Episodes

151
Dec. 25, 2023

151: Trevor Burian - From $100,000 Loss to $39,000 profit

Merry Christmas!! In episode 101 we discussed Trevors decision to switch from cow/calf to custom grazing. We catch up a year later to discuss how his first year running a large herd of stockers has gone for him. Before we discuss this year, we go into depth on an enterprise analysis on his cow/calf enterprise and why this decision made sense for him and how it's allowed him to make a nearly $150,000 swing in his profitability from a $100,000 economic loss to a $39,000 profit with potential for e...
150
Dec. 18, 2023

150: Best of the First 150 Episodes

For the 150th episode I listened back to the top 5 episodes by listens and clipped some of my favorite parts of those conversations. There is so much great stuff in each of these episodes! Check out Barn2Door at ⁠⁠⁠www.barn2door.com/herdquitter⁠⁠⁠ and receive a free academy class ($99 value) if you sign up. As always, check us out at Herd Quitter Podcast on Facebook and Instagram as well as at ⁠www.herdquitterpodcast.com⁠. You can also check out ⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠ for more information on ho...
149
Dec. 11, 2023

149: Chad Peterson - Stockers, Grazing, Moving Ranches

Chad Peterson has a wealth of experience in a variety of different grazing based enterprises now in multiple states. We discuss many of his learning experiences over the years and why he currently runs a stocker operation in Montana. We talk about ultra high stock density grazing, forage utilization, supplement feeding stockers, and so much more! Check out Barn2Door at ⁠⁠⁠www.barn2door.com/herdquitter⁠⁠⁠ and receive a free academy class ($99 value) if you sign up. As always, check us out at He...
148
Dec. 4, 2023

148: Logan Mannix - Mannix Family Beef

Logan Mannix along with his father, uncles and several cousins run Mannix Family Beef in Montana. They have a diversified, large scale, vertically integrated beef operation. Currently they run 1250 cows, background calves, and grass finish and market 400 head of beef direct to consumer as well as to several wholesale markets. We discuss everything from his family and ranch history, to genetics, wintering cattle in Montana, and marketing. Resources Mentioned: Barn2Door Podcast and Newsletter G...
147
Nov. 27, 2023

147: Amos Troester - Cover Cropping for Profit

Amos and his wife Tina have a diversified business in Northeast Iowa where they crop farm, run livestock, sell cover crop seed and offer custom seeding as a service. In this episode we discuss how cover crops can be used on high value tillable land to increase the profit of the operation, how to integrate them with crops and livestock and much more! Resources Mentioned: Ranching for Profit School Wally Olson School Doug Ferguson School Allen Crocket Check out Barn2Door at ⁠⁠⁠www.barn2door....
146
Nov. 20, 2023

146: Matthew Menke - Transitioning to Profitable Ranching at Scale

Matthew ranched like most people in his area but after learning a little about low input ranching and regenerative management and it's potential to help improve production and profitability he began to transition his cow herd and management to improve. He shares many of the learning lessons he experience transitioning over 500 cows to a low input genetics and designing fence and water infrastructure plan for his land. If you want to make a change on your ranch, this is one episode you won't want...
145
Nov. 13, 2023

145: Sage Askin, Vannie Collins, Chris Baggott - Building a First Generation Ranch

Many say that today it's impossible to become a full time farmer or rancher if you aren't born into it or marry into it. But I've got three past guests Sage Askin, Vannie Collins, and Christopher Baggot on who have each built from scratch their own successful operations within the past 15 years. They come from different starting points but share diverse experiences and enterprise mixes that include cow/calf, custom grazing, and direct market enterprises and talk about how to access land, where t...
144
Nov. 6, 2023

144: Connor Laukant - Farming Full Time at 24 Years Old

Connor is a grazier in Wisconsin who at only 24 years old is already a full time farmer and a land owner. He has a diversity of livestock enterprises including custom grazing, cow/calf and heifer development. We discuss enterprise selection, where to invest capital, accessing land and much more! Resources Mentioned: Gregg Judy NRCS Office Neighbors Check out Barn2Door at ⁠⁠⁠www.barn2door.com/herdquitter⁠⁠⁠ and receive a free academy class ($99 value) if you sign up. As always, check us out...
143
Oct. 30, 2023

143: John Innes-Smith - Journey to Farm Ownership

John spent several years moving from farm to farm taking advantage of opportunities to build equity in land and cows until he got to where he is today. John owns 300 cows and 500 acres and operates his own successful grazing based dairy with his wife in Tasmania, Australia. We walk through his story, discuss the risks associated with debt and growth and talk about his operation. Resources Mentioned: Profitable Farmer Podcast Jocko Podcast Check out Barn2Door at ⁠⁠⁠www.barn2door.com/herdquitt...
142
Oct. 23, 2023

142: Al DeWit, Weston Walker, Rob Pierce - Heat Tolerant Genetics Program

I brought back three past guests who all are working to develop composite genetics that will offer adaption to the heat, humidity, and parasite pressure that many ranchers in the US face while not giving up the performance or quality that our purebred angus, red angus and hereford cattle provide. We dive into the different breeds they are using which include: Mashona, Romosinuano and Corriente cattle crossed on a PCC Red Angus base. Lots of value in this episode! Check out Barn2Door at ⁠⁠⁠www.b...
Oct. 16, 2023

141: Joel Salatin - Successful Farming

Joel Salatin is one of the most popular farmers in the world. He has written 16 books, is the editor of the Stockman Grass Farmer, and owns and operates the popular Polyface Farm. We discuss his farm, how he monetizes agritourism and education on his farm and learn tips to creating a successful direct to consumer enterprise as well as how to change the food system to a more local food production and marketing system. Resources Mentioned: Stockman Grass Farmer Ranching For Profit Farm Show Ma...
140
Oct. 9, 2023

