Allan Nation was not just a voracious reader—he was a master at distilling knowledge into actionable insights for pasture-based livestock businesses. In response to reader demand, 20 of his most impactful columns have been compiled into this book, each structured as a question-and-answer format covering both practical and philosophical aspects of grazing.

Inside, you'll find expert guidance on topics like:

• How grazing cultural biases may be limiting your success

• The financial benefits of following nature’s model

• The opportunities and challenges of grassland management

• The ideal sequence for profitable grass farming

• Proactive strategies for drought-proofing your operation

• How trees can transform your land and livestock health

• Thriving with lower per-animal production while increasing profitability

• What history reveals about the future of grass-finished businesses

And much more.

Hand-selected for their lasting relevance, these insights remain just as valuable today as when they were first published, equipping graziers with the tools they need to thrive in an ever-changing landscape.

As the visionary behind The Stockman Grass Farmer since 1977, Allan Nation has shaped the pasture-based livestock movement. The New York Times hailed the magazine as "the bible for people raising animals on pasture." With acclaimed books like Knowledge Rich Ranching, Quality Pasture, and Grassfed to Finish, Nation has been at the forefront of regenerative agriculture. Al’s Obs, 20 Questions & Their Answers marks his tenth authoritative book on grassland farming and the art of producing premium meat and milk products.

Review By : Joel Salatin

I think I've read 90 percent of what Allan Nation ever wrote, and this book, Creating a Family Business, From Contemplation to Maturity seems to contain most of his business wisdom.  Having done so many conference talks with Allan, I relished all the famous quips that would leave the audience in stitches.

If you've ever wanted classic Allan all in one place, this is it.  The stories of buying a bankrupt magazine, going into horrendous debt, the climb out of it, restructuring the staff, changing the theme are there in all their glory.  Allan was a master storyteller, and this book preserves the best ones in a way that only he could tell them.

Cobbled together posthumously by his widow, Carolyn, and business partner, Glinda Davenport, the book preserves Allan's voice for all of us who ever heard him speak.  It's like sitting down with Allan and enjoying his wit and wisdom all over again.  He referred to Glinda as his "corporate wife", which anyone who runs a small business can appreciate.

Allan traveled the world over, capturing the essence of successful family businesses.  Of course, no vocation has such a high percentage of "family" in its business nomenclature than farming.  Even in our industrial agricultural age, most farms are still family owned and operated.  With this vast experience, and using The Stockman Grass Farmer as his foundation, Allan has you laughing one moment and sobered-up-dead-convicted the next.

He talks about the hard stuff; cycles of life like youth and aging; maintaining margins with low capital overheads; diversifying the market portfolio for financial stability; experiments that failed miserably.

And everywhere, the "slog".  I've never used that term much, but since reading this book, I've begun to use it a lot, especially to millennials.  At our farm, we spend a lot of time with millennials, and if I could boil their weakness down to one word it would be "impatience."  Of course, if I could boil their strengths down to one word, it would be "honesty".

Allan looks at what he calls "the slog" from losts of different angles and it's incredibly helpful for old geezers like me to appreciate how long and difficult success actually took.  I've often told people that I'm not really that smart; I just would not quit, which enabled me to outlast others.  We all suffer from short memories and short attention spans, and Allan refused to give into that weakness.

Young people and business newbies must remember that success will not come until you're on the other side of the slog.  The sun will rise, but not after the night.  This is especially hard to appreciate for young people today whose impatience is unprecedented.  Next-day delivery, Google search engines, Facebook likes - it's a frentic lifestyle and expectation.  Allan hammers the slog principle home; that alone makes the book worth reading.

If you're in the slog, remember it won't last forever.  Like Allan, you can retire into the business, not out of the business.  I've heard true freedom defined this way: getting up in the morning and knowing that you don't have to do anything you don't want to do.  Allan achieved that, giving over the magazine's day-to-day operations to commission-based women.  He often joked that the way to success was to start the business and then turn it over to women.

