North Carolina

Beyond the Fence: 5 Keys to Successful Winter Adaptive Grazing

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:24:04 GMT

Adaptive grazing strategies and planning are essential for successful winter cattle management. Flexibility, continuous learning and tailoring practices to specific operations are keys to thriving through the winter season.

Rachel Gray of Little Timber Farms, Blackduck, Minn., and Johnny Rogers, North Carolina State University Amazing Grazing Program coordinator, were speakers on a recent National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) cattlemen’s webinar series sharing strategies they have used to get through the cold months and maximize profitability of their programs.

Rogers defines adaptive grazing management as a strategic approach using proven principles to meet the dynamic biological, economic and social needs of grazing operations.

“Adaptive grazing is a thinking person’s game,” he explains. “You have to think to do this.”

Little Timber Farms emphasizes adaptive, strategic management to overcome extreme winter conditions. The farm transitioned from a dairy and cow-calf operation to a heifer development focus, practicing extensive rotational grazing on more than 1,200 acres, utilizing cover crops, interseeding, and stockpiled forages to extend the grazing season.

(Little Timber Farms, Rachel Gray)

Gray shares insights from her Minnesota operation, where winter conditions are significantly more challenging due to extreme cold and heavy snowfall.

Gray and Rogers share these five keys for successful winter adaptive grazing:

1. Plan Ahead — But Stay Flexible. Start planning for winter grazing in spring and summer, evaluate pastures, take soil samples and develop contingencies (“Plan B”) for unexpected weather or feed shortages. Be prepared to adjust as weather, forage and herd needs change.

“Planning is key for successful grazing,” Gray says. “If you’re going to keep cattle out on pastures in the winter, you have to have a plan.”

2. Understand and Manage Stocking Rates. Regularly assess land carrying capacity and keep stocking rates slightly below it to maintain pasture health and allow for rapid response to winter challenges.

Rogers shares research showing as cow size increases, the percentage of body weight weaned typically decreases. In a North Carolina survey, the average cow weighed 1,380 lb., suggesting producers should carefully consider cow size and its impact on operational efficiency.

(Photo provided by Johnny Rogers)

3. Prioritize Nutrient Distribution and Soil Health. Use adaptive practices like strip grazing, bale grazing and rotational movement to distribute nutrients, reduce waste and improve soil vitality.

“Every dollar a cow consumes in her mouth, she’s going to deposit about 85¢ of that dollar somewhere out there on your farm,” Rogers says.

4. Invest in Flexible Infrastructure. Reliable, easily moved water sources, portable windbreaks and temporary fencing empower quick adaptation to changing winter conditions. Good infrastructure supports cattle health and flexible grazing management in severe weather.

(Rogers Cattle Co.)

5. Select Cattle and Practices to Fit Your Operation. Choose livestock and grazing systems suited to your environment, resources and lifestyle — consider animal type, forage availability and family needs. Be willing to evolve your system as you learn what works best.

“It’s okay to base a decision on what’s going on in your life,” Gray explains. “Make them fit you, not you fit them.”

Bale grazing was one innovative strategy Rogers mentions. This method involves strategically placing hay bales in pastures and moving cattle through them, which offers several advantages:

Labor savings
Better nutrient distribution
Reduced equipment traffic in pastures
Potential for improving soil diversity

(Little Timber Farms, Rachel Gray)

Gray explains five adaptive techniques she uses:

Rotational grazing
Cover crop interseeding
Portable windbreaks
Careful bale distribution
Strategic bedding practices

She also shares a compelling example of adaptability when drought forced her family to relocate 600 cattle in August and completely restructure their feeding strategy. This experience underscores the importance of having contingency plans.

“The most expensive words in ranching are: We’ve always done it that way,” Gray stresses.

Throughout the webinar, a recurring message was the importance of a flexible mindset — embracing new technology, learning from experience, adapting tradition and sharing knowledge. Gray’s and Rogers’ stories illustrate successful winter grazing requires resilience, innovation and a readiness to revise plans as conditions demand.

