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.

If you have six cows or 6000, you can utilize High Density Grazing to create fertile soils, lush pastures, and healthy livestock. Greg Judy, the master of custom grazing, shows how to earn profits with little risk while using other people's livestock on leased land. With grain and fuel prices rising, Judy details how to work with nature without costly inputs, and let the animals be your labor force.

Comeback Farms takes up where Judy's previous book, No Risk Ranching ended. Here, he shows how to add sheep, goats and pigs to existing cattle operations. He details fencing and water systems that build on existing infrastructure set up for Management-intensive Grazing. Sharing his first-hand experience (the mistakes as well as successes), Judy takes graziers to the next level. He shows how High Density Grazing (HDG) on his own farm and those he leases can revitalize hayed out, scruffy, weedy pastures, and turn them into highly productive grazing landscapes that grow both green grass and greenbacks.

Comeback Farms contains the following:
* Multi-species grazing
* Developing parasite-resistant hair sheep flocks
* Developing grass-genetic cattle
* Selecting, training, and caring for livestock guardian dogs
* Calving with High Stock Density Grazing
* High Density Grazing fencing techniques
* Judy's proven favorite fencing equipment
* Diagrams for HDG fencing and paddock moves
* Benefits of High Density Grazing
* And more

By following Judy's examples, you'll keep your fields green and your livestock grazing year-round. In the process you'll be pocketing your profits.

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. 

Drought—the very word strikes fear into livestock producers. Many believe their only options are to sell out or go broke. But Dr. Anibal Pordomingo, Senior Researcher at Argentina’s National Institute of Agricultural Research and longtime contributor to The Stockman Grass Farmer, provides a different perspective: drought can be managed, survived—and even profited from.

Drawing from cutting-edge research and his own experience running a 500-head beef operation in La Pampa, Argentina, Dr. Pordomingo shares battle-tested strategies to not only endure drought but emerge stronger.

Inside this book, you’ll discover:

• How to select deep-rooted grasses that thrive in dry conditions

• Alfalfa grazing techniques to reduce or eliminate bloat risk

• The power of pasture and cropping rotations for long-term resilience

• Drought-proofing with soybeans, grazing corn, and alternative forage sources

• How to turn excess hay into a windfall during dry years

• Why forage quality can actually improve in drought conditions

• Proactive strategies to prepare for and mitigate drought’s impact

Dry spells are inevitable—drought is part of the natural cycle. But by planning ahead, making strategic grazing decisions, and leveraging high-quality forage, you can not only survive but profit when others are forced to sell. With Drought!, you’ll gain the confidence and knowledge to build a grazing system that thrives in even the toughest conditions.

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.

Unlock the Power of Irrigation to Maximize Production & Profits

Whether you're in a high-rainfall region or the arid West, irrigation—when managed correctly—can revolutionize your operation, ensuring consistent production and increased profitability.

Keeping It Green: A Handbook for Creating and Managing Irrigated Pasture by renowned grazing expert Jim Gerrishprovides a comprehensive, real-world guide to implementing and optimizing irrigation systems for sustainable pasture growth.

What You'll Discover Inside:

✅ The Science of Growth – Understand the soil-water-plant relationship and determine precise water demand for optimal pasture health.
✅ Irrigation Systems Explained – Gain insight into the advantages and drawbacks of flood vs. sprinkler systems, backed by Gerrish’s 17 years of firsthand experience managing irrigation in an 8” annual precipitation environment.
✅ Practical Implementation – Learn how to integrate irrigation with cell grazing, optimize pasture design, and manage water effectively.
✅ Financial Insights – Break down operating costs, labor, and water expenses to calculate the true return on investment per acre.
✅ Custom Solutions – Discover how to match irrigation methods with livestock classes for the most efficient, profitable results.

Why Learn from Jim Gerrish?

A pioneer in Management-Intensive Grazing (MiG), Jim Gerrish has spent over 40 years as a practitioner, researcher, and educator, transforming grazing systems across North and South America. His expertise spans irrigated pastures, native rangelands, and high-rainfall environments.

