The South Poll Podcast

In this episode I share the recording I took of Greg Judy, Regenerative Rancher, talking at the 2023 South Poll Field Day. He covers A LOT of different topics from

-largest expense on a beef cattle operation

-weeds

-winter grazing

-leasing land- pro tips

-finishing cattle-are they finished or not?

-sheep in your grazing system

-soil life- dung beetles, earthworms and other soil biology

-drought- how to manage in dry conditions

and so much more!

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Profiles and links to the Guests on this Episode 

In this episode I talk with 4 of the break out session leaders from this year's South Poll Field Day to get their thoughts and opinions on

- The 15th Annual South Poll Field Day and Cattle Auction (Sept 22-23, 2023) - Debrief

-Growing trends they are seeing within the breed

-Untapped opportunities that some of us might be leaving on the table in terms of South Poll cattle

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Profiles and links to the Guests on this Episode

Get to know Josh Creech of Creech Farms in Albertville, AL. Josh and his father, Doug, have been raising South Poll cattle for 10 years and will be hosting the 15th Annual South Poll Field Day and Cattle Auction this year! Listen as we discuss:

-How the Creech's got into the South Poll breed

-What traits they were needing in a breed of cattle to help them be more economical on the farm

-How quality of genetics in your livestock matter

-And the South Poll Field Day!

To find out more about the 2023 South Poll Grass Cattle Field Day and Cattle Auction on September 22-23, 2023, please visit southpoll.com or click the link below

Are you trying to make a living in the cattle business? Then today's episode is for you! In today's podcast I talk with the creator of the South Poll Grass Cattle breed, Teddy Gentry. Folks may recognize his name from being one of the founders and the bass player in the band Alabama. While we don't talk music today, we do discuss:

-Why he decided to create the South Poll Grass Cattle breed

-What breeds he picked and why

-What makes a good cow and what he looks for in his own herd

-What makes South Poll cattle more economical than other breeds

You will also hear his mention he will be speaking at the 2023 South Poll Grass Cattle Field Day and Cattle Auction on September 22-23, 2023. To find out more about this event please visit southpoll.com or click the link below

In today's episode we discuss with Stoney Ware of 4th Quarter Ranch, host of the 2022 South Poll Field Day, what we can expect at the Field Day this year! Who should come and why will others benefit from attending. We go over the agenda, speakers and cattle auction plus all the amazing food being served this year! (hint: Louisiana is known for its seafood, right?!)   Below please find links to profiles and videos on some of the amazing speakers this year! 

Listen to James Foster's South Poll Story! James has been in the South Poll breed for a few years now and has been seeing big changes on his own 55 acre operation, in Groesbeck, Texas, by utilizing these cows to impact the land to improve his forage. Not only has he been experiencing positive changes on his farm and within his herd, but better yet, a film crew from London has been capturing the farm life of James and his daughter along the way!  He tells us how he is using this opportunity to bring awareness to the South Poll breed on an international level. James shares his experience with Brits hanging off the front of his UTV filming the perfect shot to him moving and watering his cow herd in his flip flops! Faith, Family and Forage is their slogan! Enjoy this fun episode! 

Listen to Rodney Craven's South Poll Story!  Rodney, a newly appointed board member, tells us how he got into agriculture and specifically the South Poll breed.  Rodney's family have been farming their land at Lone Pine Farm since 1918 but got into the South Poll breed in 2014 by purchasing fullbood South Poll bulls and utilizing the breed up program. He also shares about his personal experience with leasing farm land and his current cattle markets. 

Listen to Dakota Blank's South Poll Story!  Low input is one of his farm's focuses! He shares his transition into the SP breed with his breed up program and explains why he picked this breed over others. He goes into detail on his soil health practices and how he has been increasing soil OM and forage productivity on his farm by using animal impact, adequate rest periods and a little bit of seed!

Listen to how Stoney Ware of 4th Quarter Ranch in Roseland, Louisiana, grew up a city boy but started into the South Poll breed in 2018. He tells us what drew him to this breed, how he is building healthy soils on his farming operation and what he's selecting for within the South Poll breed itself. Lastly, as hosts of the South Poll Field Day and Cattle Auction this June 24th and 25th, he lets us in on a little secret to why Friday night at this event is going to be something special! 

I feel pretty comfortable saying that most of us who are listening to this podcast are soil health focused!  That's great and you'll love this episode and probably listen to it a few times!  In this interview with Ray Archuleta, we discuss the current status of our agricultural soils, what that means to us and how we as farmers and ranchers can continue to improve the vitality of the soils on our farming operations! 

Happy Grazing!!

Listen to our interview with Greg Judy from Green Pastures Farm in Clark, Missouri. Greg discusses a wide range of topics in this short and sweet interview! Some of the topics include regenerative farming, how to get AND keep a lease, the importance of fitting your genetics to your environment and grazing strategies, and how to start a farm if you are a young person!  So much was covered in a short amount of time! Enjoy!

Listen to part 2 of our interview with Bruce Shanks from Sassafras Valley Ranch near Belle, Missouri. Bruce tells us what the term second chance cow means to him on his operation, gives advice to new farmers on how he thinks is the best way to get into the South Poll breed and also shares his thoughts on making smart business choices in regards to farming. He concludes the interview with his cow costs per year and what others need to calculator and consider when figuring out that expense. 

Listen as we interview Bruce Shanks from Sassafras Valley Ranch near Belle, Missouri. Bruce tells us about his multi-species grazing operation, how he got into the South Poll breed and some of his culling strategies.  Bruce shares a lot of great information in his interview that we decided to split it into a two part episode!