Working Cows - Regenerative Ranching to Maximize Profitability and Soil Health

It’s easy to focus on the various pieces of our marketing strategy to the point that we forget to actually sell the products we are marketing. Karoline Bohannan, of the KRose Company, joined me to discuss the things to pay attention to as we seek to get the word out about our ranch and rural business products. This episode might focus on bulls and bull sales but the principles apply to all rural businesses. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today! Sponsor: Remedi Animal Solutions Wine Glass Ranch Relevant Links: KRose Company

As we seek to bridge the gap toward a redesign of our agricultural systems natural options are going to be the best option for a host of reasons. Lynn Hoover of Ocean Blue Agronomics joins me to discuss the role of sea salt in balancing nutrients, activating soil biology, and connecting plants with the nutrients they need. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today! Relevant Links: Ocean Blue Agronomics Relevant Episodes: Ep. 312 Lynn Hoover – All Natural Soil and Herd Health Ep. 282 Lynn Hoover and Michael Sileck – Using Ocean Minerals on the Land Ep. 261 Robert Cain and Michael Sileck – The Sea Salt Revolution

Drones continue to improve in efficiency and cost. They are proving useful across agriculture and reducing waste and over application of chemicals. Preston Cave shares some of his experiences using drones in different agricultural applications. We also talk about him joining a team of heroes that help delivered relief to victims of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today! Sponsor: Ranch Right Wineglass Ranch

Is regenerative agriculture enough to fix America’s broken rural economies? Can we simply soil health our way out of the mess that the has been created by inflation and the printing of money? Joel Hollingsworth says “no.” While soil health and regenerative agriculture are crucial without sound money we are going to struggle to get meaningful traction in bringing back rural America. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today! Sponsor: Patreon.com/WorkingCows Relevant Links: Soil and Money Article Regenerative Ranching in the Age of Everything and What We Can Learn from the Agricultural Depression Follow Joel on X Smoke River Ranch

Managing winter feed costs can boost profitability as reliably as almost any other change we can make. Stefan Bouw, of Edie Creek Angus, joined me once again to discuss some of the different strategies they have implemented over the years to manage labor costs and boost animal performance through his harsh Canadian winters. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today! Sponsor: KRose Company Bull Sale Marketing Guide Patreon.com/WorkingCows Relevant Links: Edie Creek Angus

Brian Dougherty of Understanding Ag joins me once again. This time to discuss how we can become more adaptable with our nutrient management. Rather than following the conventional 4R approach of right source, right rate, right time, right place we look at the 6P approach where we let the 6 Principles of Soil Health guide our redesign of our whole nutrient management system. 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 Guest’s Previous Episode: Ep. 374 Brian Dougherty and Luke Jones – Thinking About Cover Crops Ep. 355 Brian Dougherty – Managing Soil Nutrients

Will Winter, an expert in apple cider vinegar applications for livestock, shares fascinating insights on its role in ranching. He discusses how vinegar can enhance animal health and boost productivity, using personal anecdotes about its positive effects on pigs and calves. Winter reveals innovative methods for maximizing the nutritional value of vinegar and emphasizes its benefits for digestion in ruminants. Listeners learn about the economic advantages of incorporating vinegar in livestock management and the importance of bulk buying for profitability.

Calving season can be a stressful time for cattle and cattlemen alike. Ellen Bench joins me once again to talk about a different approach to helping calving season go more smoothly and less stressfully for everyone involved. Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag! Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today! Sponsor: KRose Company Bull Sale Marketing Guide Wineglass Ranch Relevant Links: RemediAnimalSolutions.com Guest’s Previous Episode: Ep. 371 Ellen Bench – Implementing Homeopathic Livestock Health Ep. 368 Ellen Bench – Homeopathic Livestock Health

Luke Jones, a consultant with Understanding Ag, specializes in aiding farmers to transition to regenerative practices. He shares insights on shifting mindsets to embrace sustainable agriculture, emphasizing the vital role of healthy soil. The chat covers challenges in moving away from conventional methods, especially in traditional farming regions. Luke advocates for accountability, localized production, and collaboration among farmers to foster resilient practices. He encourages viewing failures as learning opportunities and highlights the long-term benefits for both communities and the environment.

If we are going to regenerate our food system we must also work on regenerating fruit and nut crops generally grown in orchards. Much of the conventional wisdom in the orchard industry is stacked against the application of the Six Principles of Soil Health. Chuck Schembre, Soil Health Consultant with Understanding Ag, joined me to discuss some of the most fruitful strategies he has seen in applying the Six Principles of Soil Health in Orchards. 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 Guest’s Previous Episode: Ep. 321 Chuck Schembre – Regenerative Gardening