We have been into our big bluestem since 7/10/23. It is 12-18 inches and has not significantly grown any tonnage since May 15th. We are still on our first rotation. By this point in the year we would normally be well into our second pass. We have had some rain but it has only kept it green in the ungrazed portions. Grazed areas are germinating like crazy. Hope this week will keep the growth going. Good to see your place and herd are doing well. Wish you all the best.
My favorite videos are you out in the pasture walking and talking about the cattle, My goodness your cows look wonderful and the drought makes them more aggressive eaters. The true meaning of Mob grazing. It's as though they know there's a drought on and their going to get theirs before the next guy gets it. It is also heart warming to see how Issac has turned out. Besides his god given capabilities, he has been a tremendous student and seems to have absorbed so much of your teachings. Keeping Ike and Jackson really gives you some horsepower so you and Jan can leave the farms in their care and conduct other business, So in spite of the hardship of the weather, things are humming at Green Pasture Farms.
Thanks Mark for your comments. You are correct, our young team of passionate workers make a huge positive influence on our farm. It is rewarding to watch their growth in grazing management and see their confidence grow each day.
Research by the Missouri Agroforestry people show most cool season grasses do well with 40% to 60% shade. During 15 hour hot dry Summer days, having cool season grasses shaded for six to eight hours doesn't hurt, but helps.
We are getting plenty of rain here in The Finger Lakes region of NY this year. Last summer we were in a severe drought. I used the drought as an opportunity to sell all my aged ewes after the lambs were weaned early. I kept back all my yearlings that had their first lambs and kept all my replacement quality ewe lambs. I now have a very young flock and am rebuilding. Better to sell livestock than to buy hay.
You have done everything you can to keep your farm/ranch going and it looks like you are hanging in there. This winter is going to be a real challenge because the winter forage won't be there. Finding hay will be tough,too. Praying for you all to get some serious rain.
we've been in a pretty harsh drought for the past 5 years this years been cooler less wind but still not a tremendous amounts of rain. rotational grazing saved my bacon ever one of those years.
Greg, praying you all get some moisture! We finally got some down here in southern Missouri, got about 1” last night. Praying you all will start gettin some up there soon!
East of us about 30 miles received 1.75” yesterday. We are glad to have our .25” though. It really cooled things off which gives the plants some relief from our week of 100 + temps
It has been miserable hot for sure! All my ponds are pretty pathetic looking also. I am glad you all got 1/4”, when its this dry every little bit will help.
Just checked the radar here on the TN/KY line, and noticed in your area it looks like y'all got a good amount of rain around 1:00pm this (Saturday) afternoon!
I'm from California from the south land if everyone emplimebted this method with livestock im not a pro at this but I think it'll be a game changer Greg
You need to make sure that you keep doing things around the farm that make everyone call you crazy. As long as people are talking about you, this is a great sign. Make sure you keep doing things differently and you will be profitable on your farm. Plus, it's fun to see the look in their eyes when they drive by with an astonished look on their face.
The cows are looking great. If you don't mind me asking, in your grazing system on average how many acres are there per cow /calf pair throughout a yearly grazing cycle?
Greg, with hay prices already sky high and most likely to go higher due to the drought, do you have enough on hand for the winter to take you to next spring, or will you be buying more? If you buy more, will you buy from farther south where the prices are lower and pay the shipping? Does that pencil out to less per bale than buying locally? On the flip side, your cattle are handling the drought well so far and are looking great. Do you look on difficult times like this as a reason to cull the herd to the absolute best that you have? Sorry for all of the questions when I know it's so tough for you right now.
We have secured our winter hay supply several months back. It certainly helped to get them purchased early. Yes, we are using the drought to cull out animals and move forward. With each round of culling the remaining cow herd improves.
We have intensively managed Every pasture and every piece of brush and Creek bed and every last thing we can but if it don't start raining in the next two weeks we're going to have to turn off all pasture that we were saving. Management only go so far until the good Lord has to kick in we've got pasture that they haven't been on for a month and a half and it's grown back an inch
@@gregjudyregenerativerancher actually we did let go of a couple of Cows to have off-colored caves and are about ready to sell our first round of steers but you know we were praying for rain this morning and just got a blow-up thunderstorm and we're sitting on enough hay for 7 months with the CRP being released
The Lord will provide, you’re doing your part, he’ll do his. Are we free of trials and adversity? No. But faith moves mountains. Work like it all depends on you, and have faith to pray like it all depends on God.
Sounds like more risks and expenses to me. I prefer Greg's solution. SELL EARLY and know what your land can handle. Might be a good time to shop more lease opportunities (near home) when the land is suffering.
I know folks that some good genetics that have run out of forage on their farm. They have found other farms where there has been good rainfall and have grass. This can work fine if the hauling expenses are not to high.