140: Rachel Twogood - Raising Crops, Cattle and a Family

Rachel and her husband farm and ranch in Nebraska and have a diversified operation consisting of no-till crops, organic crops, cow/calf enterprises as well as a grass finishing and direct to consumer business. We discuss these different enterprises as well as the blessings and challenges that come with raising a family on a farm! Resources Mentioned: Joel Salatin - Family Friendly Farming Joel Salatin - Salad Bar Beef The Third Plate Francis Schafer - Pollution and the Death of Man Check o...
139
Oct. 2, 2023

139: Elaine Froese - 3 Conversations Necessary Before Farm Transition

Elaine is an internationally known farm transition expert! The topic of transition is something that every farmer will have to deal with at some point and very few have a plan. She walks through 3 of the important conversations that need to be addressed before a transition can take place. Resources Mentioned: Dick Wittman - Wittman Consulting Elaine Froese Books Farm4Profit Podcast Check out Barn2Door at www.barn2door.com/herdquitter and receive a free academy class ($99 value) if you sign ...
138
Sept. 25, 2023

138: Tom Krawiec - Ranching Like a 12 Year Old

Tom is author of the book "Ranching Like a 12 Year Old" where he shares his story of developing a ranch template to help simplify the management of a ranch to improve lifestyle and to allow for the opportunity to scale. He shares how this model allowed him to build a ranch custom grazing thousands of animals and also how to grow more grass than many think is possible! Lots to learn in this episode! Resources Mentioned: Ranching for Profit Executive Link Holistic Management Jim Gerrish - Man...
137
Sept. 18, 2023

137: Chris Baggot - Grazing Profitably on Cropland

Chris is a first generation farmer who has managed to grow a large and successful direct marketing enterprise and grazing based farm on row crop land in Indiana. Just in that statement their are a number of things many would say are not possible or at least are extremely difficult to do. Take a listen to learn how he did this and so much more! Resources Mentioned: Allan Savory - Holistic Management Joel Salatin Running Out: In Search of Water on the High Plains Water in Plain Sight The Ins...
136
Sept. 11, 2023

136: Jared Luhman - Q&A

I get questions from folks quite often via email or social media. I appreciate people reaching out and over the years a few questions have come up multiple times that I thought might be nice to address via the podcast. I'm happy to share more in depth on any one topic or address some of the others. Respond to the poll on the podcast or reach out to let me know if you enjoy these Q&A formats. As always, check us out at Herd Quitter Podcast on Facebook and Instagram as well as at herdquitterpodca...
135
Sept. 4, 2023

135: Al Dewit - Ranching Everywhere

Al and his family have a pretty unique ranching story. He started in Indiana as a crop farmer and had the opportunity to take over a ranch there, he later moved and built a ranch in Oklahoma followed by moving again and building another ranch in Missouri. He shares many of his learning experiences, and discusses using Romosinuano cattle to improve the adaptability of his herd. Resources Mentioned: Stockman Grass Farmer Local grazing groups and seminars As always, check us out at Herd Quitter...
134
Aug. 28, 2023

134: Clint Fischer - Farm Succession

Clint is an ag business advisor who acts as a third party board member for farms and ranches. Today we discuss some of the experiences he's had in this role, we discuss succession and much more. Resources Mentioned: University Extension Financial Experts, Attorney Workshops Herd Quitter Podcast 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 ...
132
Aug. 21, 2023

133: Carl Whitworth - Goat Grazing at Scale

Carl and his family own a diverse farm and ranch operation. They implement no-till and cover crops on their farmland and manage goats in multiple states! Resources Mentioned: Ranching for Profit Herd Quitter Podcast 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!
Aug. 14, 2023

132: Kit Pharo - Kits Big Concern

Even with record prices, many are not finding the best of times as good as they would expect. Operations dependent on high levels of feed inputs, a full fleet of equipment and an abundance of labor are feeling the effects of inflation on all of those expenses. This means that even during record high prices many are still losing money or having slim margins and Kit is concerned for those who aren't willing to change before prices come back down. What are you doing to prepare for this? As always,...
Aug. 7, 2023

131: Sean McGrath - Profitable Cow/Calf in Canada

Sean McGrath is a Canadian rancher running cattle in an environment where most people have to feed 200+ days a year yet feeding less than many do in the southern United States. We discuss how he has made cow/calf production profitable in his region, we discuss swath grazing and bale grazing and much more! Resources Mentioned: Ranching for Profit Agrifood Management Excellence (Canadian Program) Local History Books As always, check us out at Herd Quitter Podcast on Facebook and Instagram as ...
July 31, 2023

130: Jordan Thomas - Part 2

My first conversation with Jordan was way back on episode 80 and he generated a lot of good discussion! Today we dig into some of those topics about how to build a bullet proof low input business model to increase profitability on your ranch! 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!
129
July 24, 2023

129: Nevil Speer - Cattle Market Update

Nevil and I discuss things affecting the cattle market today including the weather, cattle numbers, prop 12 in California, the general economy, consolidation and coordination in the cattle industry and much more! 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!
128
July 17, 2023

128: Weston Walker - Ranching in Missouri

The heat, humidity and endophyte infected fescue found in Missouri and throughout the southeast present a real challenge to cattle producers there. Weston and I discuss things such as developing adapted genetics to your environment, calving window and other things that have helped him be a more profitable producer. Resources Mentioned: PCC Newsletters and Updates Stockman Grass Farmer Jim Gerrish Greg Judy Hand in Hand Livestock with Tina and Richard Man, Cattle and Veld Man Must Measure...