Beyond the Summer Grass - Seasonal Management on the Ranch
Securing Your 100% Grass-Fed Beef Source
The Summer Surplus
Managing the peak growth to provide for the leaner months.
A view from the kitchen table.
A reliable food source shouldn't be a gamble. In most high-level professional services, success is built on the practice of looking six months down the road to protect your client's interests.
That’s exactly what’s happening in the pasture right now.
While most of the world is enjoying the peak of summer, your Personal Rancher’s at the NCR are already auditing the winter reserves. It’s the same kind of foresight you’d expect from any other professional, but applied to the ground beneath our boots.
This is being done to ensure the 100% grass-fed beef on your table is never an accident of the seasons.
The Summer Stockpile
In a lot of industrial operations, heck, even “organic” operations, when the grass stops growing in the heat of late summer, the cattle are moved into feedlots and grain is stuffed into their bodies to “fatten em up”.
Not cool. Not healthy. Standing in mud, urine and poop, eating things they weren’t meant to eat. Organic or not.
We do things differently.
We use a different approach to grazing where we "stockpile" certain sections of our pasture.
We let the grass grow tall and mature now so it can act as a standing pantry when the frost hits...or if we experience an unexpected drought.
It’s a straightforward way to keep the cattle on the land and off of scientific ingredients coming from a factory not-so-near to you.
The hay Audit
There will always be days in Michigan when the snow is too deep for grazing. That’s where the hay comes in.
All Hay Is Not Created Equal
We look at hay the same way an accountant looks at a tax return—we’re looking for the details.
Is it nutrient-dense?
Was it cut at the right time?
By sourcing and storing the best forage now, we help ensure the cattle will thrive through the winter.
For your family, this means the flavor and health benefits of 100% grass-fed beef stay as consistent as possible, even when the pastures are white.
Why the Seasons Matter to You
It’s easier to produce a good result when the weather is perfect and the grass is green.
The real challenge is how to handle the transitions.
By paying attention to the forage quality and the health of the soil in August, we’re securing your food source for the months ahead.
We’re making sure this results in meals you can trust, no matter what the Michigan weather throws at us.
Remodeling the soil at the North Coast Ranch.
Your Personal Rancher, Jim
Personal Ranchers for Families Who Prioritize 100% Grass-Fed Beef