Great video once again, but all I can see is the tremendous amount of high quality forage that your cows and especially the sheep would go nuts over. The problem is they can't reach it. You need to hand those fellas a chainsaw and bring some of that amazing fodder down to where they can get to it. My sheep go nuts over mulberry and locust leaves and prefer buckthorn boxelder poplar willow and wild pear leaves to nice green grass. And the most amazing surprise is they don't touch the cafeteria minerals other than salt while they are getting a decent percentage of tree leaves.
Every old time cattleman I know cuts trees for their cows during drought times. I've started doing it because I'm trying to cut all the fields back out and they love brush as much as good grass.
We have been into our big bluestem since 7/10/23. It is 12-18 inches and has not significantly grown any tonnage since May 15th. We are still on our first rotation. By this point in the year we would normally be well into our second pass. We have had some rain but it has only kept it green in the ungrazed portions. Grazed areas are germinating like crazy. Hope this week will keep the growth going. Good to see your place and herd are doing well. Wish you all the best.
My favorite videos are you out in the pasture walking and talking about the cattle, My goodness your cows look wonderful and the drought makes them more aggressive eaters. The true meaning of Mob grazing. It's as though they know there's a drought on and their going to get theirs before the next guy gets it. It is also heart warming to see how Issac has turned out. Besides his god given capabilities, he has been a tremendous student and seems to have absorbed so much of your teachings. Keeping Ike and Jackson really gives you some horsepower so you and Jan can leave the farms in their care and conduct other business, So in spite of the hardship of the weather, things are humming at Green Pasture Farms.
Thanks Mark for your comments. You are correct, our young team of passionate workers make a huge positive influence on our farm. It is rewarding to watch their growth in grazing management and see their confidence grow each day.
Research by the Missouri Agroforestry people show most cool season grasses do well with 40% to 60% shade. During 15 hour hot dry Summer days, having cool season grasses shaded for six to eight hours doesn't hurt, but helps.
Your correct. Shade also lowers the lignin in grass that grows under trees which makes it more palatable for livestock. It’s a win-win!
We are getting plenty of rain here in The Finger Lakes region of NY this year. Last summer we were in a severe drought. I used the drought as an opportunity to sell all my aged ewes after the lambs were weaned early. I kept back all my yearlings that had their first lambs and kept all my replacement quality ewe lambs. I now have a very young flock and am rebuilding. Better to sell livestock than to buy hay.
100% agree.
Thanks for the video! We just got .95 inch of rain last night. The grass is starting to turn green now. I hope you all get some very soon.
Me to, glad you got some rain
You have done everything you can to keep your farm/ranch going and it looks like you are hanging in there. This winter is going to be a real challenge because the winter forage won't be there. Finding hay will be tough,too. Praying for you all to get some serious rain.
Yes, we are good on the hay, already have it bought. If it does not rain, we will be selling more animals before the fall sets in.
we've been in a pretty harsh drought for the past 5 years this years been cooler less wind but still not a tremendous amounts of rain. rotational grazing saved my bacon ever one of those years.
Greg, praying you all get some moisture! We finally got some down here in southern Missouri, got about 1” last night. Praying you all will start gettin some up there soon!
East of us about 30 miles received 1.75” yesterday. We are glad to have our .25” though. It really cooled things off which gives the plants some relief from our week of 100 + temps
It has been miserable hot for sure! All my ponds are pretty pathetic looking also. I am glad you all got 1/4”, when its this dry every little bit will help.
Just checked the radar here on the TN/KY line, and noticed in your area it looks like y'all got a good amount of rain around 1:00pm this (Saturday) afternoon!
We got .25”, but it was certainly welcome. South of us the got 2” !!
I'm from California from the south land if everyone emplimebted this method with livestock im not a pro at this but I think it'll be a game changer Greg
Let me get this straight. My family insists that I'm the crazy one? Thanks, gentlemen. Good talk.
You need to make sure that you keep doing things around the farm that make everyone call you crazy. As long as people are talking about you, this is a great sign. Make sure you keep doing things differently and you will be profitable on your farm. Plus, it's fun to see the look in their eyes when they drive by with an astonished look on their face.
@@gregjudyregenerativerancher you're maybe the most wholesome person I've ever spoken to on the internet. Ever. Thank you.
Lovely condition cattle.
Will need autumn rain for winter stockpile.
Would be interesting to see
The neighbours grazing.
Wonder if sward is evolving to cope with dryer and hotter weather or is it not enough of a pattern yet
You don't want to see it, there is nothing, but a bare parking lot left. No rotation with continuous grazing absolutely hammers you farm in droughts.
I hope you got some of the rain that came though today
I'm in south Texas it's been over 100 everyday for 2 months straight... then we got a storm rain 🌩... and over night it looks like spring time 😊
Glad you got some rain!