Hay Donated by Illinois Farmer Makes its Way to North Carolina

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 17:34:16 GMT

Through a generous donation from an Illinois farmer, trucks full of round bale alfalfa hay have been making a 700-mile trip to North Carolina to provide relief for farmers and ranchers affected by Hurricane Helene. Midwest Food Bank (MFB), founded in 2003 on the Kieser family farm in rural McLean County, Ill., is coordinating the transportation efforts.

CEO Eric Hodel says MFB has always been involved in disaster relief and typically provides food, water, supplies and family food boxes when the need arises. A hay donation wasn’t something he was expecting, but MFB got right to work making sure it could be put to good use.

“I was working on our family farm earlier this fall and received a call from a neighbor who had seen the loss people in the Southeast were experiencing and wanted to donate about 600 bales of hay to the people affected by the storm,” Hodel says.

MFB reached out to the North Carolina Farm Bureau and North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association to find out how best to put the donation to use.

“We quickly learned that this donation was going to be a huge blessing to those farmers and ranchers who have lost all of their hay and forage for the year,” Hodel says.

MFB had a donor and a place to take the hay; now, they needed to figure out the logistics.

“That’s a little bit of our operating mode — saying yes, then figuring it out from there,” Hodel says.

MFB currently distributes nearly $500 million worth of food to more than 2,400 non-profit organizations in 12 locations in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Texas, New England, Haiti and East Africa, and has its own fleet of trucks. However, it doesn’t have flatbed trailers to haul hay. Through phone calls to area farmers and businesses, they were able to identify trailers and volunteers who were willing to deliver the hay.

“We’re hauling 17 bales at a time and should be right around halfway done at Thanksgiving,” Hodel says. “I just knew the first load was the key load to get there because we would learn a lot.”

Volunteers have been helping secure hay loads and make the 700-mile trip to North Carolina.

(Midwest Food Bank)

The combined efforts have been making a difference.

“It’s a ripple effect of everybody doing their part to help,” Hodel says. “From the person that donated the hay to some neighbors that are helping with loading of the hay and making sure that it gets strapped down correctly, and our local grain elevator allowing us to use its facility to park our trailers once we get them loaded, it’s been a group effort. We have also had donations for the fuel it takes to make these trips.”

Each truckload of hay costs approximately $1,500 in fuel. Donations for fuel costs can be made at midwestfoodbank.org/relief .

The WNC Livestock Exchange (WNCLE), located in Canton, N.C., has been at the center of receiving hay and other donations for those affected in western North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Stockyard manager Dan Messer has been working with MFB.

“Almost immediately after the hurricane, calls to help and loads of hay and supplies were coming in,” Messer says. “It was all unsolicited. The donations just started coming.”

WNCLE has been at the center for getting hay, feed, fencing and even human supplies out.

“This help has been huge because we lost probably six weeks of the fall grazing in places due to silt, landslides, flooding and downed trees,” Messer says. “A lot of times we can graze clear up to Thanksgiving or after on stockpiled grass, and having lost that the end of September, people are having to start feeding hay or sell out.”

A farmer in North Carolina receives a load of hay delivered by Midwest Food Bank.

(Midwest Food Bank)

Messer says as an auction yard, it’s important to keep people in the cattle business.

“We’re trying to get help to as many as we can,” he says. “Getting them feed, fencing supplies and hay to help them stay in business is our goal.”

Your next read: When Can Producers Start Grazing Wheat Pasture?

Producer Resources for Hurricane Helene Relief

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 17:43:27 GMT

As farmers and ranchers impacted by Hurricane Helene and the floods following begin assessing damages and loss, resources are available to help. The Category 4 hurricane affects producers across the Southeast from Florida northward into the Appalachians. Below is a list of resources for cattlemen and women to give and seek aide.

Florida
The Florida Cattlemen’s Association is collecting donations through their Florida Cattlemen’s Foundation: https://fca.memberclicks.net/foundationdonation#!/

For those wanting to donate to relief funds via check, please mail to:
Florida Cattlemen’s Foundation
Hurricane Helene Relief
P.O. Box 421929
Kissimmee, FL 34742-199

Georgia
To support Georgia cattle producers, donations can be sent via mail to:
Georgia Cattlemen’s Association
100 Cattlemen’s Dr.
Macon, GA 31220
Contact Georgia Cattlemen’s Association at (478)-474-6560 or gca@gabeef.org.

