Pastured Pig Podcast
Food
About
Our podcast discusses all things concerning raising pigs on pasture. From a small herd for personal consumption on the homestead to large scale commercial operations. We discuss the topics and talk to the producers.
Episodes
- Ep164 - Veterinarian Discussion Concerning Pastured Pigs with Dr. Jim Kober
Well, I finally got it! A great conversation with a veterinarian who has decades of experiencing caring for pigs both in commercial confinement operations and pigs on pasture. Dr. Jim Kober talked with me about the health concerns with pig…
- Ep163 - Sales and Marketing Strategies with Moore Meats
In this episode, I dig deeper into sales and marketing with Jake Moore of Moore meats. We had Jake on the podcast recently (episode 160) and I wanted to spend a little more time discussing his efforts. To learn more about him, visit moorem…
- EP162 - Building a Family Farm at Popcorn Creek Pork
In this episode, I talk with Jacob Lee of Popcorn Creek Pork in Indiana. Jacob and his young family are building a new farm on 62 rolling acres in southern Indiana. His dream is to build a generational farm with his kids and the extend fam…
- E161 - Raising Pork & Chicken for Their On-Farm Preschool
In this episode, I talk with Jacob Chase of Chase the Dream Farm in Vermont. Jacob and his wife have a 52 acre farm where they raise pigs and chickens to provide food for their family and their on-farm preschool. The opportunity to provide…
- EP160 - Iberico Hogs in Eastern PA
In this episode, I talk with Jake Moore of Moore Meats. Jake has developed an incredible direct to consumer farm business specializing in Wagyu beef at his farm in eastern Pennsylvania. Recently, he has ventured into pasture pork with the…
- Episode 159 - Woodlot Pigs in Nova Scotia
In this episode, I talk with Shane Pilgrim of Hardwood Hills. Shane and his young family are farming on 3 acres of dense woods in Nova Scotia. Shane talks aboot the challenges they have faced with clearing land, fencing the pig paddocks, a…
- EP158 - Pure Bred Berkshire in Central TX
In this episode, I talk with Dyron and Kelley Brodbeck of Waymaker Farms in central Texas. They have a 142 acre ranch that includes beef and Berkshire pork. We discuss how they were able to get their sales operation up and running quickly…
- EP 157 - Raising Registered IPP in Central PA
In this episode, I talk with Kirstin Bordner of Mouse Creek Farm in central Pennsylvania. Kirstin has been working her 44 acres for over 40 year but started raising pigs on pasture just 8 years ago. Her foray into pasture pigs now has her…
- EP 156 - Using an Old Hog Confinement Area to Build His Pasture Operation
In this episode, I talk with Jason Storey of Storey Family Farms. Jason and his family were able to buy a 25 acre farm in South Central Iowa that they had been renting a portion of for over 3 years. This old farm had the remnants of a conf…
- EP 155 - Traded Firewood for Pigs to Start His Pastured Pig Journey
In this episode, I talk with Wyatt Reader. Wyatt has a 14 acre farm in West Central Manitoba, Canada. This his first year raising pigs and he has faced some challenges with his first round of farrowing and finishing. Wyatt shares with me h…
- Ep 154 - Pasturing Pigs in Sweden
This episode crosses a new boundary for us! This is our first interview with a producer in Europe. In this episode, I talk with Tom Leimar who is farming with his wife on 16 acres of land in Sweden. It was very interesting to get his take…
- Episode 153 - Raising Pigs to Feed Others in Louisiana
In this episode, I talk with John Romero who has a farm in central Louisiana. John has a desire to see more people have access to better quality food. So much, that he donates a large portion of his farm products to local food pantries and…
- EP152 - Maximizing Forage Options with Intentional Tree Planting
In this episode, I talk with Austin Unruh with Trees for Graziers. Austin was on the podcast a year ago discussing the topic of silvopasture for pigs. This year, we revisit this discussion and take a much deeper dive into the topic of inte…
- Episode 151 - Producer, Processor, & Inspector - All in One Person
In this episode, I talk with Joshua Collins of Field and Forest Farm in Maine. Joshua is a small scale pork producer and offers custom on farm processing. His day job, however, is that of a state meat inspector for Maine. Josh brings some…
- Episode 150 - From Law Enforcement to Pastured Pigs with Valiant Farmstead
In this episode, I talk with Brenna Dorr who recently retired from a career in law enforcement and is now building a small farmstead with her family in central New York. Brenna talks about how her pigs have helped clear some overgrown fore…
- Episode 149 - Revisit with Enos Family Farm: Experience with the Swabian Breed
In this episode, I revisit with Chris Enos of Enos Family Farm in Iowa. Chris was on the show in June of 2023 (Episode 103) and was about to transition the the Iowa Swabian Hall breed. He shares the successes and failures of having that br…
- Episode 148 - Garbage Feeding to Reduce Feed Cost and Produce More Affordable Pork
In this episode, I talk with John Lengyel of Hogman Farms. John uses post consumer food waste as a primary source of feed for his hog operation. This process can be controversial in the pastured pig world, but John has some compelling argu…
