When Tad and Kim Carnahan moved from Colorado to Missouri, they knew they’d need some help adjusting to life on their new farm, so they reached out to their local Extension.

Ranching in Missouri is a lot different from ranching in Colorado.

“There’s no such thing as rotational grazing there,” Tad Carnahan says. “The cows bit the grass off once, and that was it.”

To adapt, the Carnahans turned to the University of Missouri Extension centers in Adair and Linn counties and the MU Cornett Farm and Forage Systems Research Center in Linneus.

With guidance from MU Extension livestock specialist Zac Erwin and agronomy specialist Valerie Tate, they set up their cattle and forage operation.

SHARING KNOWLEDGE: Linn County farmers Tad and Kim Carnahan recently hosted a tour of their farm. MU Extension agronomist Valerie Tate (second from right) works with the Carnahans on how to improve their forages. (Photo courtesy of Valerie Tate)

Change in grazing technique

Erwin and Tate recommended that the Carnahans attend grazing schools offered by MU Extension and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The schools teach how to establish management intensive grazing (MIG) systems, in which producers regularly move cattle from one fenced paddock to another.

This allows grass to rest and grow before being used again, extending the grazing season and giving cattle a steady supply of nutritious feed.

The Carnahans soon became fans of Missouri’s long grazing season. Coming from Colorado’s 54-day growing season and rocky soils, they appreciated the longer grazing season and rich soils.

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To implement MIG systems, the Carnahans followed a forestry management plan to clear more than 1,200 mature oak trees from the rolling hills. They also left trees in strategic spots to provide shade and shelter for their Angus and Hereford herd.

With the financial help of the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Missouri Soil and Water Conservation program, they built six ponds to add to their existing three, in addition to nine tire tanks fed by water lines, to guarantee adequate drinking water for their 17 paddocks.

They also built 5 miles of high-tensile electric fences through the incentive program and about 8 miles of fence, crossings and gates on their own. They also implemented erosion control methods to limit runoff.

TALK WITH LOCALS: MU Extension livestock specialist Zac Erwin (left) works with New Boston farmer and rancher Tad Carnahan on ways to improve his operation. Tad, wife Kim and their family moved from Colorado to Missouri. (Photo courtesy of Zac Erwin)

Practices for sustainability

The Carnahans put up about 1,000 big bales of hay each year to get them through the winter.

With the help of Tate and several MU and NRCS projects, they’ve incorporated 30 acres of warm-season grasses. With their deep-root systems, low-maintenance warm-season grasses resist pests and diseases and tolerate drought — critical advantages this year.

These types of grasses also provide habitat for wildlife, one of the Carnahan family’s goals.

Related:Next generation thrives in family hog business

“Tad is the type of person who asks great questions, does his research and believes in the university as a trusted source of information,” Erwin says. “Tad takes the knowledge and transforms it into actionable outcomes, and that has been a big part of his success.”

Tad does most of the physical labor, checking the herd and gates by horseback or ATV, while Kim manages the finances and record-keeping.

With three grown children and a thriving operation, the Carnahans remain active in their community, serving on the MU Extension Council in Linn County and the Missouri Livestock Symposium committee.

HAPPY AT HOME: Tad Carnahan looks over his Angus and Hereford herds grazing in the Missouri hills. They use management intensive grazing and rotate cattle through 17 paddocks of lush grasses. (Photo by Linda Geist)

Farmer reconnects with Extension

Tad Carnahan grew up on a Colorado ranch, where trips to town were rare and included stops at the county Extension office. Those visits helped his family improve their ranch, stay up to date on gardening and canning, and connect the kids with 4-H programs.

Kim Carnahan, on the other hand, didn’t grow up around agriculture and hadn’t even seen a cow until she met Tad. Everything she knows about farming came from him and the Extension office.

When the couple bought a 530-acre farm in northeastern Missouri and started renting an additional 970 acres, they found turning to MU Extension felt like a natural choice.

Related:Young farmers secure work-life balance with cattle

“We try to absorb everything,” Tad says.

The Carnahans are the type of people Extension specialists gravitate toward, Erwin says.

“They are just great people in general, but it’s very fulfilling to see someone use the resources you have to offer and transform them into real-life improvements,” Erwin says. “The Carnahans are an example of why I love doing what I do.”

Geist is a senior strategic communications associate for MU Extension. She writes from Columbia, Mo.