Around the Fencepost

The conversation provides a comprehensive understanding of harvest stages and their impact on forage quality and animal feeding. It emphasizes the importance of matching harvest stages with the nutritional needs of different animals, particularly in dairy and beef production. The trade-off between feed quality and tonnage is highlighted as a key consideration in harvest timing.

Takeaways

• Harvest timing is crucial for optimizing forage quality and meeting the nutritional needs of animals.
• Understanding the impact of harvest stages on dairy and beef production is essential for making informed decisions in forage management.

Chapters

• 00:00 Understanding Harvest Timing
• 05:44 Impact on Dairy Production
• 11:22 Forage Utilization and Feeding

The conversation covers Brad Evans' farming background, transition to sheep farming, challenges in marketing and pricing, pork marketing, grazing cycles, pasture management, farm transformation, fertilizer use, input refusal, biologicals, succession planning, equipment, and temporary fencing. Key takeaways include the impact of multi-species grazing and the role of fertilizers in soil health. The conversation with Brad Evans from Cub Creek Pastures covers the transition to a new approach, balancing purity and practicality, direct marketing and market changes, engaging with customers and social media, future vision for Cub Creek, utilizing Tennessee Ag equipment, advice for young farmers, managing capital and equipment, and changing perceptions and ecological systems.

Takeaways

• Multi-species grazing
• Impact of fertilizers on soil health Balancing purity and practicality
• The value of gradual change

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Farming Background
• 07:42 Grazing Rotation and Pasture Management
• 14:13 Input Refusal and Soil Management
• 20:09 Equipment and Grazing Operations
• 25:37 Balancing Purity and Practicality
• 32:00 Future Vision for Cub Creek
• 38:37 Changing Perceptions and Ecological Systems

The conversation delves into the popularity and benefits of summer annual mixtures, Jaden Hardy's background and entry into forage systems, the role of summer annual mixtures in drought tolerance and forage quality, customizing forage mixtures to meet producer goals and needs, and the components of a summer annual mix and their contributions. The conversation delves into the benefits of diverse mixtures in enhancing soil health and improving forage production. It also highlights the importance of timing and grazing management in maximizing the potential of warm season annuals. The discussion covers common mistakes in forage management, the impact of mixtures on grazing behavior, and the future of summer annuals in agricultural operations.

Takeaways

• Summer annual mixtures are popular for improving soil health and forage quality
• Producers have different goals and needs when it comes to forage mixtures Diverse Mixtures Enhance Soil Health
• Timing and Grazing Management are Key

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Summer Annual Mixtures and Their Popularity
• 07:48 Understanding Summer Annual Mixtures and Their Benefits
• 13:05 The Role of Summer Annual Mixtures in Drought Tolerance and Forage Quality
• 23:39 Components of a Summer Annual Mix and Their Contributions
• 29:04 Success with Warm Season Mixtures
• 34:24 Challenges and Mistakes in Forage Management
• 40:01 Drilling and Timing Considerations
• 45:14 The Impact of Summer Solar Mixtures
• 50:26 Advice for Producers Trying Summer Annuals

The conversation covers topics related to the Mennonite community, family involvement in agriculture, the evolution of the seed business, and the challenges and opportunities in the agricultural industry. It also delves into the significance of social media in agriculture and the importance of sustainable farming practices. The conversation covers a range of topics related to agriculture, including the impact of army worms on crops, the development of new summer annuals, the use of millets and sorghum sudans, and the role of nutritionists in evaluating feed quality. It also delves into the challenges of farming in arid regions and the potential of high-sugar forage crops to withstand drought and insect pressure. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to forage breeding, plant genetics, and agricultural practices. It delves into the development of high-sugar forages, the breeding process, the history of Coffee Seed, and the significance of millet and sorghum in various regions. The discussion also touches on the impact of drought, the selection of forage products, and the potential of new plant varieties.

Takeaways

• Mennonite community and its varying levels of technology
• Family involvement in agriculture and the impact on the next generation
• Evolution of the seed business and the role of research and development
• Challenges and opportunities in the agricultural industry
• Significance of social media in agriculture and the importance of sustainable farming practices Army worms pose a significant threat to crops and require effective control measures.
• The development of new summer annuals, such as millets and sorghum sudans, offers potential solutions for crop production in challenging environments. Forage breeding involves the development of high-sugar forages with improved digestibility and tonnage.
• The breeding process for forages involves selecting and combining recessive traits to create new plant varieties.

Chapters

• 00:00 Significance of Social Media in Agriculture
• 26:02 Impact of Army Worms on Crops
• 32:30 Challenges of Farming in Arid Regions
• 01:26:57 Engagement and Communication with Coffee Seed

Brent Croom, a multi-generational dairy farmer and leading auctioneer, shares insights on family history, farm diversification, and the challenges faced by young farmers. He also discusses the auction business and the emotional aspects of estate sales. The conversation covers a range of topics related to farming, including the challenges faced by farmers, the impact of market conditions on equipment and land, and the potential opportunities in the cattle industry. Brent Croom shares insights on the current state of agriculture and the strategies farmers are using to navigate the economic landscape.