- Episode 147 - Investment in On Farm Poultry Processing Pairs Well With Pastured Pigs
In this episode, I talk with Brandon Bowen of Bowen Family Farm in Georgia. Brandon and his family invested into becoming one of 6 on farm poultry processors in Georgia with the hopes of building a large on-farm poultry operation. Pairing…
- Episode 146 - Developing a Great Side Hustle on 25 acres in NY
In this episode, I talk with Phil Cooper who has developed a great side hustle of raising pigs (and poultry) on 25 acres in upstate New York. Phil teamed up with his in-laws to take their homesteading level farm production of vegetables an…
- Episode 144 - The Meishan Breed and Why It Is So Spectacular
In this episode, I speak with Jonathan Kemmerer and Laura Jensen from the American Meishan Breeders Association on why the Meishan breed is so desirable. For more information on the breed check out: Website: https://www.meishanbreeders.com…
- Episode 144 - Symbiotic Farming with Pigs, Beef, Sheep, and an on-farm Brewery in Quebec
In this episode, I talk with Ryan Allen of McAllen Farm and Brewery in Quebec, Canada. Ryan is a 7th generation farmer on the same land his ancestor's settled. As he took over the farm, he added pigs and the brewery to the farm with all in…
- Ep143 - Call Upon the Name of the Lard for Healthy Skin
In this episode, I talk with Charles Mayfield of Farrow skincare products. Charles has taken his farming experience and turn it into a thriving skincare product company. We talk about the benefits of lard and how we as a society have devia…
- Episode 142 - Pros and Cons of Shipping Retail Pork Products
In this episode, I have two guest on the podcast. Both have experience shipping retail cuts to customers all over the country. Rob Dowdle of Dowdle Family Farm and Jake Miller of Outwest Farm share their experiences, tips and tricks on how…
- Episode 141 - Focusing on Piglet Production with Small Town Farms in Ontario
In this episode, I talk with Nathan Post of Small Town Farms in Beamsville, Ontario. Nathan and his family have a farrowing operation on 7 leased acres between Buffalo and Toronto. Their goal is to build their operation into a farrowing/fe…
- Ep140 - Dr. Smokehouse has relocated to Maine
In this episode, I revisit with Jim Chelbowski (aka Dr. Smokehouse) who was last on the podcast in December of 2019 (Episode 28). Jim has dedicated much of his spare time honing his charcuterie skills and has become quite skilled and knowl…
- Ep 139 - Forty Years of Pigs with Trifecta Natural Pork
In this episode, I talk with Neal Saxton who has been raising pigs practically all of his life. His experience in breeding has lead him to create his ideal closed loop herd that gives him the results he has been looking for. His grasp of s…
- Episode 138 - How different are Pasture Pigs in Canada?
In this episode, I talk with Jason Dodd of Dodds Acres in Ontario, Canada. Jason shares details about his farm setup and some of the subtle differences they experience when it comes to feed, processing, and breed choice in Canada. For more…
- Ep 137 - Just Getting Started in Idaho
In this episode, I talk with Hunter Forsberg who is just getting started in pastured pigs on his family's ranch in Idaho. We talk about future goals and challenges he is facing in the harsh conditions of his region. SPONSOR: Sierra Madre -…
- Episode 136 - Building a Meishan Herd in Central Georgia
In this episode, I interview Preston Fuller of the MF Farmstead. Preston and his family are starting a pastured pig operation in Georgia and they have fallen in love with the Meishan breed. They hope to build a pastured pig operation from…
- Episode 135 - From the City to a Farrowing Operation in Just a Couple Years
In this episode, I talk with Kyle Friedman who has developed a farrowing operation in the finger lakes region of New York. Kyle admits he has been a city boy most of his life but with a move to New York several years ago, he has fully embr…
- Ep 134 - Full time on 12 acres owned and 40 acres leased with Nine Pines Farm
In this episode, I talk with James Cornwell of Nine Pines Farm in Pennsylvania. James and his wife farm full time on 3 different parcels of land - some owned and some leased. Pastured pigs make up a portion of his farming enterprise and he…
- Episode 133 - Ohio State U Extension Focuses on Intestinal Parasites in Pastured Pigs
In this episode, I talk with Dr. Talita Resende (PhD) and Kara Flaherty from Ohio State University Extension. They are researching parasite loads in Pastured Pigs and are offering FREE testing on farms who raise pigs outside of confinement…
- Episode 132 - Expanding operations on a 10 acre farm with Moose River Farm
In this episode, I talk with Brian Jenckes from Moose River Farm in New Hampshire. Bryan's farm operation is quickly growing to where he is needing more space than his 10acre tract can allow. We discuss the details of his setup and his pla…
- Episode 131 - High desert Silvopasture with Weidenthal Family Farm
This episode has a visiting SW Arizona to speak with Weedy Weidenthal. Weedy has a really exciting farm effort he is doing in the high desert of AZ utilizing his pigs to clear invasives and build soil with a deep litter method. We have a g…
