The Graziers Grapevine: Recent Episodes
The Graziers Grapevine
In this episode, Cheryl Burns speaks with USDA-NRCS Grazing Specialist, Dr. Kelly Mercier, about grazing summer annuals.
Helpful references mentioned in this episode include:
- The Great Debate of Annual vs. Perennial Forages
- University of Kentucky Extension publication written on a research study evaluating grazed organic summer annuals compared to a perennial pasture control.
- https://publications.mgcafe.uky.edu/sites/publications.ca.uky.edu/files/ID-277-The-Great-Debate-of-Annual-vs-Perennial-Forages–Remediated.pdf
- Economic Analysis of Stockers Grazing Botanically Diverse Summer Annual Pasture
- Steers grazing over-mature summer annuals lost weight
- Steers grazing 12-species summer annual mixtures gained less weight than those grazing monocultures or 3-species mixtures.
- https://commons.joe.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3951&context=joe
- Is There an Economic Advantage to Planting Diverse Summer Annual Forage Mixtures?
- Grazing summer annuals was cheaper than haying.
- Summer annuals were more expensive than purchasing hay.
- N increased yield, but high N costs weren’t recouped by the increase in yield.
- https://commons.joe.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1291&context=joe
- Custom Machinery Rates Applicable to Kentucky (2024)
- A good resource to give estimates of what custom machinery rates are.
- https://agecon.mgcafe.uky.edu/sites/agecon.ca.uky.edu/files/CustomMachineryRatesApplicableKentucky%282024%29.pdf?_gl=19hgs1p_gaNTIxOTk1NjYyLjE3NzE4NjI1NjM._ga_Z0F2747JGH*czE3ODMwMTU5MjckbzYkZzAkdDE3ODMwMTU5MjckajYwJGwwJGgw
In addition, here are a few general references:
Video; Sjoerd Duiker, PSU Ext: Beating the Summer Slump on Dairy Farms with No-Till Annuals
Extension Article from 1996: Summer-Annual Grasses for Supplemental or Emergency Forage
Extension Article from 2026: Alternative Forages for Spring and Summer Planting
Lancaster Farming article, 2026: Extend Grazing Season With Summer Annual Forage Types
In this episode, Cheryl Burns speaks with Caroline Owens, who with her husband Dave owns Owens Farm in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Caroline is the Certification Director for the American Solar Grazing Association and grazes sheep on three solar sites in central Pennsylvania.
Important references from this episode include:
American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA)
USDA-NRCS, Pennsylvania Grazing Lands
Additional information about solar grazing in Pennsylvania can be found through Penn State Extension, including the following publication:
Sheep Grazing to Maintain Solar Energy Sites in Pennsylvania
Also available as a PDF
In this episode, host Cheryl Burns speaks with Dr. Robert Van Saun, Extension Veterinarian and
Professor of Veterinary Science at Penn State University. The focus of this episode is on nutritional deficiencies and issues graziers may experience.
Dr. Robert Van Saun’s Extension Directory Page
In this episode, Cheryl Burns speaks with PA Soil Health Coalition Coordinator, Lisa Blazure, about the importance of soil health in grazing systems.
Key links referenced during this episode include:
PA Soil Health Coalition
Stroud Water Research Center
Bionutrient Institute
In this episode, host Cheryl Burns, speaks with Jason McGinnis, chair of Southwest Project Grass about the upcoming 45th Anniversary Conference.
To learn more about the conference, visit: https://www.swprojectgrass.com/index.html
In this episode of the Graziers Grapevine, Cheryl Burns is joined by co-host, Jenn Colby, host of the Choosing to Farm podcast, to speak with two individuals participating in apprenticeship and mentoring programs.
This collaboration was made possible through the support of the National Grazing Lands Coalition and the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service.
To learn more about the PA GLC mentorship program or the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program, visit the links below:
PA GLC Mentorship Program
Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (National)
Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, DGA program (Pennsylvania)
In this episode, host Cheryl Burns speaks with A.J. O’Neil and Ron Kreiss about the journey of Allegheny Grass-Fed Cooperative from an initial concept through today.
To learn more about Allegheny Grass-Fed, visit: https://www.alleghenygrassfed.coop/
The infrastructure and mechanics of farming and grazing are designed for function not necessarily ease of use, especially not for use by a variety of bodies and abilities. In this episode, Cheryl Burns talks with Lori Witmer of Natures Nook Farm in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, about several adaptations she and her family have made to reduce the impact on their bodies.
In 2025 the PA Grazing Lands Coalition will celebrate thirty years of service to graziers through Pennsylvania. This episode kicks off the celebration by taking a look at how it started, impacts within the state and throughout the nation, and perhaps begin the discussion about how to best serve graziers in the future.
In this epsiode, host Cheryl Burns speaks with PA GLC Chair, Cliff Hawbaker (Franklin County, PA); former Chair and retired PA GLC Board Member, Tom Calvert (Somerset County, PA); PA GLC Board Member, Titus Martin (Franklin County); and National GLC’s Director of Education & Planning, Kimberli Stine (Nebraska).PA GLC board members, Cliff Hawbaker and Tom Calvert, learning about bison grazing at a pasture walk in 2024.
Graziers Grapevine host, Cheryl Burns, visited Penn State’s Ag Progress Days in August and participated in the grazing demonstrations hosted by USDA-NRCS, including Managing Equine Pastures and Dry Lots and Managing Livestock Pastures with Alternative Forages.