In addition to Keeping It Green, he’s authored industry-defining books, including:
📖 Management-Intensive Grazing
📖 Kick the Hay Habit: A Practical Guide to Year-Around Grazing
📖 The Grassroots of Grass Farming

He also revised the 2nd Edition of Allan Nation’s Quality Pasture: How to Create It, Manage It, and Profit From It.

Whether you're new to irrigation or a seasoned producer looking to enhance efficiency, Keeping It Green is the ultimate guide to sustainable, profitable pasture management.

Ditch the Hay. Boost Your Profits. Graze Year-Round.

For most livestock operations, winter feed costs are the #1 profitability killer—and making hay is one of the biggest financial drains in grazing businesses today. Yet, in nearly every region of the U.S., year-round grazing is possible—without hay. So why are so many producers still stuck in the cycle?

🔎 Have You Ever Calculated the True Cost of Making Hay?
🤔 Are You Feeding Hay Simply Because It's What You've Always Done?
⏳ Wouldn’t You Rather Spend Time Managing Pastures & Livestock Instead of Running Equipment?

If you're ready to Kick the Hay Habit and put more profit back into your pocket, this groundbreaking guide will show you how.

Inside, You’ll Discover:

✅ The True Cost of Making Hay – Why it’s draining your profits and how to break free.
✅ Nature’s Blueprint for Winter Grazing – Proven strategies for extending your grazing season.
✅ Pasture Inventory Methods – Learn to measure and manage forage like a pro.
✅ Optimizing Breeding & Birthing Seasons – Aligning your herd with your forage cycle.
✅ Custom-Designing Your Winter Forage System – A step-by-step plan tailored to your operation.
✅ The Transition from Hay to Grazing – Practical steps to eliminate dependency on stored feed.

Why Learn from Jim Gerrish?

A respected grazing expert and consultant, Jim Gerrish draws from decades of hands-on experience managing grass-based operations in Missouri and Idaho. He also spent years as a researcher at the University of Missouri’s Forage Systems Research Center and has helped graziers across North and South America optimize their operations.

Gerrish is also the bestselling author of:
📖 Management-Intensive Grazing
📖 The Grassroots of Grass Farming

If you're serious about cutting costs, increasing efficiency, and building a resilient grazing business, it's time to Kick the Hay Habit, ditch the heavy equipment, and start maximizing your profits.

Are you ready? 🚜💨💰

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 Grass Farming

Jim Gerrish, the man who coined the term Management-Intensive Grazing (MiG), delivers a step-by-step blueprintfor profitable and sustainable grazing in Management-Intensive Grazing: The Grassroots of Grass Farming.

With vivid imagery and expert guidance, Gerrish walks graziers through the MiG system—starting from the soil up to managing pastures and livestock for maximum efficiency.

🔎 Inside, you'll discover:
✔️ Optimizing the Water Cycle – How to make every drop count.
✔️ Profitable Pasture Fertility – Strategies to make fertility work for you.
✔️ Growing High-Quality Pasture – Unlocking the power of legumes and stock density.
✔️ Matching Forage Supply & Animal Demand – The key to sustainable grazing.
✔️ Extending the Grazing System – How to stockpile forage for low-cost wintering.
✔️ Pasture Weaning for Health & Gain – A smarter way to transition livestock.
✔️ Mastering Fence & Water Systems – When to use permanent vs. portable fencing and how to design a water-efficient MiG system.
✔️ Pest & Parasite Management – Effective, low-stress solutions.
✔️ Turning Pasture Records into Profit – Making data work for you.

🌱 For New & Experienced Graziers Alike
Whether you're just getting started or fine-tuning your system, Gerrish’s real-world expertise—from 22+ years in research and decades of hands-on cattle and sheep production—will give you the tools to increase productivity and profitability.

📘 Get your copy of Management-Intensive Grazing today and take your grazing system to the next level.

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!

Farm Without Owning Land—And Still Profit Big

Greg Judy proves that you don’t have to own land to build a thriving grazing business. Based on his personal experience, he shares how he went from running 40 stockers to over 1,100 head—all on leased land and cattle. Within just three years, he paid off his farm and home loan. Today, he manages 12 farms spanning 1,560+ acres, all without owning the land.

