Grazing Gone Native Podcast

Join co-hosts Kyle Brazil and Jef Hodges as they interview producers, researchers, agency and industry personnel, sharing their knowledge about and experiences with native warm-season forages.

Episode 18

Episode 18 – Rob Cook, Director of Business Development for Bamert Seed Company provides an overview of Bamert Seed Company and takes a deep dive into range and grazing ecology, discussing matching the right seed to the right place, stocking rates and profitability.

Episode 17

Episode 17 – Atley Elliot of Caitlyn Farms in North Carolina discusses the grass fed beef operation she manages and how native forages fit into their system. She explains how they use cows as a management tool to create and maintain wildlife habitat.

Episode 16

Episode 16 – In observance of National Forage Week, Dr. Pat Keyser introduces the Grasslands Partnership and discusses unprecedented cost-share rates for establishing native warm-season grass forages and the value of perennial grass forages as carbon storage pools.

Episode 15

Episode 15 – Keith Tuck, Bedford County, Virginia discusses incorporating native warm-season forages into his grazing system and impacts on his bottom line.

Episode 14

Episode 14 – Trey Davis, Davis Cattle Company, North Carolina cow-calf operator talks about using native forages in their strip grazing system and hay production.

Episode 13

Episode 13 – Kirsten Robertson, South Carolina small ruminant producer shares her journey with grazing small ruminants and native warm-season forages. As a result of her grazing management, which includes native grasses, has eliminated the need for deworming.

Episode 12

Episode 12— Jason Smith with North Carolina Wildlife Resources Agency shares the results of a survey conducted of North Carolina producers who average 10 years experience haying or grazing native warm-season forages

Episode 11

Episode 11 – John Seymour from Roundstone Native Seed Company shares a seedsman’s perspective of native forages, talks about buying seed and establishing native warm-season grasses.

Episode 10

Episode 10 – Jim Grace discusses grazing and managing eastern gamagrass, as well as big bluestem and indiangrass as forages, providing 30 years of experience, mingling in some grazing management philosophies.

Episode 9

Episode 9 – Ron Locke, retired military, turned cattleman introduced native warm-season forages into his rotational grazing system in 2005. Ron shares his observations and experiences grazing NWSF in his grazing system.

Episode 8
Episode 8 – Dr. Pat Keyser, Director of the Center for Native Grasslands Management shares his 40+ year knowledge about establishing native warm-season forages.

Episode 7

Episode 7 – Steve Clubine, producer from West-central Missouri and retired grassland biologist discusses starting out with a grazing system and animal performance. 

Episode 6

Episode 6 – J.B. Daniel, Grassland Agronomist and Grazing Specialist with NRCS Virginia talks about NRCS programs that offer technical and financial assistance for planting native warm-season forages and set up grazing systems.

Episode 5

Episode 5 – David Haubein talks about transitioning CRP to grazing, grazing remnant native prairie, animal performance and soil amendments, plus more.

Episode 4

Episode 4– Drexel Atkisson provides his insight from 30 years of working with native warm-season grasses, the last 10 years as part of his overall grazing system.

Episode 3

Episode 3 – Dustin and Kelly Humphrey, cow-calf operators in west-central Missouri talk about their first time grazing native warm-season forages.

Episode 2

Episode 2 – Dr. Pat Keyser, Professor and Director of the Center for Native Grasslands Management at the University of Tennessee talks about the most common native warm-season forages and why a producer would consider incorporating them into their grazing system.

Episode 1

Episode 1 – Kyle and Jef layout the roadmap for the podcast and visit with Ronnie Holman, President of the BOD for AFGC.

Grazing Gone Native Videos

Video 17 – Tyson Claybo introduces Hog Mountain Farm and getting started with native warm-season forages.

Video 16 – Tyson Claybo discusses some of the benefits and challenges of native warm-season forages he encountered in North Carolina.

Video 15 – Josh Francis of North Carolina talks about managing native warm-season forages for hay and their productivity.

Video 14 – Jerry Jennings shows a 2 year old stand and talks about native warm-season grass resilience following an unavoidable circumstance which led to grazing shorter than recommended height and the impact of cool temperatures during the growing season. 

