Dave Pratt is one of the most respected and sought-after authorities on sustainable ranching in North America. The former owner of Ranch Management Consultants, Dave has taught Ranching For Profit Schools in the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Africa. His programs have benefited thousands of families and millions of acres around the world. Dave has a reputation for helping people get to the heart of the problem and find win-win solutions.
Linda Poole is a rancher of fine-wool sheep in Montana and also the Regenerative Grazing Specialist for the Soil for Water program of the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). Linda's love of working wildlands began with riding horseback at her family's Eastern Washington ranch. She earned a Master of Science in wildlife ecology from Oregon State University and has managed The Nature Conservancy's 60,000-acre Matador Grassbank in Montana. Linda works with family ranchers to use holistic principles and appropriate strategies to produce healthy food, fiber, and families. And to think differently about grazing and wildlife. Conni French, a nearby cattle rancher, will join Linda for today's discussion.
Joel is the editor/publisher of GRAZE, the magazine devoted to management-intensive rotational grazing and family-scale livestock farm. He also raises beef cattle, sheep, and dairy heifers on his farm in Wisconsin. In each GRAZE issue, Joel writes an opinion column about the world of grazing and forages. And that’s what we’ll discuss: what is happening in today’s world, new developments, emerging challenges to graziers, things to watch.
Today we will talk about virtual fencing. David Stevens, Ph.D., will join us from New Zealand. He is a Senior Scientist for AgResearch at the Invermay Research Station on the South Island. He's currently working on ways to replace traditional fencing by using wireless sensors to confine cattle, sheep, and deer on pastures. This is breakthrough technology -- once the dreams of sci-fi. David has also done research on many topics, including pasture management, resilient farms, and virtual fencing. Join us for an electrifying discussion.
Doug Avery is a legend. His 6,000-acre Bonavaree Farm in the eastern Marlborough area of New Zealand runs 6,000 ewes and 2,500 cattle in 400 paddocks. But times haven’t always been good. Doug’s famous book “The Resilient Farmer,” tells his story of coping with an 8-year drought, low prices, explosive winds, three earthquakes – of how a farmer can survive and thrive by changing, trying new forages, and adapting to stress. Join us for an unforgettable session.
Doug Avery is a legend. His 6,000-acre Bonavaree Farm in the eastern Marlborough area of New Zealand runs 6,000 ewes and 2,500 cattle in 400 paddocks. But times haven’t always been good. Doug’s famous book “The Resilient Farmer,” tells his story of coping with an 8-year drought, low prices, explosive winds, three earthquakes – of how a farmer can survive and thrive by changing, trying new forages, and adapting to stress. Join us for an unforgettable session.
Wendy Millet is the director of TomKat Ranch in northern California. This ranch has the educational mission to raise healthy food in a way that regenerates the planet and inspires others to action. She directs the ranch’s programs in regenerative ranching, science, and conservation, and food systems change. Wendy serves on the boards of the Western Landowners Alliance and the California Council of Land Trusts and is co-founder of Gallop Ventures LLC — an equine leadership program to facilitate human/nature.
Dr. María Fernández-Giménez is a specialist in rangeland and human ecology. Especially on ecological and social dimensions of rangeland ecosystems. María has conducted research in Mongolia, Spain, Morocco, and across the western US on community-based natural resource management; traditional ecological knowledge; pastoralism; gender and rangeland management; and the effects of grazing livestock on the structure and function of rangeland ecosystems. In 2016, María was awarded the Order of the Polar Star from the government of Mongolia for her decades of work researching Mongolia’s rangelands and how natural and human communities are adapting to ecological and economic change.
Adam Cobb knows soils. His Ph.D. research at Oklahoma State University focused on soil microbes. He recently moved to Oregon and works at Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web School. We’ll talk about regenerating soils, mycorrhizal fungi, deeper roots, grass genetics, soil health. And reducing costs. Join us for a great in-depth discussion!
Adam Cobb knows soils. His Ph.D. research at Oklahoma State University focused on soil microbes. He recently moved to Oregon and works at Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web School. We’ll talk about regenerating soils, mycorrhizal fungi, deeper roots, grass genetics, soil health. And reducing costs. Join us for a great in-depth discussion!