- Episode 130 - Silvopasture Consultants Focusing on Pastured Pig Farms
In this episode, I sit down with Austin Unruh to take a deep dive into silvopasture and the benefits of incorporating it into the farm. Austin and his team are expanding their consulting and design services to venture into the pastured pig…
- Episode 129 - Quitting an Insurance Agent Job to Go FULL TIME Pig Operation in Kentucky
In this episode, I talk with Justin Slaughter of Slaughter Family Farm in Kentucky. Just has a great story about pursuing his dream of farming and leaving the white color business world. The pandemic actually motivated him more to get his…
- Episode 128 - Detailed Breeding Operation on 10 acres in Indiana
In this episode, I talk with Taylor Brown from Hoosier Seedstock in Indiana. Taylor has a fantastic breeding operation setup on his 10 acres. We discuss the details of his farrowing schedule, breed selection, and income from sales of his p…
- Episode 127 - Swine Nutrition - Free Feed Isn't Always the Best Feed
In this episode, I talk swine nutrition with Rob Dowdle of Dowdle Family Farms. Rob has done extensive research on exploring the nutritional value of certain feed sources including free feed access we can sometimes find like pumpkin, brewe…
- Episode 126 - One Year into a SARE Grant for Raising Pigs in the Woods
In this episode, we revisit with Charles Lafferty to discuss the one year mark (halfway point) of his SARE grant. Charles shares the successes and challenges of the first year with pigs in the woods. You can find out more about his efforts…
- Episode 125 - Developing the Ideal Automatic Pig Feeding and Watering System
In this episode, I talk with Ross Lewis a young farmer in Virginia. Ross is a civil engineer and has used his design knowledge to come up with a pretty ingenious automatic feeding and watering system for his breeding stock. We will describ…
- Episode 124 - Raising and Registering Idaho Pasture Pigs at White Bison Farm
In the episode, I talk with Dave and Jodi Cronauer from White Bison Farm in northern Wisconsin. They have a lot going on at their farm including raising bison for meat, GypsyVanner Horses (not for meat), and Idaho Pastured Pigs (those are…
- Episode 123 - Step by Step Instructions on How to Start a Hog Roasting Business with Carl Blake
In this episode, I talk with Carl Blake about his new book Pork For Profit: The Business of Whole Hog Roasting. This book is a comprehensive step by step guide on how to build and manage a hog roasting business. This is a great side gig fo…
- Episode 122 - Overcoming Farrowing Issues and Other Challenges for a First Year Farmer
In this episode, I talke with Brian MacFarland of Five Forks Farm in Bruceton Mills, WV. Brian and his wife are just at the one year mark of having pigs on pasture. Farrowing has been tough for them the last year, but they are using these…
- Episode 121 - Explosive Growth from 2 Pigs to a Large Scale Farming Operation in Less Than 36 Months!
In this episode, I talk with Bryson Lipscomb of Triple Oaks Farm in Virginia about how he and his wife took a simple hobby farm and in less than 3 years turned it into a large scale operation that has them both working full time now on the…
- Episode 120 - Managing Red Wattles, Beef, Sheep, and the Frozen North as a retired Navy Officer
In this episode, I talk with Maj Jim Brickson (retired) about his farm/homesteading efforts on 50 acres in Northern Minnesota. Jim and his wife are both retired from the military and looks to enjoy the golden years on the farm. We talk abo…
- Episode 119 - Adjusting and Evolving Market Setup for Maximum Efficiency - Sheraton Park Farms
In this episode, I talke with Chuck Lewis of Sheraton Park Farms about how his farmer's market setup has evolved over time to produce the most efficient and profitable setup for his farm. Chuck dies into the details of cost and things to c…
- Episode 118 -Exploring the Pros and Cons of an AGH X Hampshire cross with Evergreen Farm
In this episode, I speak with Tyler Hill of Evergreen Farm in Pennsylvania. Tyler is working 53 acres with chickens, sheep and pigs. Pigs are his most recent addition and through providence, he ended up with a breeding pair of AGH X Hampsh…
- Episode 117 - Discussing Processing Woes and How to Overcome Them
In this episode, Rob Dowdle and I am have a comprehensive discussion on issues we have all faced with processors. Our conversation turns from the sad horror stories to how to manage issues and tips on how to prevent them in the first place…
- Episode 116 - Building educational opportunities at Revercomb Farms in Virginia
In this episode, I talk with Mindy Lipinski of Revercomb Farms in VA about how they manage their pigs on pasture and how they have added education opportunities to not only share their knowledge and experience but also to create additional…
- Episode 115 - Building a Destination Location farm store in Point Blank, TX
In this episode, I talk with Stephanie Walker of Vincent Farms in Point Blank, TX. Stephanie shares how she has transitioned to full time farming and how she is building a distination location with her farm store. Also, join us for discuss…