The Art of Range

In this episode, host Tip Hudson speaks with Doug Poole, a third-generation dryland farmer in Eastern Washington's arid Columbia Basin, about his decade-long effort to reintegrate livestock into a cropping system that had largely abandoned them. Doug farms on just 8–10 inches of annual rainfall, and the conversation digs into how industrial row-crop agriculture — heavy tillage, anhydrous ammonia, and monoculture wheat — degraded soils that were once native rangeland, and why Doug believes biology and cattle are the fastest path to reversing that damage. He explains how he uses cattle to harvest diverse cover crop mixes, reduce input costs, and rebuild soil structure, while tackling the real-world barriers to crop-livestock integration: water infrastructure, cattle supply logistics, and cultural resistance among so-called "dirt farmers". Doug speaks candidly about the economics of the transition, the promise of virtual fence technology, and why he has no plans to stop. The Art of Range Podcast is supported by the Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission and the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center. Music by Lewis Roise. Visit the episode page at https://artofrange.com/episodes/aor-180-doug-poole-integrating-grazing-cropping-systems-rangeland-soil-health for links to resources mentioned in this episode.

Storytelling, direct-to-consumer beef sales, animal behavior, grass taxonomy, beavers, water, and wolves. Glenn Elzinga has tried to tackle it all raising cattle in the Pahsimeroi Valley and nearby mountains of south-central Idaho. Alderspring is a 100% grass-fed and certified organic ranch that’s been raising cattle on wild rangelands for over 30 years. Glenn, Caryl, and their seven daughters use herding movements they call 'in-herding' to optimize grazing effects as part of a healthy ecosystem. Glenn maintains a colorful ranch blog where he tells many of these stories. The Art of Range Podcast is supported by the Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission and the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center. Visit the episode page at https://artofrange.com/episodes/aor-179-glenn-elzinga-alderspring-ranch-grassfed-beef-wild-open-spaces for links to resources mentioned in this episode. Music by Lewis Roise.

Just when you thought you'd heard everything about virtual fence, another podcast episode comes along. But Dr. Flavie Audoin, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension rangeland specialist, may be one of the most importance "voices" to listen to on the strengths and weaknesses of virtual fence and animal geolocation technologies. She has been in the middle of much of the early vendor comparison work as well as experimental research on animal physiology considerations and environmental applications for remote animal location detection and control. Listen to this interview to learn about the mechanisms of virtual fence options, a comparison and contrast of features on offer, and current research on graziers can better manage wild, open spaces with a back-to-the-future approach to modern herding. The Art of Range Podcast is supported by the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center, Vence (a subsidiary of Merck), and the Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission. Music by Lewis Roise. Visit the episode page at https://artofrange.com/episodes/aor-178-flavie-audoin-animal-geolocation-and-virtual-fence-technologies for the transcript of this interview and links to resources mentioned in this episode.

Pastoral mobility is crucial for both the sustainable management of rangelands and the economic viability of pastoralism. It is key to livestock productivity, because it enables herds to reach resources that are unevenly dispersed across space and are often short-lived in highly variable environments. Pastoralists specialize in guiding their herds through seasonal grazing of a succession of these resources, taking advantage of the often unpredictable availability of nutrient-rich pasture. In this IYRP mini-episode, Dr. Mark Moritz, an anthropologist who has worked with pastoralists in Africa for several decades, describes the importance of mobility and how this is tied to the importance of access to land and water. These pastoralists’ rights are in jeopardy in many parts of the world, including from terrorist groups like Boko Haram in Cameroon. The Art of Range Podcast is supported by the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center and the Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission. Visit the episode page at https://artofrange.com/episodes/iyrp-february-mark-moritz-pastoralist-mobility-land-water-security for links to resources mentioned in this interview. Music by Lewis Roise.

"Archbold's mission is to build and share the scientific knowledge needed to protect the life, lands, and waters of the heart of Florida, and beyond." This quote from the Archbold Biological Station website describes well the impressive efforts of this large private research institute to integrate wildlife and ecosystem conservation efforts with ranch management. Ranches have also become increasingly important for water conservation. Listen to this interview to learn about innovative aquifer recharge and water quality programs paying ranchers for ecosystem services and coordinated by Archbold. Dr. Betsey Boughton has run Archbold's agroecology program for many years, and she is now the Director of Science for the station. The Art of Range Podcast is supported by the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center and the Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission. Visit the episode page at https://artofrange.com/episodes/aor-177-dr-betsey-boughton-ranch-relevant-ecological-research-archbold-biological-station for a transcript of the interview and links to resources mentioned in this episode. Music by Lewis Roise.

