What does it look like to shift irrigated pivot ground from crop production to grazing livestock? On today’s episode, Race King with the Matador Ranch joins us to share how their operation approached that transition. With over 20 years of experience, we discuss what led them to explore grazing under pivots, the steps they took to implement it, and the results they’ve seen over time. From labor and infrastructure to soil health and long-term economics, we explore whether this approach can work in other parts of the country—and how it performs across different market conditions. Plus, we take a look at a different approach to fly control using a bolus-based delivery system that provides up to 195 days of coverage—reducing reliance on mineral intake and/or tags.

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What do you do when farming no longer pencils out? Today, South Dakota rancher Troy Hadrick (Hadrick Ranch) joins us to talk about transitioning from dryland crop farming to a cattle-focused operation. We discuss what drove that shift, how direct-to-consumer beef sales created new opportunity, and what it really takes—from water and infrastructure to working with the right partners—to make a transition like this work on the ground.

Plus, we look at the new pheromone-based product called, CattleZen, designed to help reduce stress in calves during key management periods.

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Why do calves often crash about three weeks after weaning or shipping? Today Dr. Blaine Ellison of Applied Bio Technologies, Inc joins us to explain the 21-day cortisol surge in cattle — a stress response that can suppress immune function, shut down weight gain, and increase sickness risk.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why cattle often stall out during the first 21–28 days after stress • The evolutionary biology behind the cortisol surge • How the immune system shifts metabolism during stress • Management decisions that may unintentionally make the problem worse • What producers might consider doing differently to reduce stress and improve performance

Understanding what happens during this critical window could help producers improve health outcomes, performance, and profitability across the industry.

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