Video 13 – Steven Hickman talks about improved profit from grazing native warm-season forages.

Video 12 – Keith Schwinke talks about why his operation incorporated native warm-season forages into their grazing system.

Video 11 – Dustin and Kelly Humphrey talk about how their cows and calves bounce back from overwintering.

Video 10 – Dustin and Kelly Humphrey talk about their impressions from the first time grazing native warm-season forages.

Video 9 – Drexel Atkisson talks about soil amendments with native warm-season forages.

Video 8 – Drexel Atkisson talks about how spring and fall calving fit into his native warm-season forages.

Video 7 – Steve Clubine talks about the appearance and value of native forbs as native-warm season forages.

Video 6 – David Haubein talks about liming and fertilizing native warm-season forages.

Video 5 – Drexel Atkisson talks about the value of a diverse grazing system during a drought.

Video 4 – Drone footage of native warm-season forage in D2 drought from southwest Missouri.

Video 3 – David Haubein, a producer from southwest Missouri talks about native warm-season forages as part of his grazing system.

Video 2 – Drexel Atkisson, who operates a cow-calf and stocker operation in southwest Missouri talks about how incorporating native warm-season forages into his grazing system allows him to rest and stockpile his tall fescue.

Video 1– Drexel Atkisson, who operates a cow-calf and stocker operation in southwest Missouri talks about the economic impact native warm-season forages have on his operation.

Curated List of NWSF Resources

The book – Native Grass Forages for the Eastern U.S. – The comprehensive resource for all things related to establishment, management, and forage production of native grasses in the Eastern U.S. – a book by Dr. Pat Keyser.

• Native Grass Forages for the Eastern U.S.

Center for Native Grasslands Management at University of Tennessee:

• Center for Native Grasslands Management
• Native Warm-Season Grasses for Mid-South Forage Production
• Establishing Native Warm-Season Grasses for Livestock Forage in the Mid-South
• Grazing Native Warm-Season Grasses in the Mid-South
• Producing Hay from Native Warm-Season Grasses in the Mid-South
• Economic Implications of Growing Native Warm-Season Grasses for Forage in the Mid-South
• Competition Control in Native Warm-Season Grasses Grown for Forage in the Mid-South
• Using Prescribed Fire to Manage Native Grass Forages in the Mid-South

Native Warm-Season Forage Instructional videos with Dr. Pat Keyser:

• YouTube – NWSF Grazing Management – Full course
• YouTube – Competition Control in Native Grass Pastures
• YouTube – Establishing Native Grass Forages – Full Course

Native Grass Seed Vendor List (in alphabetical order):

• Native Grass Seed Vendor List

Beef, Grass, and Bobwhites – Grazing in the context of Northern Bobwhite management.  Although geared towards Northern Bobwhite, this publication contains valuable information for NWSF management and beef production.

• Beef, Grass, and Bobwhites

Establishing Native Grass Forages in the Southeast

• Establishing Native Grass Forages in the Southeast – PDF

Arkansas Extension – Native Warm-Season Grasses for Forage

• Native Warm-Season Grasses for Forage

University of Tennessee Extension:

• Native Warm-Season Grasses: Identification, Establishment, and Management for Wildlife and Forage Production in the Mid-South

Six Basic Elements for a Successful Native Grass and Forb Establishment – Roundstone Native Seed

Missouri Extension:

• Mixtures of Native Warm-Season Grasses, Forbs and Legumes for Biomass, Forage, and Wildlife Habitat

Identification of Native Grasses:

• Seedling Identification Guide
• University of Kentucky Extension
• • Forage Identification and Use Guide
• Which Grass is Which – YouTube Grass Identification Webinars – University of Illinois
  • YouTube – Basics of Grass and Woodland Identification – Which Grass is Which
  • YouTube – Warm-Season Grasses – Which Grass is Which
  • YouTube – Nuisance Grass Identification – Which Grass is Which
  • YouTube – Prairie Grass – Which Grass is Which
  • YouTube – Cool-season Grasses – Which Grass is Which