Watch the Series: Jim Gerrish's Final Kansas Graziers Conference Presentations

As part of the 2025 Kansas Graziers Conference, Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition is proud to share a four-part educational video series featuring internationally recognized grazing consultant Jim Gerrish.

Presented during KGLC's 25th Anniversary Conference, these sessions capture decades of practical experience from one of the most respected voices in regenerative grazing and profitable livestock production. As Jim prepares for retirement, this series serves as a lasting educational resource for producers looking to improve pasture productivity, reduce costs, and build more resilient grazing operations.

Whether you're new to managed grazing or looking to fine-tune your operation, these presentations provide practical, research-backed strategies that can be applied on ranches of every size.

Watch the complete playlist below and explore each session individually.

Workshop Presentations YouTube Playlist

Part 1: Building a Profitable Ranch Through Grazing Management

Jim begins the series by explaining that profitability starts with effective grazing management—not simply producing heavier calves or running more livestock. He explores the relationship between carrying capacity, stocking rate, soil health, plant recovery, and livestock performance, demonstrating how healthy soils and productive pastures lead to stronger financial returns.

Key Takeaways

• Focus on return per acre rather than return per head.
• Understand the difference between carrying capacity and stocking rate.
• Improve pasture productivity through proper recovery periods.
• Build healthier soils by maximizing photosynthesis and root growth.
• Use grazing management to increase both ecological and economic resilience.

Part 2: Grazing Strategies for Healthier Pastures and Better Cattle

Jim shifts the focus to the daily grazing decisions that influence both pasture health and animal performance. He explains how forage quality, grazing intensity, residual height, and plant maturity affect livestock nutrition while demonstrating how thoughtful grazing management benefits both cattle and the land.

Key Takeaways

• Match forage quality to the nutritional needs of different classes of livestock.
• Maintain adequate pasture height to maximize forage intake and animal performance.
• Leave sufficient residual forage to support plant recovery and future productivity.
• Use more frequent livestock moves to improve forage utilization while maintaining gains.
• Adapt grazing management to local conditions rather than relying on one-size-fits-all rules.

Part 3: Choosing the Right Livestock for Better Grazing Management

Successful grazing begins with choosing livestock that fit your land and management goals. Jim discusses how different species and breeds utilize forage differently and explains how multi-species grazing can improve forage utilization, reduce weed pressure, and create additional income opportunities.

Key Takeaways

• Match livestock species and breeds to your forage resources and environment.
• Understand how cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry each contribute to pasture management.
• Explore multi-species grazing to improve forage utilization and vegetation management.
• Consider adaptation, market opportunities, and management goals when selecting livestock.
• Use diversified grazing systems to improve pasture health while expanding revenue opportunities.

Part 4: Reduce Feed Costs & Improve Ranch Profitability

The final session focuses on the economics of profitable ranching. Using real-world production data, Jim demonstrates that feed costs consistently have the greatest influence on profitability and explains how better grazing management reduces expenses while increasing productivity. He also discusses business planning, overhead management, and strategies for improving long-term financial performance.

Key Takeaways

• Feed costs are the single largest factor affecting ranch profitability.
• Reducing expenses often has a greater financial impact than increasing production.
• Extend the grazing season to reduce reliance on harvested feed.
• Improve carrying capacity through better grazing management.
• Manage overhead costs by investing wisely in equipment, infrastructure, and labor.

Continue Learning with KGLC

Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition is committed to providing practical, science-based education that helps producers improve soil health, grazing management, and ranch profitability. We hope this four-part series from Jim Gerrish serves as a valuable resource for years to come.

Be sure to check out our additional educational resources, upcoming workshops, and future events, and follow Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition on social media.