The Georgia Cattlemen’s Association is asking for donations of fencing materials. More information can be found on their Facebook page.

North Carolina
The North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association has asked for donations by check:
NC Cattlemen’s Association
2228 N Main Street
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Memo- Hurricane Helene Response

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture has asked for donations to be made to:
• The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund: https://pay.payitgov.com/ncdonations
• Red Cross - North Carolina Region: https://www.redcross.org/local/north-carolina.html

Tennessee
The following resources were compiled by the Southeast TN Young Farmers.

Appalachian Sustainable Development has an extensive list of resources:
https://www.asdevelop.org/hurricane-helene-emergency.../

RAFI also has great information:
https://www.rafiusa.org/blog/helene-disaster-support/

For those of us outside the area that want to help:

UT is putting together a list of people who can house and transport livestock for those in need. If this is something you can help with please fill out the form below:
https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSc3Wd5LujFedW.../viewform

For those wanting to offer hands-on assistance... Blue Ridge Women in Ag, based in Boone, is organizing a farm recovery volunteer corps. Here’s the sign up sheet:
https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSf6K4HCqmSRrm.../viewform

Also if you want to donate money specifically to farmer support, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project is still taking stock and checking in on farmers but will be offering farmer support into the future. https://asapconnections.org/donate

USDA Assistance
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also reminds communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses in the path of Hurricane Helene that USDA has programs that provide assistance in the wake of disasters. USDA staff in the regional, state and county offices stand ready and are eager to help.

USDA partnered with FEMA and other disaster-focused organizations and created the Disaster Resource Center . This central source of information utilizes a searchable knowledge base of disaster-related resources powered by agents with subject matter expertise. The Disaster Resource Center website and web tool now provide an easy access point to find USDA disaster information and assistance. USDA also developed a disaster assistance discovery tool specifically targeted to rural and agricultural issues. The tool walks producers through five questions that generate personalized results identifying which USDA disaster assistance programs can help them recover from a natural disaster.

USDA also encourages residents and small businesses in impact zones to contact a local USDA office to determine which assistance programs might meet their individual needs.

NCBA Relief Resources
As more information becomes available, please visit our website for more resources and ways to assist at ncba.org/producers/disaster-relief-resource s.

Crimes Against Livestock On The Rise

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:30:39 GMT

Ranchers are reporting a rash of senseless and cruel cattle shootings this year. A Utah official says at least 19 head have been killed in the state since April. Last week a $20,000 reward was announced by the Central Utah Cattlemen’s Association for information regarding the shooting of five cattle owned by a Mayfield rancher.

In North Carolina, four pregnant Angus cows were fatally shot in late July near Waxhaw, the Charlotte Observer reported.

In South Dakota, four Charolais cattle were shot the first week of August in Brookings County, the Brookings Register reported.

Last spring, two cows were shot and killed with a bow and arrow in Wagoner County, Oklahoma.

“This is senseless killing, and it needs to stop,” rancher Eric Lyman, who lost cows in Utah, told the Sanpete Messenger . “We’re willing to pay rewards, and we just ask people to keep their eyes open and report anything that looks funny to the authorities.”

Russell Faatz, who ranches near Manti, Utah, said, “This year, the shootings have really picked up. If people need the meat, that’s one thing, but to let it sit there and rot, that’s just stupid.”

Last October, another Utah rancher, Mark Mecham lost a prized Longhorn bull and Angus steer calf that were shot to death. In April, Ephraim rancher Tom Lund discovered five of his sheep dead and left to rot in a pasture. The Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the sheep to have died from gunshot wounds.

Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Industry Director Leann Hunting told the Messenger since April, 19 Utah livestock animals have died in their fields by gunshot. She said all of the cases she referenced have remained unsolved, but that “it’s hard to believe they were stray bullets.”

Plastic Found in Ground Beef Forces JBS to Recall 35,000 lb. of Meat

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:24:25 GMT

JBS USA has recalled approximately 35,464 lb. of raw ground beef following the finding of hard plastic in contaminated beef. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) made the announcement on May 2 following the discovery.