Gene Lollis has been managing the Buck Island Ranch for both commercial cattle production and research objectives for over 30 years. In this interview, Gene covers carbon life cycle analysis and eddy covariance sensors, meat packer politics, endangered bird species, Florida feedlot rations, rotational grazing, and national security. Welcome to a day in the life of a rancher. Archbold Biological Station is one of the largest privately-funded and operated ecological research institutions in the United States. Since 1/5 of Florida's land is in ranches, they recognized decades ago the importance of doing research on working cattle ranches. Archbold leased the Buck Island Ranch from the MacArthur Foundation for many years before purchasing it in 2018. Today, the ranch hosts numerous environmental research projects run by Archbold, including a LTAR site, and raises ~3000 cow-calf pairs per year. Visit the episode page at https://artofrange.com/episodes/aor-176-gene-lollis-buck-island-ranch-part-archbold-biological-station for a full transcript and links to resources mentioned in this episode. The Art of Range Podcast is supported by the Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission; Vence, a subsidiary of Merck Animal Health; and the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center. Music by Lewis Roise.

Why are rangelands and pastoralists vital to the culture, ecology, and economy of the world? Igshaan Samuels, a rangeland scientist in South Africa and co-chair of the IYRP Global Alliance, defines and describes these people and places. You will learn in this interview that pastoralists are the front-line custodians of over half of the world's land area! The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (2026) aims to raise awareness of these lifeways, the oldest in human civilization. Visit the episode page at https://artofrange.com/episodes/iyrp-january-what-are-rangelands-who-are-pastoralists-why-do-they-matter-igshaan-samuels to experience pastoralists caring for rangelands and to learn how to share these important people and places with the people you interact with every day.

Welcome to the largest cow-calf operation in the United States. Clint Richardson, a graduate of the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management, is up to the task, even with 45,000 beef cows to care for. Deseret Cattle & Citrus covers nearly 300,000 acres in central Florida from Orlando to the east coast. The ranch was a regional winner of the NCBA's Environmental Stewardship Award back in 2010. Listen to this interview to learn about managing high-production pasture, challenges in fitting animals to a harsh environment, managing lots of animals and people, and conserving habitat with working lands between DisneyWorld and Cocoa Beach. The Art of Range Podcast is supported by the Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission; Vence, a subsidiary of Merck Animal Health; and the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center. Go to the episode page at https://artofrange.com/episodes/aor-175-deseret-cattle-citrus-clint-richardson for a transcript of this interview and links to resources mentioned in the show. Music by Lewis Roise.

Liesa and Russell Priddy's JB Ranch was the winner of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association Environmental Stewardship Award for Region 2 in 2023. Most of us don't associate South Florida with cattle and predator conflicts. But the Priddys were the first to document confirmed panther kills of cattle in the region, and the growing panther population just north of the Everglades has caused local ranchers to begin taking stock of how to protect livestock where there are panthers in the pasture. Listen to learn about this unique environment surrounding the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and the ups and downs of ranching and critical environmental stewardship between the swamp and the hyper-urbanized Florida coast. The Art of Range Podcast is supported by the Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission; Vence, a subsidiary of Merck Animal Health; and the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center. Go to the episode page at https://artofrange.com/episodes/aor-174-florida-panthers-and-tough-cattle-rancher-liesa-priddy for a full transcript and links to resources mentioned in this interview. Music by Lewis Roise.

The Adams Ranch was the first to develop a breed of cattle in Florida for Florida, the Braford breed. This Brahman - Hereford cross could handle heat and insects and still produce desirable meat. In this interview, Mike Adams describes agricultural history in this subtropical wilderness of grass and how his family has shaped and continues to shape the beef industry in the Deep South, including innovative meat marketing and continued cattle genetics refinement. The Adams Ranch was the Environmental Stewardship Award winner in 1991 for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association Region 2. The Art of Range Podcast is supported by the Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission; Vence, a subsidiary of Merck Animal Health; and the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center. A full transcript of this interview and website links are at the episode page, https://artofrange.com/episodes/aor-173-mike-adams-florida-cattle-history-and-adams-ranch-brafords

New technology takes time to prove its worth. Jay and Chyenne Smith now have three grazing seasons' experience using Vence's virtual fence technology and they are convinced they will keep using it. Smiths initially used the Vence system to keep cattle out of the Moose Creek Fire burn area, thereby avoiding 2-3 years of non-use on the entire allotment (see episode 123). Since then, the other benefits of this animal tracking and distribution control system have proven valuable beyond mere exclusion. Be sure to watch the Life on the Range video of this project, linked here. The Art of Range Podcast is supported by the Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission; Vence, a subsidiary of Merck Animal Health; and the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center. Go to the episode page at https://artofrange.com/episodes/aor-172-vence-j-lazy-s-ranch-idaho-sequel-jay-smith for a full transcript of the interview and links to resources mentioned in this episode. Music by Lewis Roise.