Judy lays out his exact roadmap for success, including the mistakes to avoid and the strategies that worked, so you can fast-track your own grazing business to profitability.

📘 Inside, you'll learn how to:
✔️ Find idle pastureland to lease – Spot overlooked opportunities and secure prime grazing land.
✔️ Structure lease agreements – Accurately calculate costs and write win-win contracts.
✔️ Develop water sources on leased land – Ensure a cost-effective and reliable water supply.
✔️ Build fencing without breaking the bank – Get the job done efficiently and affordably.
✔️ Lower financial risk through custom grazing – Profit without heavy investment.
✔️ Enhance land productivity – Foster wildlife, develop timber stands, and maximize forage growth.
✔️ Cut costs & keep accurate records – Stay lean, profitable, and scalable.

💡 Who should read this book?
✅ Experienced graziers looking to expand with little to no capital
✅ Beginning farmers who want to break into the industry without massive debt
✅ Landowners seeking new ways to monetize idle pasture

🚀 Ready to grow your operation—without owning land? Get your copy today and start building a profitable grazing business on leased land!

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.

Review by Carolyn Nation

Long before planting the first fence post , the year-round grazier should be at work, planning exactly where those fence posts should go, and penciing out grazing and economic scenarios that will result in profitablity.

Steve Kenyon walks graziers through a full year of practical, thoughtful planning making The Calendar of the Year-Round Grazier a handbook with economic decision making and grazing plans.  Other lessons focus on how to figure Gross Margin Ratios, Rent Ratios, Gross Margin Analysis and the importance of Cash Flow.

He challenges readers to define their strengths to maximize personal skills and talents for their operations.  When the grass season begins, he shares grazing strategies to help producers learn from mistakes he has made and how to avoid them.

Kenyon runs a custom grazing operation in Alberta, Canada.  Despite a short grazing season, his cattle work year-round.  In the summer he manages 3,000 acres for 1,200 yearlings.  In winter a reduced number of cattle nose through the snow to feast on forage cut and laid out in swaths earlier in the year.  His methods allow him to feed 300 heard of cattle in winter witth a our of work a week.  He details how to set up and manage swath and bale grazing for producers living in snow country.The book covers four principles of grazing management:

• water management
• sunlight harvesting
• nutrient recycling
• biological life

He explains how to read your pastures and leave more residue.  He encourages producers to use sustainable grazing practices that improve the land, and add biodiversity with forage to create an economically sustainable business for generations.

The Calendar of the Year-Round Grazier will give new graziers a sound foundation for a successful operation.  In addition, long-time graziers will enjoy a fresh look at the finance and economic sections.

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.”

The Use of Stored Forages with Stocker & Grass-Finished Cattle

Maximizing Forage Efficiency for Profitable, Grass-Based Beef

Supplementing pastures with hay, silage, or haylage can be a strategic advantage—when done correctly. Unlike traditional cow-calf production, successfully finishing cattle to High Select/Low Choice on forage alone requires exceptional pasture management and superior forages.

In The Use of Stored Forages with Stocker and Grass-Finished Cattle, Aníbal Pordomingo—senior researcher at Argentina’s National Institute of Agriculture Research (INTA)—shares the practical strategies you need to determine when, why, and how to incorporate stored forages without replacing pasture as the foundation of your operation.

What You’ll Learn:

✅ Bridging seasonal gaps – How stored forages fill nutritional flat spots year-round.
✅ Efficient hay management – The best methods for stacking, feeding, and minimizing waste.
✅ Maximizing intake – How to double voluntary feed consumption for optimal weight gain.
✅ Seasonal supplementation – When to strategically feed during Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring.
✅ Managing wet & muddy conditions – Feeding strategies for extended periods of rain and poor ground conditions.

About the Author:

A leading expert in animal nutrition and forage-based beef production, Aníbal Pordomingo runs a 1,200-acre grazing operation in Argentina, finishing 240 steers and heifers per year in a 27-inch annual rainfall zone. His research in grass-fed beef quality and production systems has made him a trusted contributor to The Stockman Grass Farmer.

By optimizing stored forage use, you can boost efficiency, maintain animal performance, and enhance profitability—without compromising the integrity of grass-based production.