Boosting Forage and Rebuilding Soil Health on Rented Land: A Cattleman Shares His Approach
Channel: Casual Cattle Conversations
Date: 2024-01-08

Hey friends! I'm back with another Casual Cattle Conversation. In this episode, I sit down with progressive rancher CJ Blew. He shares his story of building a cattle operation almost entirely on leased lands. CJ provides some great advice for improving grazing management and conservation efforts. We also dive into the challenges of working with multiple generations of landowners. A few key takeaways: - The importance of finding like-minded landowners who share your stewardship goals - Leveraging programs like NRCS to implement environmental projects - Drought preparation strategies including early weaning calves - Succession planning tips -  CJ's operation is a great example of how cattle can be used as a tool for land rehabilitation. Let me know what stuck out to you in the comments! Would love to hear your thoughts and experiences as well.

In this episode, you will be able to:

Discover how to find leased land opportunities that work in your favor.

Learn the crucial role of maintaining good relationships with landlords.

Become inspired to take on new opportunities.

Understand the importance of considering the wishes of the current generation when planning for the future.

Discover the starting point of rehabilitating grazing lands

My special guest is CJ Blew

CJ Blew is a seasoned cattle rancher from south-central Kansas, where he operates a family partnership primarily focused on a commercial cow-calf operation. With a strong emphasis on sustainable land management and conservation practices, CJ and his brother have successfully thrived on leased lands, which constitute the majority of their operational base. Their commitment to land stewardship is evident in their strategies for improving soil and forage quality through grazing, soil rehabilitation, and forage management. With a wealth of practical knowledge and experience, CJ's insights are invaluable for landowners looking to enhance their grazing operations and improve land quality on leased lands.

The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:02 - Introduction to Red Angus Cattle 

00:02:11 - Overview of the Cattle Operation 

00:07:19 - Grazing Practices and Calving 

00:09:11 - Land Rehabilitation and Partnerships 

00:14:50 - Connecting with Landowners 

00:15:20 - Regenerative Agriculture and Land Rehabilitation 

00:16:49 - Converting Crop Land to Perennial Forage 

00:20:40 - Learning Grazing Management 

00:23:10 - Reflecting on Past Decisions 

00:25:03 - Managing Risks in Ranching 

00:30:47 - Family Dynamic and Succession Planning 

00:32:22 - Challenges of Succession Planning 

00:33:46 - Generational Change and Land Management 

00:34:57 - The Epidemic of Inadequate Planning 

00:35:39 - Advice for Young Producers 



The resources mentioned in this episode are:

Visit redangus.org to explore opportunities through the Red Angus breed.

Head to the show notes to learn more about the RancherMinds program for ranch improvement and business development. https://www.herddogg.com/ 

Check out HerdDogg, a data analytics company that offers smart ear tags for cattle monitoring. Visit their website linked in the show notes for more information.

Follow @cattleconvos on social media and send a DM to connect and continue the conversation.

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