Takeaways

• Multi-generational farming requires diversification for sustainability.
• The auction business is a service industry that requires availability and empathy for clients.
• Young farmers face significant challenges in acquiring and sustaining agricultural operations. Resilience in Tough Times
• Market Impact on Equipment and Land
• Cattle Industry Opportunities

Chapters

• 00:00 Family History and Farming Roots
• 10:55 Diversification for Sustainability
• 22:05 The Auction Business and Estate Sales
• 32:42 Understanding Farming Challenges
• 39:35 Cattle Industry Opportunities
• 49:24 Economic Outlook for Agriculture

The conversation covers the lessons learned from building a drone business, the challenges and optimism in the drone industry, the business of selling goods and services, exploring new drone technology, and the future of drone technology with a focus on American-made drones. The conversation delves into the unsexy side of the drone application business, focusing on research, application, and understanding drone capabilities and limitations. It also explores battery management, the size and application of drones in agriculture, connectivity and range of drones, and the future of drone services and US-made drones.

Takeaways

• Drone business lessons
• Future of drone technology Drone Application Expertise
• Challenges of Drone Application
• Battery Management
• US-Made Drones

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Recap
• 06:10 Challenges and Optimism in the Drone Industry
• 17:03 Exploring New Drone Technology
• 22:20 American-Made Drones and the Future of Drone Technology
• 53:31 The Future of Drone Services and US-Made Drones

The conversation covers Casey's journey in agriculture, from childhood farming experiences to the expansion of his seed business and the adoption of drone technology. It also delves into the differences in soil and agriculture practices, the importance of customer relationships, and the impact on customer farms.

Takeaways

• Casey's transition from childhood farming experiences to a successful seed business.
• The significance of customer relationships and the impact on customer farms.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Purpose
• 07:19 Transition to Seed Business
• 13:08 Seed Sourcing and Customer Service
• 19:38 Guaranteed Analysis and Organic Products

In this episode of Around the Fencepost, Jacob Leach sits down with Craig Cohron to dive deep into modern agriculture, beef cattle nutrition, forage quality, and the real economic pressures facing today’s farmers.

Craig shares his journey from dairy production to beef farming and unpacks how his experience with Byron Seeds shaped his understanding of high performance forages. From forage sorghum and alfalfa to cutting edge forage blends designed for maximum digestibility and yield, this conversation highlights why quality forage is the foundation of profitable beef operations.

They break down:

• Transitioning from dairy to beef farming
• The economics of modern farming
• High quality forage for beef cattle nutrition
• Nitrate toxicity and prussic acid concerns in forage crops
• Innovations in forage sorghum and improved genetics
• How independent seed dealers can compete and win
• Standing out in a competitive agricultural marketplace

Craig explains how selecting the right forage varieties directly impacts weight gain, feed efficiency, herd health, and long term farm profitability. They also tackle common misconceptions about nitrates and prussic acid, and discuss how smart management decisions reduce risk while improving production.

If you’re a cattle producer, independent seed dealer, agronomist, or serious about forage based livestock systems, this episode delivers real world insight from decades of boots on the ground experience.

Subscribe for more conversations around farming, forage innovation, cattle nutrition, and the future of agriculture.

Keywords: beef farming, dairy to beef transition, forage quality, forage sorghum, Byron Seeds, cattle nutrition, nitrates in forage, prussic acid risk, forage innovation, seed dealers, farm economics, independent agriculture, livestock nutrition, regenerative farming, modern farming challenges

#BeefCattle #ForageFarming #CattleNutrition #ModernFarming #FarmEconomics #IndependentAg #SeedDealer #ForageSorghum #LivestockProduction #AroundTheFencepost

Inaugural Episode | Around the Fencepost Podcast

In this inaugural episode of Around the Fencepost, we sit down with Josh Baker, founder, owner, and CEO of Southeast Agro Seeds, based in Rome, Georgia.

Josh shares the real story behind his journey into the forage and seed industry, from growing up in Georgia, to learning advanced forage systems while working with dairy producers in Pennsylvania, to bringing those progressive ideas back home to the Southeast. What started as a vision to improve forage production in the region became a decade-long mission built on education, trials, service, and trusted relationships.

We dive deep into what separates Southeast Agro Seeds from traditional ag suppliers, including their laser focus on forage and cover crop systems, hands-on product trials, dealer education, and optimizing productivity on every acre, not just selling seed. Josh explains how real-world testing, dealer networks, and on-farm trials shape their product decisions, and why agronomic understanding matters just as much as sales.

This conversation covers forage systems in the Southeast, dairy versus beef production, cover crops, tall fescue, orchard grass, rotational grazing, pasture repair, compaction management, seed storage, and the realities of running a seasonal agricultural business. Josh also reflects on leadership, building teams, learning through challenges, and defining success through people, not just profits.

If you’re a forage producer, cattleman, seed dealer, or anyone passionate about improving land productivity through practical, proven systems, this episode delivers real insight from the ground up.

• Forage production in the Southeast
• Seed trials and on-farm testing
• Dealer education and service models
• Tall fescue, orchard grass, triticale, and cover crops
• Rotational grazing and pasture repair
• Building a values-driven ag business

Rome, Georgia | Southeast United States

#AroundTheFencepost
#ForageFarming
#SoutheastAgro
#CoverCrops
#PastureManagement
#RotationalGrazing
#SeedTrials
#Agronomy
#CattleProducers
#ForageSystems
#AgBusiness
#FarmPodcast
#BeefProducers
#DairyFarming
#SoilHealth
#GrassFed
#SeedDealer
#AgricultureEducation