Graziers Grapevine host, Cheryl Burns, visited Penn State’s Ag Progress Days in August and participated in the grazing demonstrations hosted by USDA-NRCS, including Managing Equine Pastures and Dry Lots and Managing Livestock Pastures with Alternative Forages.

This episode features discussion with USDA-NRCS Grazing Specialist, Geri Montgomery; USDA-NRCS Grazing & Equine Specialist, Suzette Truax; USDA-NRCS District Conservationist, Damian Painter; USDA-NRCS Grazing Specialist, Titus Martin; USDA-NRCS State Grazing Specialist, Brian Campbell; and two graziers, Lisa Nicarry from Berks County and Les Vough of York County.

In this episode of the Graziers Grapevine, host Cheryl Burns talks with Russ Wilson (Wilson Land & Cattle Co.) and Josh Greene (Greene Kitchen Farm) about their experiences participating in the PA Grazing Land Coalition’s mentorship program. PA GLC Program Director, Dave Hartman also joins to provide more information about the program itself.

To learn more about the program, visit: https://www.paglc.org/mentors/

In this episode, host Cheryl Burns talks with Brian Campbell, USDA-NRCS State Grazing Specialist about his role, grazing support throughout the state, and the importance of soil health in grazing systems.

Several references and sites mentioned during the episode include:

USDA-NRCS Pennsylvania Grazing Lands

PA Soil Health Coalition

Ray Archuleta, retired USDA-NRCS, and founder of Soil Health Academy

Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web School

Cheryl Burns talks with Mackenzie Strawser of Turning Point Land and Livestock Services in Herndon, PA and new Capital RC&D Grazing Advisor about bringing the sheep into the barn for the winter.

During the podcast interview Mackenzie references several websites, including:

https://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/smallfarms/winter-livestock-management

https://extension.psu.edu/care-and-condition-of-sacrifice-areas

This podcast was produced by Capital RC&D. This materials is based on work supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Assistance Agreement No. CB96358101) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund, which promotes community-based efforts to develop conservation strategies to protect and restore the diverse natural resources of the Chesapeake Bay.

In this episode, host Cheryl Burns sits down with Dave Hartman, the new Program Director for the Pennsylvania Grazing Lands Coalition.

In this episode, Capital RC&D Grazing Advisor, Donna Foulk, and Dr. Linda Quodomine D.V.M. have a conversation about equine parasites, research, and prevention.

Do you have questions about this episode, marketing grass-fed products, or grazing in general? Feel free to ask in the PA GLC Grazing Chatroom.

Guest host, Cheryl Burns, and Kayla Shughart owner of Center Cut Co. in Cumberland County, PA talk about how Center Cut Co. markets their sheep and poultry products. They also talk about Center Cut Co’s  new marketing collaboration, Honey Cut Tree, with partners Honey Bee Friendly and Rowantree Farm.

Do you have questions about this episode, marketing grass-fed products, or grazing in general? Feel free to ask in the PA GLC Grazing Chatroom.

Guest host, Cheryl Burns, continues speaking with Ann Basehore Starbard, author of The Dairy Goat Handbook, about preparing for and providing support to does and ewes during birth.

Episode 29: Are You Kidding? Part 1 is available here.

As referenced in this episode, here is the video Ann produced that details how to prepare for the birthing season and demonstrates the birth process.

Guest host, Cheryl Burns, speaks with Ann Basehore Starbard, author of The Dairy Goat Handbook, about preparing for and providing support to does and ewes during birth.

Episode 30: Are You Kidding? Part 2 is available here.

As referenced in this episode, here is the video Ann produced that details how to prepare for the birthing season and demonstrates the birth process.

This episode is a continuation of the conversation with George & Christy Lake about farming and family.