Right SD Grassland Coalition Grazing School

Join the Soil to Market Challenge May 6th, 2025

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 today!

Sponsor: UnderstandingAg.com Attend a Soil Health Academy in 2025

Relevant Links: Understanding Ag Epigenetics Webinar Ep. 290 Gabe Brown and Dr. Allen Williams – Three Rules of Adaptive Stewardship BONUS Ep. 283 Gabe Brown and Dr. Allen Williams – The 6-3-4