Greg Brann
Start where you are,
We start with
your goals in mind
You need a plan to move your farm, ranch, or land management project towards your vision. We assess your current situation, and together, we will develop a plan to detail the course required to make your vision a reality. Developing plans with your goals in mind every step of the way saves you time, money, and energy to get the job done right.
The Process
How we get you there
Farm Visit
Plan to spend four hours touring your farm with Greg. Inventory and analysis of vegetation, fence and water layout, analyzing productivity/fertility, pasture management, and seeding recommendations will be part of the process but it all starts with your goals.
Visit Big Spring Farm
Walk the pastures of Big Spring Farm with Greg, asking questions, discussing options, and understanding how planning with your goals in mind can open up hidden options and opportunities.
It’s a taste of the Annual Pasture Walk, but you’ve got Greg all to yourself.
Execute & Monitor
Although most situations will only require a farm visit and a trip report to put you on the road to your goals, there are many situations where a hybrid approach is needed for more unique situations. Personal consultation is offered on an ongoing basis for on-the-ground support.
FENCE AND CORAL SETUP AND PLACEMENT
Focusing on livestock flow, pasture rotation, and the hub of the operation is crucial in ensuring ease of operation. A complete analysis of facilities ensures proper placement. Paddock and corral size should coincide with your end goals. Mistakes in this area are costly and frustrating. Proper design and planning for the future keeps you moving forward toward your goals.
Pasture and Soil Health Management
Everything begins and ends with management and it’s all the steps in between such as seeding mixes, grazing height, timing and nutrient management that ensures successful stewardship. Inventory of present plant communities determines whether fertility, soils, or management are limiting factors. Greg’s extensive knowledge of plant communities and the interactions between plant, nutrients, soil, and management can reveal hidden root issues. Understanding your soil samples will help you understand where you are now.
Full farm planning
Farms are built slowly over many years and few farmers have plans that include soil, water, plant, animal, buildings, fencing, gates, and a plan for the farm as an entity. Understand the connectivity between all aspects of the farm is invaluable in reaching your aspired goals. Greg’s knowledge of whole farm planning will help you to avoid making costly mistakes by assisting you to determine the best order of investments in the farm.
Plant and Animal interaction
Pasture management, with a focus on livestock nutrition and performance and plant vigor will help you understand the connections between stocking rate, stocking density, animal health, and plant physiology. The health of pastures and livestock depends on understanding these interactions. Walking through your herd, Greg will help you to understand things like rumen fill, and there’s no substitute for getting another set of eyes on the manure in the pastures.
PRECISION/CONSERVATION PLANNING
If conservation planning is part of your aspired goals, ensuring the viability of the farm for future generations begins with planning that takes into account all of the resources available for profitability and sustainability. Connectivity of your desired and current resources through placement and corridors can enhance accessibility and utilizing of the land.
Livestock Management Services
Pork
Training pigs to electric fence in order to manage land conversion is no easy feat. Understanding the unique issues with pigs can save time, money and so much frustration.
Finished Cattle
Greg’s grass-fed, grass-finished cattle are marketed through farmer’s markets in the TN and KY area. Many farmers don’t understand the importance of proper finishing. Greg will help you to identify finishing characteristics.
Cow Calf
Greg maintains a cow/calf to finish operation on his own farm. Separating groups by weight and sex has benefits but there are limits to how many groups you can effectively manage.
Sheep
The “flerd” is a specialty of Greg’s and he understands the neccesity of simple and practical management. Sheep have a higher nutritional requirement than cattle so learning how to combining groups is challenging yet rewarding.
Land Management Services
Hay
Hay land extracts nutrients but practices based on regenerative agricultural practices can ensure the health and vigor of both land and livestock.
Forest
Forests can be managed utilizing regenerative practices for this generation and generations to come for sustained income; managing for the best, culling the worst.
Silvopasture
Silvopasture can be planned begining with pasture or forest. Forest products can be improved with multiple revenue streams.
Crops
Crop rotation can regenerate land and improve soil health with proper planning.
Pasture
Adaptive management techniques can and should be used to improve and sustain soil, microbe, plant, and animal health.
Water
Water is the most important nutrient for livestock. Proper planning and management of this sensitive resource can be managed for use and enhancement of your propery.
Options
Let’s start with your goals and design the plan you need
We offer three options for consultation; one time farm visits with a corresponding trip report, a day at Big Spring Farm, or personal on-going consultion.
On Farm Consultation
- Your visit will begin with some homework so Greg can get a good idea of where you are and where you want to be in the near future. Greg’s pre-visit worksheets will help you to start understanding the consultation process and helps Greg to get a picture into your issues, goals, and your current land use management. This is your visit and the more Greg understands about your situation, the more you will glean from this oportunity. There is an additional charge for travel.
Big Spring Farm Tour
- A personal farm tour is what most people mention with they think of their visit to Big Spring Farm. Spend the day touring the farm, asking questions, and seeing how Greg set up the farm. See all the different configurations of corrals and how they work in each unique situation. Understand the logic when determining how to manage diverse landscapes and livestock groups.
- You’ll have time to talk and discuss the differences and similarities between your farms over breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Personal Farm Consultant
- For some farms, personal, ongoing consultation is needed and advisable when either the farm or the farmer is uncertain. Starting any new enterprise can be challenging, and with Greg’s help to improve land, grass, and livestock, you’ll exponentially reduce the time it takes to start regenerating your farm. Choosing watering options, livestock, grass mixes, fencing, coral placement, and nutrient management are crucial decisions that should all be part of the plan to achieve your goals.
Greg Brann Consulting
Looking past symptoms to discover and resolve the root issues
615-351-2533