Get timely tips from Illinois growers and graziers
Going ‘all-in’ on sustaining natural systems
Ted Krauskopf has demonstrated a lifelong conservation ethic that consistently goes beyond regulatory requirements to protect and enhance natural resources.
Can grazing make more money than row crops?
Trevor Toland is a vocal advocate for regenerative farming practices. In 2025, he decided to find out if grazing livestock in ‘good black dirt’ might be more profitable than row-crop production. Here’s what he learned.
Let livestock work for you
Using a strategic rotational grazing system, forage stays at peak production while the livestock directly benefit from getting the highly nutrient-rich feed on Ted Krauskopf’s farm.
Implementing virtual fence on cropland and pasture
We installed GPS-enabled collars on our cows and downloaded the corresponding app to control grazing zones and track individual animals. The cattle learned the system surprisingly fast.
Can we make more grazing versus growing?
After running the numbers, looking at my projections and grazing plans for the most efficient use, he feels there is more money to be made grazing than growing either of the row crops.
Work with nature, not against it
Ron Freeman has been on a journey to redefine cattle production, moving away from conventional methods and embracing a system that works with nature, not against it.