Who wouldn’t want a deep massage? Turns out, your soil might be overdue for one. In this episode, host Haylie Shipp talks with Montana ranchers Todd Barkley (near Baker) and Casey Buffington (Chester) about bale grazing, a winter-feeding strategy that can build soil health, redistribute nutrients, reduce daily feeding chores, and add flexibility to ranch life.

They also discuss how the “new sexy thing” in grazing, virtual fencing, is being used alongside bale grazing to control access, improve hay utilization, and keep cows where you want them, even during an oddball open winter.

What We Cover

• What bale grazing is and why it is more than “feeding hay”
• Placement of your bales
• The benefits of seven-day feedings, including labor, fuel, and equipment savings
• How cows often return later to clean up what they left behind
• Managing boss cows versus timid cows and thinking about access and space
• Setup strategies such as grid patterns, star or pie patterns, and bale spacing
• Bale orientation, including on end versus on side and when rolling out makes sense
• Calving considerations and why rolling out hay can reduce risks
• Weed pressure, soil response, and reframing weeds as forage
• Virtual fencing possibilities, including timed breaks to control daily access without moving wire

Practical Takeaways

• Try it once. Bale grazing is a technique that can be adjusted to fit your operation.
• Use it for flexibility when work or weather makes daily feeding difficult.
• Dial in the math by accounting for cow weight, bale weight, hay quality, and stockpiled forage.

Links and Resources

• Todd Barkley contact: https://barkleyshomegrown.com/contact/

The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) is a rancher-led, grassroots organization, dedicated to improving the quality of life for rural communities throughout the Northern Great Plains. Through collaborative conservation projects, rancher education events, and local community outreach, RSA works to strengthen our rural community, economy, and culture for generations to come.

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