This episode features discussion with USDA-NRCS Grazing Specialist, Geri Montgomery; USDA-NRCS Grazing & Equine Specialist, Suzette Truax; USDA-NRCS District Conservationist, Damian Painter; USDA-NRCS Grazing Specialist, Titus Martin; USDA-NRCS State Grazing Specialist, Brian Campbell; and two graziers, Lisa Nicarry from Berks County and Les Vough of York County.
In this episode of the Graziers Grapevine, host Cheryl Burns talks with Russ Wilson (Wilson Land & Cattle Co.) and Josh Greene (Green Kitchen Farm) about their experiences participating in the PA Grazing Land Coalition’s mentorship program. PA GLC Program Director, Dave Hartman also joins to provide more information about the program itself.
To learn more about the program, visit: https://www.paglc.org/mentors/
In this episode, host Cheryl Burns talks with Brian Campbell, USDA-NRCS State Grazing Specialist about his role, grazing support throughout the state, and the importance of soil health in grazing systems.
Several references and sites mentioned during the episode include:
USDA-NRCS Pennsylvania Grazing Lands
PA Soil Health Coalition
Ray Archuleta, retired USDA-NRCS, and founder of Soil Health Academy
Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web School
Cheryl Burns talks with Mackenzie Strawser of Turning Point Land and Livestock Services in Herndon, PA and new Capital RC&D Grazing Advisor about bringing the sheep into the barn for the winter.
During the podcast interview Mackenzie references several websites, including:
https://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/smallfarms/winter-livestock-management
https://extension.psu.edu/care-and-condition-of-sacrifice-areas
This podcast was produced by Capital RC&D. This materials is based on work supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Assistance Agreement No. CB96358101) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund, which promotes community-based efforts to develop conservation strategies to protect and restore the diverse natural resources of the Chesapeake Bay.
The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and its funding sources. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government, or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or its funding sources.
This material is based on work supported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under NFWF agreement number 0603.20.069044. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
In this episode, host Cheryl Burns sits down with Dave Hartman, the new Program Director for the Pennsylvania Grazing Lands Coalition.
In this episode, Capital RC&D Grazing Advisor, Donna Foulk, and Dr. Linda Quodomine D.V.M. have a conversation about equine parasites, research, and prevention. Do you…
Guest host, Cheryl Burns, and Kayla Shughart owner of Center Cut Co. in Cumberland County, PA talk about how Center Cut Co. markets their sheep…
Guest host, Cheryl Burns, continues speaking with Ann Basehore Starbard, author of The Dairy Goat Handbook, about preparing for and providing support to does and…
Guest host, Cheryl Burns, speaks with Ann Basehore Starbard, author of The Dairy Goat Handbook, about preparing for and providing support to does and ewes…
This episode is a continuation of the conversation with George & Christy Lake about farming and family.
In this episode we talk with George Lake of Thistle Creek Farms about his love of farming and how that love has been carried on…
What a better way to start the Independence Day weekend, then with a spotlight on a Pennsylvania program that assists our Veteran farmers! We spoke…
In this episode, we talk with Aaron De Long, Delaware Valley Program Manager for PASA Sustainable Agriculture. Aaron touches on various topics including the Dairy…
In today’s episode, we talk with Dwight Lingenfelter of Penn State Extension as a continuation of our Cover Crop Grazing series. He’s going to discuss…
Hi everyone! Today we’re speaking with Margot Mays of the Mid-Atlantic region of American Farmland Trust. She will discuss the increase in women owned/operated farms…
In the final episode of our series with Shelly Dehoff and Beth Futrick we discuss mortality disposal and the 4 legal methods to handle in…
Hi Friends!
This is a continuation of the series with Shelly Dehoff and Beth Futrick. Today we discuss best practices for agricultural erosion and manure management as well as how it relates to good neighbor relationships.
Below you will find links to the material we discussed in today’s episode.
The Basics of Agricultural Erosion
The Basics of Manure Management
49353 – The Time is Now Brochure FINALPROOF rfs
Contact Information for the PA Ombudsmen:
Shelly O. Dehoff
PA Agricultural Ombudsman; Eastern PA
717-880-0848
shellydehoff@lancasterconservation.org
www.paagombudsman.com
Beth Futrick
PA Agricultural Ombudsman Program
Blair Conservation District
814-696-0877 x 5
Hi Friends!
This episode is part of a small series of podcasts we’re conducting with Shelly Dehoff and Beth Futrick. Both ladies are ombudsman in their respective counties (Lancaster and Blair). Today they will discuss what an ombudsman is, what they do, and what they don’t do.
We’ll also discuss good neighbor relations and the handling of fly complaints.
Contact Information for the PA Agricultural Ombudsmen:
Shelly O. Dehoff
PA Agricultural Ombudsman; Eastern PA
717-880-0848
shellydehoff@lancasterconservation.org
www.paagombudsman.com
Beth Futrick
PA Agricultural Ombudsman Program
Blair Conservation District
814-696-0877 x 5
Below you will find resources discussed during the podcast:
48659 – Fly brochure final FINALPROOF rfs
Today’s podcast is beneficial to both farmers as well as consumers wishing to buy local. Given the times we’re in currently, Heidi wanted to put together a group where farmers and consumers could come together to give access to local farm products. Her Facebook group, which has grown to over 4,000 members can be found at PA Farm to Family Table+