Throughout the book, I found myself laughing one minute and tears rolling down my cheeks the next.  To realize that this level of insight, this mentorship, was gone from my life left me feeling acutely orphaned.  That Carolyn and Glinda have resurrected Allan, from his notes and essays, to offer such a great represention of himself is truly a gift for all ages.

I hope this book, which I think is by far Allan's best work, reaches far beyond the SGF family.  Of course, it can never be as meaningful to folks who have not walked, for years, through SGF pages with Allan,  But it stands on its own merits as a legacy book for family businesses, a true friend and compass from the written word. 

Are you missing out on America’s most in-demand farm product? Grass-finished beef is booming, with demand far outpacing supply. Health-conscious consumers are actively seeking it for its proven benefits in combating heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity. Yet, many producers fall short—harvesting too early, selecting poor genetics, and relying on subpar grazing methods—leading to tough, flavorless beef that drives consumers away.

Is grass-finished beef truly superior? Grassfed to Finish answers with a resounding YES! This book is the ultimate guide for producers dedicated to crafting consistently tender, flavorful, and profitable grass-finished beef—year-round, in virtually any North American climate with sufficient moisture. Done right, grass-finished beef can generate $600 to $1,000 or more per head while building a loyal base of health-conscious customers.

🔍 What You’ll Learn: 

✔️ Why grain is unnecessary—and even detrimental—to producing gourmet-quality beef.
✔️ The key differences between heavy stockers and finishing-weight cattle—and how to raise them.
✔️ Proven techniques to ensure tenderness and exceptional flavor every time.
✔️ How superior genetics drive carcass yield and profitability.
✔️ The latest research on the health benefits of grassfed beef.
✔️ Low-stress livestock handling methods for healthier, more productive animals.
✔️ How to transform cull cows into high-value gourmet products.
✔️ Understanding consumer demand and delivering exactly what the market craves.

Drawing from successful models in Argentina, Ireland, and New Zealand, Grassfed to Finish provides a blueprint for year-round grazing with a proven Forage Chain of grasses and legumes. It even explores how grazing green-leaf corn plants can yield the highest, most consistent finishing gains.

Whether you’re developing replacement heifers, finishing stocker steers, or making grassfed beef your primary enterprise, this book delivers a rock-solid foundation for profitable production and marketing.

💡 The grass-finished beef boom is here—but only those with the right knowledge will truly profit. Learn, implement, and set yourself apart as a leader in the gourmet grassfed movement.

In Today’s Cattle Market, Knowledge is the Ultimate Profit Driver

Never before has the commodity-priced cattle industry been more dangerous for the uninformed—or more profitable for those who understand the game. In an era of market volatility and rising costs, only knowledge separates the wealthy from the struggling.

In this groundbreaking guide, Allan Nation distills 25 years of insights into how real ranchers succeed financially—not just survive.

Inside, You’ll Discover:

✔️ How to Read & Profit from the Cattle Cycle – Timing is everything, and this book shows you how to capitalize on it.
✔️ The Secrets of High-Profit Grass Farms & Ranches – Proven strategies from the best in the business.
✔️ Building a Sustainable Family & Business Structure – Ensuring multi-generational success.
✔️ The Business Management Principles of Grass Farming & Ranching – The first book to break down the financial playbook for grass-based operations.

Who Needs This Book?

✅ Ranch Owners & Investors – Gain the edge to maximize profitability.
✅ Aspiring Grass Farmers – Whether you're starting fresh or shifting careers, this is your roadmap.
✅ Farm & Ranch Managers – Make informed decisions that drive long-term success.
✅ Anyone Focused on Profitability – If making more money with cattle is your goal, this book is your guide.

Don't leave your financial future to chance. Learn the strategies that separate the top earners from the rest—and turn your ranch into a high-profit enterprise.

The New Rules for Profit in Land & Livestock

Success in ranching isn’t just about working harder—it’s about working smarter. Today, the most profitable ranchers understand the game—how to navigate land, livestock, and lifestyle as separate but interconnected businesses.

In Land, Livestock, and Life, Allan Nation reveals the modern financial strategies that are helping grass farmers thrive—with less risk and more profit.