The ground beef was produced at the JBS USA case ready fresh meat processing facility in Lenoir, NC, on March 22.

JBS was made aware of the problem following the complaint of a consumer who found pieces of hard, blue colored plastic in some ground beef.

Products included in the recall were primarily Kroger branded products along with All Natural Laura’s Lean Beef and some Angus branded products.

The beef in the recall bears the establishment number “EST. 34176” inside the USDA mark of inspection. Beef was shipped from distribution centers in Virginia and Indiana.

No other problems have been reported and there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions from eating the products.

However, FSIS is concerned that possibly contaminated ground beef might have been frozen after purchase. If any products bear the following labels it should be thrown out or returned to the store it was purchased at:

3-lb. tray packages containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF 73% LEAN - 27% FAT” with product code 95051, UPC: 011110975645, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF 80% LEAN - 20% FAT” with product code 95052, UPC: 011110969729, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
3-lb. tray packages containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF 80% LEAN – 20% FAT” with product code 95053, UPC of 011110969705, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “PRIVATE SELECTION ANGUS BEEF 80% LEAN - 20% FAT GROUND CHUCK” with product code 95054, UPC: 011110971395, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF 85% LEAN – 15% FAT” with product code 95055, UPC: 011110969682, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “Kroger GROUND SIRLOIN 90% LEAN – 10% FAT GROUND BEEF” and product code 95056, UPC: 011110975638, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “ALL NATURAL LAURA’S LEAN BEEF 92% LEAN 8% FAT GROUND BEEF” with product code 95057, UPC: 612669316714, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “ALL NATURAL LAURA’S LEAN BEEF 96% LEAN 4% FAT GROUND BEEF” with product code 95058, UPC: 612669317063, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “PRIVATE SELECTION ANGUS BEEF 90% LEAN – 10% FAT GROUND SIRLOIN” with product code 95063, UPC: 011110969637 and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN – 7% FAT” with product code 95064, UPC: 01111096920, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
15-lb. cases containing “JBS Ground Beef Angus Chuck 80% Lean 20% Fat Service Case” with Case UPC: 0040404800632 and a “Sell By: 9.APRIL.”
15-lb. cases containing “Ground Beef Angus Sirloin 90% Lean 10% Fat Service Case” Case UPC: 0040404800634, and a “Sell By: 9.APRIL.”

The recall is being categorized as a “Class II” recall by FSIS meaning it poses a health hazard with remote probability of adverse health consequences should the product be consumed.

North Carolina: Beef Cattle Field Day set for Mountain Research Station

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:09:38 GMT

North Carolina’s annual Beef Cattle Field Day takes place July 18 at the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville. The event, designed for cattle producers and those interested in cattle production, will feature research-based educational sessions focusing on forage management, reproduction and nutrition.

N.C. State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association sponsor the field. It is free and open to the public.

The event starts with registration and a trade show from 8:30 a.m. to 9:20, followed by introductory remarks from Steve Lommel of the N.C. Agricultural Research Service at NC State and Sandy Stewart of the NCDA&CS’s Research Stations Division.

Field day participants will then have the opportunity to take part in three sessions, led by NC State scientists, on how to extend the grazing season, which steps are needed for successful reproductive performance and how to feed and store wet brewers’ grains.

Lunch takes place from noon to 1 p.m., then a panel discussion on different cattle production systems follows. According to Philipe Moriel, an NC State assistant professor of animal science, “The panel discussion will focus on what are the definitions of natural, grass-fed, pasture-raised, grass-finished beef production. It will be followed by a discussion among local producers about the advantages of each production system.”

Moriel says that the goal is to show producers that opportunities exist for each of the production systems.

The Mountain Research Station is at 265 Test Farm Road in Waynesville. Research activities at the 407-acre station reflect the diversity of western North Carolina agriculture, including field and forage crops, horticultural crops, Christmas trees, livestock and more. Directions to the station are available at http://www.ncagr.gov/research/MountainResearchStationWaynesville.htm .

Source: NC State University