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Is There Enough Acreage to Finish All of America’s Cattle on Pasture? by Jim Gerrish

Author
The Stockman Grassfarmer
Published
Wed 26 Mar 2025
Episode Link
https://www.stockmangrassfarmer.digital/podcasts/the-stockman-grassfarmer-podcast/episodes/2149003631

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🎙️ Episode Title: Is There Enough Acreage to Finish All of America’s Cattle on Pasture?


This episode of Regenerative Wisdom, brought to you by The Stockman Grassfarmer, challenges a long-held belief in the cattle industry—do we really lack the land to finish all our beef on pasture? Jim Gerrish takes a deep dive into land use, debunking the myth that feedlots are a necessity. By analyzing cropland, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land, and high-elevation irrigated pastures, he lays out a compelling case for a fully pasture-finished beef industry.


🔑 Key Points Covered:



  1. The Land Myth – Why the belief that America lacks pasture for finishing cattle is misleading.

  2. Repurposing Cropland – How shifting 15.5 million acres of former feed crop land to pasture could finish 25 million head of cattle.

  3. CRP Land Potential – The untapped productivity of 22.7 million acres of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land for grass-finishing.

  4. High-Elevation Irrigated Pastures – Why the Intermountain West provides an ideal environment for finishing cattle efficiently.

  5. The Path Forward – What it would take to transition the industry toward a grass-fed future.


🌱 Actionable Insights:


Reevaluate land use—many acres are underutilized and could be converted to productive pasture.
Consider CRP land—proper management could significantly boost finishing capacity.
Explore high-elevation finishing—cooler climates and better forage quality improve weight gain.


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