✔️ Why Leasing Land Can Be More Profitable Than Ownership – Reduce financial risk while expanding your operation.
✔️ How Young Farmers Can Get into Grassland Agriculture – Proven paths to build a business without massive capital investment.
✔️ The Smart Approach to Wealth Building – “First, start a business. Then, invest your after-tax surplus in deeded farm and ranch real estate.”
✔️ The Secret to a Sustainable Lifestyle – Lifestyle is the result of getting land and livestock decisions right—not the starting point.

🔎 Want to protect yourself from falling land prices while keeping your ranch?

📘 Order Land, Livestock, and Life: A Grazier’s Guide to Finance and gain the financial insights that separate the top ranchers from the rest.

Mastering the Art of Selling Grassfed Products

Do you know exactly what you're selling—and who your customers are?

For the first time ever, a marketing handbook tailored specifically for grassfed producers is available from Green Park Press and The Stockman Grass Farmer.

📘 Marketing Grassfed Products Profitably, written by Carolyn Nation, goes beyond the basics to show you how to make your products stand out and implement low- and no-cost strategies to increase sales and profitability.

🔎 Inside, you'll discover:
✔️ How to maximize farmers’ market sales – Turn casual buyers into loyal customers.
✔️ The secrets of successful direct marketing – Go beyond the market with farm stores, Buyers Clubs, and online sales.
✔️ Pricing strategies that work – Overcome price objections and communicate value effectively.
✔️ Building a brand that sets you apart – Leverage all the assets on your farm to create a one-of-a-kind business.
✔️ Practical, real-world examples – Learn from innovative marketers who have broken the mold.

💡 Marketing is the key to profitability. From database marketing to crafting a professional image in everything from invoices to customer interactions, this book gives you the tools to elevate your brand and boost your bottom line.

Allan Nation writes in the Preface:
"While this book was written by a woman with a female audience in mind, the marketing principles apply to everyone. Those of us in ranching can use these insights to become better marketers—and maybe even better partners in business and life."

📗 Get your copy of Marketing Grassfed Products Profitably today and start turning your grassfed operation into a thriving business!

Paddock Shift: Changing Views on Grassland Farming

Think Different. Farm Smarter. Profit More.

At its core, Management-intensive Grazing (MiG) is a thinking person’s form of farming—demanding strategy and vision over brute labor. In Paddock Shift: Changing Views on Grassland Farming, Allan Nation delivers a wealth of game-changing ideas designed to transform your beef, dairy, sheep, poultry, pig, or goat operation into a highly profitable and sustainable enterprise.

Stay on the Cutting Edge of Grassland Agriculture

Nation’s insights blend business acumen, history, philosophy, and practical farming innovation—offering fresh perspectives for those ready to challenge conventional wisdom. He showcases how graziers with minimal capital can build wealth while working in harmony with nature. Every chapter pushes the boundaries, providing real-world strategies that remain just as relevant today as when first written.

The Entrepreneurial Mindset of Grass Farmers

"Entrepreneurs are rebels who live on the edge of what exists and what is yet to exist," writes Nation.
"They take half-proven ideas, test them, refine them, and make them work. Read the biographies of successful people, and you'll see every one of them spent years doing it wrong before they finally got it right. Many fear this as risky. But the real risk is not living at the margin."

Are You Ready for the Shift?

✔️ Ditch outdated methods—break free from “how it’s always been done.”
✔️ Rethink risk—embrace innovation and step into new levels of profitability.
✔️ Design your ideal farm life—where your labor aligns with your passion.

If you’re ready to leave behind the status quo and step onto the edge of change, Paddock Shift is your guide. This book won’t just challenge your views on grassland farming—it will change them.

PA$TURE PROFIT$ WITH STOCKER CATTLE – Revised Edition

More Profit. Less Risk. Smarter Grazing.

The revised edition of PA$TURE PROFIT$ WITH STOCKER CATTLE by Allan Nation delivers even more powerful strategies to boost profitability while minimizing financial risk.

What’s New in This Edition?

