Boosting Forage and Rebuilding Soil Health on Rented Land: A Cattleman Shares His Approach

Casual Cattle Conversations

Season 7 || Episode 02 • Do you want to enhance the productivity of your leased land for cattle production? CJ Blew will reveal the key to improving soil and forage quality, leading to more sustainable grazing practices from environmental and economic standpoints. Discover how the family members of Blew Partnership work together to rehabilitate leased grazing lands in Kansas. By implementing these strategies, they leave land better than they found it while building a thriving diversified beef cattle operation.

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

Resources:

Red Angus Association - https://redangus.org/

HerdDogg - https://www.herddogg.com/

Full Show Notes: https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/casual-cattle-conversations-podcast-shownotes

Free Weekly Resources: https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ranching-resources

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Once a month Shaye hosts Q&A calls between cattle producers and beef industry leaders to help ranchers find answers to their questions and improve their bottom lines. The best part is you get expert insight from the comfort of your own ranch and get to ask any question you want relating to the topic!

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