Farm4Profit Podcast

Regenerative - More than Just a BUZZ-word

Episode Summary

Brent Weiss phones in from the ranch to share with us his experiences with regenerative ranching. He explains what they have identified as sounds practices and productive practices for their herds. Everything from managing plant species, herd rotation, and herd genetics.

Episode Notes

Regenerative Ranching

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• Welcome to a Farm4Profit episode 
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• Featured Guest Brent Weiss
• Background, self introduction
• What does regenerative ranching ACUTALLY mean?
• Ranching in synch with nature to rebuild healthy ecosystems starting with the soil
• Not just a marketing buzzword
• 2 types of people in regen:
• Interested in conservation
• Interested in increased profits
• Soil Health – why is it important?
• Soil has been the downfall of ancient civilizations
• Facing increased drought and climate challenges
• Healthy soils are more drought tolerant
• MASSIVE carbon sinks
• Fertilizer, pesticides, etc. are just bandaids to the soil
• Soil microbes create a great growing environment
• Soil health = increased nutrients, fertility, and water infiltration
• Rotational Grazing and Grazing Systems
• Maximum impact, maximum rest
• Stocking rates in pounds/acre, not acre/head
• Forage available vs forage consumed
• Subdivisions create longer rest periods
• Roots stop growing for 11-17 days when 50+% of forage consumed
• If roots cannot recover, eventually neither will the top
• Ease of moving cattle and implementing systems with single strand electric wire
• Forage management
• Grass farmers using cattle as a means of harvesting crop and convert to usable product
• Important to leave behind some leafy material (ideally ~50%)
• Solar panels for regrowth
• Without solar panels, must steal carbohydrates from roots (recession)
• Armors the soil
• Keeps soil temps down (helping keep moisture in soil)
• Slows down rain to increase infiltration and decrease run off
• Cattle Management
• Culling cattle that do not fit your system (they work for you)
• Defined calving and breeding seasons (45/60 plan)
• Allows you to match the growing season with peak lactation and when calves begin grazing
• Ideally a closed loop system, or even a closed herd
• Bull selection
• Heifer selection
• Use consistent sources with similar goals to your operation
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• Biodiversity – different plants and animals play different roles
• Pollinators, birds spreading seed, dung beetles, other beneficial insects
• Legume Nitrogen, Grass Roots, Forbs armor
• Mesquite in desert country
• Medicinal/Anthelmintic properties
• Secondary and tertiary compounds like tanins and alkaloids
• Minimize Inputs/Epigenetics
• Increasing Revenue is not the only way to increase profit
• Less reliance on supplemental protein, mineral, dewormer/fly spray
• Cows that do not fit the system will come up open, wean small calves, or stand out in one way or another
• CULL THEM
• Gradual decrease of each
• Personal Belief – Don’t skimp on vaccinations
• Calves will go to feed lot and be exposed to A LOT
• Implementation
• We need everyone to move in the right direction
• Do what you can in your environment/situation
• Subdivide pastures – ½ à ¼ à 1/8 etc…
• Move cattle more often between planting and harvest
• Only supplement when forage quality is decreased
• ANY step is a step in the right direction
• What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
• Summary
• Challenge