✔ Animal health—key insights to keep your herd thriving
✔ Cash flow vs. inventory valuation—understanding the real numbers behind your business
✔ Running cows and stockers together—strategies for maximizing efficiency
✔ Determining the correct stocking rate—how to optimize forage and performance
✔ Finishing cattle on pasture—avoiding pitfalls and maximizing margins
✔ Mastering the commodity market—learn how to use it, not be used by it
✔ Running heifers, bulls, dairy beef calves & dairy replacements—unlock new revenue streams

Stockmanship Meets Economics

In this edition, Nation spotlights Gordon Hazard, a cattleman renowned for turning stockers into pure profit. With nearly 50 years in the business, Hazard has never lost money on stocker cattle—and he built an 1,800-head operation solely from retained profits.

This book challenges traditional beef industry thinking, backing up every insight with dollars-and-cents budgets—including a detailed plan for doubling your money in a year by investing in stockers.

What Readers Are Saying

📢 "Truly outstanding, something no cattleman should be without—at least if he depends on grass for his sustenance." — Livestock Weekly

📢 "Filled with good information on running a stocker cattle business, with insights that apply to any smart business management." — Small Farm Today

📢 "A neighbor loaned me this book. After 30 minutes, I knew I had to have my own copy. Getting started without a big debt load is exactly what my wife and I have been trying to figure out." — Mike Wahler, McVeytown, PA

Take Control of Your Profit Potential

If you're serious about making money in stocker cattle—without unnecessary risk—this book is your roadmap.

Quality Pasture – 2nd Edition

Updated Insights for Profitable & Regenerative Grass Farming

When Allan Nation first wrote Quality Pasture in 1995, he pulled from the best grassfed practices he encountered across Argentina, Europe, and beyond. At the time, North America's grassfed movement was in its infancy—pioneering but small.

Since then, pasture-based livestock farming has evolved dramatically. Some of the early ideas have faded, while others have flourished just as Nation predicted.

What’s New in the 2nd Edition?

Updated by Jim Gerrish, this edition preserves many of Allan’s original insights while integrating the latest research and proven strategies. Some chapters remain intact, others have been revised, and several entirely new sections bring the book up to date with the most effective pasture management techniques.

Essential Updates Include:

✔ What defines quality pasture & how to create it
✔ Forage testing—why it matters & how to do it right
✔ Pasture irrigation—maximizing productivity with water management
✔ Grass-based dairying—opportunities & best practices
✔ And much more

Whether you're a seasoned grazier or just starting out, this updated edition offers a practical, science-backed guide to building and managing high-quality, intensively grazed pastures—for profitability, sustainability, and long-term success.

The Moving Feast: A Cultural History of Southeast Mississippi’s Food Heritage

In 2009, Allan Nation wrote a two-part food history for Al’s Obs that captivated readers—many of whom wanted to know more. The Moving Feast delivers the rest of the story, exploring how agriculture, climate, and culture shaped the food traditions of Southeast Mississippi and the broader South.

How the Land Shaped the Table

From salt, ice, and railroads to interstate highways, Nation details the forces that transformed local food production and consumption. Consider this:

• In 1936, Hattiesburg, Mississippi—a trade area of 180,000 people—supported 28,000 full-time farmers who earned 25% more than urban workers.
• In 1940, food traveled just 40 miles from farm to table. Today, that distance exceeds 1,500 miles.

A Rich Tapestry of Food & Culture

Drawing from Indian, European, African, Celtic, and Cracker traditions, The Moving Feast uncovers the unexpected origins of Southern cuisine:
✔ Southern fried chicken? A fusion of Celtic frying techniques and African seasonings.
✔ Al Capone’s whiskey supply? It came from a small Mississippi town called Kiln.
✔ Why cornbread, not white bread? Wheat struggled in the humid South, so corn became the staple.

A Vision for the Future

By studying historical food systems, Nation reveals a path to healthier, self-sustaining agriculture. His vision? A win-win model that integrates cattle grazing with timber management, proving that “old-fashioned” farming can be profitable and resilient.

Stockman Grass Farmer readers who enjoyed Al’s Obs will find The Moving Feast even more insightful, engaging, and thought-provoking. As Nation writes:

“People once fed themselves without petroleum inputs by working with what God gave them in their locality. We can do that again.”