More than 55% of U.S. land is forage ground – and producers continue to make those acres work for the future. AFGC’s Asheville conference reflected that optimism and shared purpose.

To succeed in the Fescue Belt – particularly in endophyte-infected pastures – producers should chase these traits in their herds.

Jackie Sanford, Heather Lifsey and Becky Heim found that balancing these roles with their responsibilities on the farm and careers required creativity, resilience and a willingness to lean on others. Their journeys reveal not only the struggles of caregiving but also the profound strength it takes to navigate this path.

When Hurricane Helene struck on Sept. 27, 2024, Biltmore Farms faced one of its toughest challenges yet after the storm brought relentless rains, howling winds and rising floodwaters that devastated the dairy farm and surrounding areas. Dairy manager Mike Corn recounts the chaos and hardships that unfolded over eight days without power and limited resources.

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Kimmi Devaney visits with five dairy producers representing a variety of herd sizes and geographic regions about what agritourism looks like on their farms, how they got started, their advice for other producers interested in doing something similar and much more.

Chad and Kim Woods of Spring Crest Farms LLC manage specialty finished beef production and horse hay sales on 175 acres in central North Carolina. Chad represented North Carolina at the American Forage and Grassland Council (AFGC) forage spokesperson contest in January, speaking about “making it work” – a philosophy that guides the whole operation.