In this Field Notes episode, Cal slows things down to share a simple way to think about soil health principles that actually sticks when you’re in the pasture. Instead of another list to memorize, this episode introduces CRADLE, a practical framework that organizes well-known soil health principles into something easier to remember and apply in real-world conditions.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why soil health principles are easy to understand but hard to recall in real-world decision moments
• How context shapes the way soil health principles are applied on different operations
• How the core soil health ideas fit together through the CRADLE framework
• Where disturbance, soil cover, diversity, living roots, and livestock fit within that bigger picture
• A simple way to step back and diagnose what might be missing when things aren’t working as expected

What CRADLE stands for:

• C — Context
• R — Reduce Disturbance
• A — Armor on the Soil
• D — Diversity
• L — Living Roots
• E — Embrace Livestock

Why listen to this episode?

If you understand soil health principles but struggle to recall or apply them under real-world pressure, this episode gives you a mental model you can actually use. CRADLE helps move soil health from theory into day-to-day decision-making — without adding complexity.

Looking ahead

Next week’s Field Notes tackles a listener question on low-cost corral options, focusing on what actually matters, what you can skip, and practical ways to work animals safely without overspending on infrastructure.

Thanks to our partners

Field Notes is made possible by the continued support of Noble Research Institute and Redmond Agriculture. Their commitment to soil health education and stewardship helps make these conversations possible.

More grass. Better soil. Happier livestock.
Keep on grazing, and we’ll see you next week.

Looking for Livestock that thrive on grass? Check out Grass Based Genetics

Visit our Sponsors:
Noble Research Institute

Redmond Agriculture.

Grazing Grass Links
New Listener Resource Guide

Provide feedback for the podcast
Website
Insiders
Resources
Community (on Facebook)
Check out the Apiary Chronicles Podcast

Original Music by Louis Palfrey

In Episode 201 of the Grazing Grass Podcast, Cal Hardage sits down with Jacob Morin of Target Angus and Le Paysan Gourmand in Quebec. Jacob shares how a college humanities class unexpectedly set him on a path toward regenerative agriculture and how he and his family transitioned a conventional cow-calf operation into a diversified, grass-based farm. Together, they discuss intentional grazing, winter management in cold climates, infrastructure decisions that make daily moves possible, and how direct-to-consumer beef, market gardening, and livestock diversification work together to support the next generation on the farm.

Topics covered in this episode include:

• Intentional grazing and adaptive decision-making
• Winter grazing and bale grazing in cold climates
• Grazing infrastructure: fencing, water systems, and daily moves
• Direct-to-consumer beef sales and pricing challenges
• Diversification with vegetables, hogs, and value-added products
• Transitioning family farms and planning for future generations
• Lessons learned from trial, error, and staying flexible

Why you should listen:
This episode is packed with real-world insight for producers navigating cooler climates, land constraints, and direct marketing. Jacob’s story highlights how thoughtful grazing, diversification, and intentional choices can build resilience—both in the soil and in the family running the operation. If you’re balancing tradition with change or looking for practical ideas to strengthen your grazing system, this conversation will resonate.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Target Angus
• Le Paysan Gourmand
• Salad Bar Beef by Joel Salatin
• Pastured Poultry Profits by Joel Salatin
• The Bold Return of Giving a Damn by Will Harris

Looking for Livestock that thrive on grass? Check out Grass Based Genetics

Visit our Sponsors:
Noble Research Institute

Redmond Agriculture.

Grazing Grass Links
New Listener Resource Guide

Provide feedback for the podcast
Website
Insiders
Resources
Community (on Facebook)
Check out the Apiary Chronicles Podcast

Original Music by Louis Palfrey

Adam Daugherty joins us from southern Indiana to share the story of how a few cows, some encouragement from family, and a willingness to try rotational grazing transformed his operation. Adam talks through the early days of partnering with his grandfather and great-aunt, the moment rotational grazing finally “clicked,” and how semi-permanent fencing, flexible water systems, and strategic winter feeding have reshaped his pastures. He also walks us through his approach to genetics, cow size, docility, and marketing calves directly to a feedlot rather than selling through a barn—plus what he wishes new graziers would know before they start.

Topics Covered

• Getting started with cattle through family partnerships
• How one brother-in-law pushed him toward rotational grazing
• Using fiberglass posts and high-tensile wire as low-cost subdivision fencing
• Building water hubs, temporary pipelines, and later upgrading to buried lines
• Using a movable tank and quick-connect valves for efficient daily moves
• How rotational grazing changed pasture health, weed pressure, and animal behavior
• Managing winter feeding with concrete pads and strategic hay unrolling
• Benefits of a sacrifice paddock—and why we shouldn’t be afraid to use one
• Buying and developing genetics within the family herd
• Managing docility and safety while working a W2 job
• Their marketing system: preconditioning and selling directly to a local feedlot
• Future plans: warm-season grasses, tire-tank siphon systems, and refining genetics

Why You Should Listen

Adam exemplifies the reality for many graziers: juggling off-farm jobs, limited time, and a desire to do better with what you already have. His story is packed with practical, low-cost ideas—from fencing to water to winter feeding—that can help new and seasoned graziers rethink their systems. If you’ve ever felt too busy to start rotational grazing or unsure where to begin, Adam’s journey will show you exactly how doable it can be.

Resources Mentioned

• Local NRCS & Soil and Water offices (mapping, design, & technical support)
• Graber Farm Supply (fiberglass posts & materials)
• Purdue’s Southern Indiana research farm (SIPAC)
• Daily Manufacturing bale unroller

Looking for Livestock that thrive on grass? Check out Grass Based Genetics

Visit our Sponsors:
Noble Research Institute

Redmond Agriculture.

Grazing Grass Links
New Listener Resource Guide

Provide feedback for the podcast
Website
Insiders
Resources
Community (on Facebook)
Check out the Apiary Chronicles Podcast

Original Music by Louis Palfrey