e128. Reducing Labor to Ranch More Efficiently with Tom Krawiec

e128. Reducing Labor to Ranch More Efficiently with Tom Krawiec

Author: Grazing Grass August 7, 2024 Duration: 1:05:50

Is it possible to revolutionize your ranching practices with minimal labor and maximum efficiency? Join us as we explore the journey of a dedicated grass management enthusiast who expanded a custom grazing operation to 3,000 head with processes so simple, even a 12-year-old could manage them. We'll share stories of overcoming water shortages, the importance of community support within the Grazing Grass Facebook group, and how a newly developed grazing chart in Google Sheets can be a game-changer for managing graze and rest periods effectively.

In this episode, we dive into the holistic approach to grazing management that brings together various livestock species into one harmonious mob. By combining cattle, ewes, lambs, hogs, and horses, labor is significantly reduced, and soil health is enhanced. We'll discuss strategies like installing pipelines to eliminate water hauling and creating permanent paddocks for easier livestock movement. Discover the critical concept of grazing in the "sweet spot" and why overly long rest periods can be detrimental to grass productivity.

We also explore specific grazing techniques, adjusting for environmental conditions, and the role of educational resources in enhancing grazing practices. Tom Krawiec shares his insights on effective strip grazing, winter grazing, and stockpile management in harsh climates. Learn how to balance forage quality and volume, the benefits of bale grazing, and practical adjustments for extreme weather. Tune in for an episode filled with valuable insights and practical advice that can transform your grazing management practices, reduce labor, and improve soil health.

Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Simply Ranching

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Grazing Grass Links
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Original Music by Louis Palfrey


There’s a quiet revolution happening in the fields and pastures, one that ties the health of the soil directly to the health of a farm’s bottom line. Grazing Grass Podcast | Rotational Grazing, Soil Health & Profitable Livestock Farming is a part of that conversation, sitting down with the men and women who are putting regenerative principles into daily practice. Hosted by Grazing Grass, each episode feels like a candid chat across a fence line, moving beyond theory into the tangible details of managing livestock on grass. You’ll hear farmers recount their own journeys-what prompted their shift in thinking, the logistical hurdles of changing their operation, and the outcomes they’ve witnessed in their land and ledger books. A recurring segment called "Over Grazing" digs into the specific problems and hard-won lessons that come with this way of farming. This isn’t just a science or nature podcast; it’s a practical resource built on shared experience, aiming to strengthen a community where knowledge about profitable, grass-based systems is passed along openly. Tune in for honest stories that get to the root of what it means to work with the land.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Grazing Grass Podcast | Rotational Grazing, Soil Health & Profitable Livestock Farming
Podcast Episodes
199. Soil-First Grazing and Earned Efficiency with Rachel Bouressa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:30
Rachel Bouressa of Bouressa Family Farm joins us from central Wisconsin, where she’s a fifth-generation farmer and second-generation grazier managing 120 acres with a soil-first mindset. After returning home following a…
198. Adding Wildlife Income Streams to Your Ranch with Doug Jobes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:10
Today’s episode features Doug Jobes, Regenerative Ranching Advisor at the Noble Research Institute, whose background spans rural Georgia agriculture, the 75th Ranger Regiment, wildlife science, and rangeland ecology. Dou…
197. Silvopasture in the Real World with Austin Unruh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:51
Austin Unruh returns for another deep, practical conversation on silvopasture — this time focusing on “the dip,” livestock pressure, pruning, shade strategy, pigs and poultry in tree systems, and what to do in Year Zero…
195. South Poll Field Day Special: Real Ranchers, Real Results [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01:58
In this special in-person episode recorded at the South Poll Field Day, Cal sits down with some of the biggest names connected to the South Poll breed and regenerative grazing movement — Teddy Gentry, Greg Judy, Ralph &…
193. Building Intentional Farms from Neglected Land with Stan Oller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:03
Stan and his wife began farming in 2021 after adopting four children and realizing they wanted to raise them with meaningful work and stewardship. Starting with neglected, junk-filled land, they’ve built a regenerative,…
192. Fitness Meets Farming in the Ottawa Valley with Adam Phomin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:16
In this episode, Cal talks with Adam Phomin from Hoof and Beak Farm in eastern Ontario, Canada. Adam shares his journey from fitness coach and gym owner to regenerative farmer, raising sheep, cattle, chickens, and llamas…