Stephanie Larson and Mikie McDonnell encourage you to attend the Society for Range Management's flagship event in Monterey, California to kick off the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. Listen to learn about location, conference themes, tour options, and plenary sessions. Go to the episode page at https://artofrange.com/episodes/aor-171-celebrating-global-rangelands-pastoralism-srms-2026-annual-meeting for conference website links and a transcript of this conversation. Music by Lewis Roise.

Cattle growth goals and livestock use of large, topographically challenging landscapes have been at odds for some decades. Weaning weights went up, cow weights went up, and herd distribution on rangelands went down. Dr. Jim Sprinkle, an Extension beef specialist at the University of Idaho, has been doing research that is providing guidance on developing cows that do both, leading to herds that are more efficient on feed and graze hillsides -- the Perfect Range Cow. This has significant implications for reducing land use conflicts, particularly with riparian grazing concerns on public lands, but also profitability and sustainability of range livestock operations. The Art of Range Podcast is supported by the Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission; Vence, a subsidiary of Merck Animal Health; and the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center. Visit the episode page at https://artofrange.com/episodes/aor-170-dr-jim-sprinkle-perfect-range-cow for a full transcript of the interview and links to resources mentioned in the episode. Music by Lewis Roise.

Malnutrition should be defined as any diet that results in metabolic derangement. Few Americans suffer from lack of access to calories. But we are unhealthy, with metabolic and chronic diseases increasing steadily. These are true statements, but how we should respond to them individually and societally is controversial. Peter Ballerstedt ("Sodfather of the Ruminati”) earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Georgia and his doctorate at the University of Kentucky. He was the forage extension specialist at Oregon State University from 1986 to 1992. He worked in the forage seed industry from 2011 until 2023. He is a member of several national and international scientific societies, participates in related global initiatives, and is a Past-President of the American Forage and Grassland Council. Peter’s personal experience has led him to re-examine human diet and health. What he has learned doesn’t agree with the advice given for the past several decades. Peter is an advocate for ruminant animal agriculture and the essential role of animal source foods in the human diet. He strives to build bridges between producers, consumers, and researchers across a wide variety of scientific disciplines – increasing awareness of metabolic health and ruminant animal agriculture’s essential role in social, economic, and ecological sustainability. Peter has spoken at many different events in the US and internationally. Many of his presentations are available on YouTube. Peter and Nancy live in western Oregon (northwestern USA) with their three dogs, Conor, Noni, and Iris. The Art of Range Podcast is supported by the Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission; Vence, a subsidiary of Merck Animal Health; and the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center. Go to the episode page at https://artofrange.com/episodes/aor-169-peter-ballerstedt-metabolic-dysfunction-opportunities-eaters-and-graziers for a transcript of this interview and links to resources mentioned in the episode.

Chuck Jarecki ranched in Montana from 1961 to the 1990s, using grazing to heal lands broken by the plow that never grew enough to justify continued crop farming. He had success using the classic management tools: develop stockwater in places cattle don't like to go, graze the most preferred species moderately, and give grasses time to grow back before you graze them again. Chuck won't elaborate much, but what he says is worth listening to and he has lived out his brief advice, starting with instructions from his mentor, Don Ryerson, to learn with "your face in the ground and your butt in the air." The Art of Range Podcast is supported by the Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission; Vence, a subsidiary of Merck Animal Health; and the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center. A transcript of the conversation and links to resources mentioned in this episode is available at the episode page at ahttps://artofrange.com/episodes/aor-168-chuck-jarecki-ranching-your-face-ground-montana

Beni Paulson is a North Dakota rancher who breeds, trains, and sells bucking bulls. He also raises beef cattle and produces country-western music that is more western than eastern. He sings of what he knows. And he's learned a thing or two about grazing to heal pieces of the northern Great Plains that were degraded through cropping and overgrazing. If you've never heard of the American Bucking Bull breed . . . I hadn't . . . tune in to this interview. The Art of Range Podcast is supported by the Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission; Vence, a subsidiary of Merck Animal Health; and the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center. Go to the episode page at https://artofrange.com/episodes/aor-167-beni-paulson-bucking-bull-breeding-country-music-and-good-grazing for the transcript of this interview and for links to resources mentioned in the show.