The cows are looking great. If you don't mind me asking, in your grazing system on average how many acres are there per cow /calf pair throughout a yearly grazing cycle?
2 acres per cow per year is our average. But if you get in a long drought period, you must be flexible and be willing to sell animals immediately.
Your cows all look great considering this awful drought.
Greg, with hay prices already sky high and most likely to go higher due to the drought, do you have enough on hand for the winter to take you to next spring, or will you be buying more? If you buy more, will you buy from farther south where the prices are lower and pay the shipping? Does that pencil out to less per bale than buying locally? On the flip side, your cattle are handling the drought well so far and are looking great. Do you look on difficult times like this as a reason to cull the herd to the absolute best that you have? Sorry for all of the questions when I know it's so tough for you right now.
We have secured our winter hay supply several months back. It certainly helped to get them purchased early. Yes, we are using the drought to cull out animals and move forward. With each round of culling the remaining cow herd improves.
Another question, with the ponds getting low, will you take the opportunity to have Johnny extend the rock skirts farther into the ponds?
No, we will wait for the rains to come and fill them back up.
Still sitting on 2.45" since end of April here in NW macon county.
Hope you get some soon Brett.
Nice rain in Milan today.
Glad you got one!
Ear grasing cattle is soul music.
Did the cows you sold have calves go with them or, were you able to keep their calves?
If you are reducing makes sense to sell the pairs
The cow/calf pairs that are being sold on our website are from our friends in Kentucky.
It won’t stop raining here In Pennsylvania. Wondering when my grass is gonna start rotting away
I'm in southcentral Pa. We're not getting much.
Be careful about wishing that it will stop raining!! It might and then no rain equals a drought.
I'm in WV and we wish we could get some rain
We have intensively managed Every pasture and every piece of brush and Creek bed and every last thing we can but if it don't start raining in the next two weeks we're going to have to turn off all pasture that we were saving. Management only go so far until the good Lord has to kick in we've got pasture that they haven't been on for a month and a half and it's grown back an inch
Have you sold off the bottom 15-20% of your livestock herd?
@@gregjudyregenerativerancher actually we did let go of a couple of Cows to have off-colored caves and are about ready to sell our first round of steers but you know we were praying for rain this morning and just got a blow-up thunderstorm and we're sitting on enough hay for 7 months with the CRP being released
Greg those bales tripled in price since last year...Yikes! Wow 389 stout little bull calf.
I know you’ve been selecting for size, health and docility, but dang your cattle are getting pretty!
We aint laughing. We're feeling your pain with your drought. Hopefully you'll get rain soon.
The Lord will provide, you’re doing your part, he’ll do his. Are we free of trials and adversity? No. But faith moves mountains. Work like it all depends on you, and have faith to pray like it all depends on God.
Is it viable to truck cattle to wetter states for summer months?
A fraction of the herd to take pressure of the land
Sounds like more risks and expenses to me. I prefer Greg's solution. SELL EARLY and know what your land can handle. Might be a good time to shop more lease opportunities (near home) when the land is suffering.
I know folks that some good genetics that have run out of forage on their farm. They have found other farms where there has been good rainfall and have grass. This can work fine if the hauling expenses are not to high.
How are the sheep holding up?.
Sheep are doing fine, they handle droughts better than cattle do.
Great video once again, but all I can see is the tremendous amount of high quality forage that your cows and especially the sheep would go nuts over. The problem is they can't reach it. You need to hand those fellas a chainsaw and bring some of that amazing fodder down to where they can get to it. My sheep go nuts over mulberry and locust leaves and prefer buckthorn boxelder poplar willow and wild pear leaves to nice green grass. And the most amazing surprise is they don't touch the cafeteria minerals other than salt while they are getting a decent percentage of tree leaves.
We may start doing some of that in this persistent drought!
Every old time cattleman I know cuts trees for their cows during drought times. I've started doing it because I'm trying to cut all the fields back out and they love brush as much as good grass.
Definitely the driest I've seen your farm since you started your channel.
Johnny could add more stone when water is this low...
😊
Hay $60/bale in Va
Hay $60/bale in North Alabama. 2nd cutting delivered.
@@FreeAmerican-mm2my greg says 120-150 in Missouri, high
Yea I don’t know what size bales he’s talking about but 5x5 here in north Alabama is 55-60 dollars a bale
I was talking 5x5 net wrapped bales.
@@gregjudyregenerativerancher 5x5 in Va, $60
I can't believe the great condition that your cows are in! They are fat!!! lol AND HAPPY!!!!
Driest I've seen your farm
It was actually drier in 2012, but not by much.
Its amusing what you southern boys call a drought. If it was truly a drought, the grass would be brown. I see lots of green.
😊