Comeback Farms - by Greg Judy (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Many folks are hesitant to try Holistic Planned Grazing because of what they think it entails. Comeback Farms responds to such hesitancy with enthusiasm and positive attitude and by articulating the basics in a very simple way, demonstrating to readers that it is possible to make these changes without a lot of infrastructure investment.

Greg Judy shows how to add sheep, goats and pigs to existing cattle operations. He explains fencing and water systems that build on existing infrastructure set up for Management-intensive Grazing. Sharing his first-hand experience (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.

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. Judy details how to work with Nature without costly inputs, and how to let the animals be your labor force.

Comeback Farms covers multi-species grazing; developing parasite-resistant hair sheep flocks and grass-genetic cattle; and how to select, train and care for livestock guardian dogs. It includes High Density Grazing fencing techniques, diagrams for HDG fencing and paddock moves; and how to calve with HDG.

By following Judy's examples, you'll have your neighbors talking and wondering about how you keep your fields green and your livestock grazing year-around. In the process you'll be pocketing your profits.

About the Author

Along with his wife Jan, Greg Judy of Clark, Missouri, runs a grazing operation on 1620 acres of leased and owned land. Greg and Jan went from near bankruptcy in 1999 to paying off a 200-acre farm and house in 3 years with custom grazing on leased land and are completely debt free today.

Today they own 4 farms and lease 12 farms. Holistic High Density Planned Grazing is used to graze cow/calf pairs, bred heifers, bulls, and stockers. They own a 350 head grass genetic cow herd, 200 hair sheep flock, graze heritage breed pigs, train guardian dogs, and raise shitake mushrooms.
They have also begun an on-farm sawmill operation to direct market lumber from the timbered areas on their farms. They direct market grass-fed beef, lamb, pork, mushrooms and lumber. They also market grass genetic bulls and heifers along with parasite resistant rams and ewe lambs.

Greg & Jan also have a ranch internship program that brings young folks onto their ranch to teach them how to manage their own successful grazing operations.