173. Managing 8,000 Acres with Planned Migratory Grazing with Riki Kremers

Riki Kremers joins us from Kremers Ranch in Lance Creek, Wyoming, where she and her family manage 8,000 acres of rough, arid country with Angus-cross cattle, horses, and meat goats. Together with her husband and daughter, Riki has transitioned their operation from traditional set-stock grazing to a powerful combination of Instinctive Migratory Grazing (IMG) and Planned Migratory Grazing (PMG), doubling their stocking rate and reducing feed inputs. With over 20 miles of water pipeline and an impressive track record of adapting to extreme environments, Riki shares hard-earned lessons on stockmanship, infrastructure, and letting nature lead the way. Topics CoveredHistory and evolution of Kremers RanchTransition from February to June calvingBuilding water infrastructure and pasture layoutChallenges with temporary fencing in brittle environmentsTransitioning to IMG and how it rebooted herd behaviorRole of stockmanship and learning from Bob Kin and Ian Mitchell-InnesManaging yearlings separately for summer and winter forage balanceCreating and using "insurance pastures"Shifts in forage species and pasture recovery timesIntegrating horses and four-wheelers into cattle managementWhy You Should ListenIf you're grazing in a brittle or arid environment—or frustrated with conventional rotational systems—Riki’s experience will resonate. She candidly walks us through her family’s grazing journey, showing how thoughtful stockmanship and intentional planning can unlock natural herd behavior and healthier land. Whether you’re looking to reduce feed, improve forage diversity, or double your stocking rate without burning out your pastures, this episode offers actionable wisdom grounded in real-world success.Resources MentionedInstinctive Migratory Grazing SchoolRiki Kremers on FacebookBob Kinford on the Grazing Grass PodcastBob Kinford – Instinctive Migratory GrazingVisit our Sponsors:Noble Research InstituteRedmondGBT AngusGrazing Grass LinksNew Listener Resource GuideProvide feedback for the podcastWebsiteInsidersResources (Coming Soon)Community (on Facebook)Check out the Apiary Chronicles PodcastChapters(00:00) - Introduction and Fast Five with Riki Kramer (01:26) - History and Evolution of Kramer's Ranch (02:07) - Grazing Techniques and Challenges (04:57) - Record Keeping and Ranch Management (09:20) - Transition to Instinctive Migratory Grazing (IMG) (18:08) - Implementing and Refining IMG (33:07) - Stockmanship and Herd Behavior (40:26) - Understanding Animal Communication (40:38) - Four-Wheeler vs. Horseback Communication (42:00) - Benefits of IMG Grazing in Arid Environments (43:12) - Forage Quality and Species Changes (45:14) - Managing Cow Herds and Yearlings (50:50) - Insurance Pastures: A Safety Net for Grazing (56:10) - Upcoming Grazing School Details (01:03:42) - Famous Four Questions (01:14:56) - Conclusion and Takeaways

Om Podcasten

The Grazing Grass Podcast features insights and stories of regenerative farming, specifically emphasizing grass-based livestock management. Our mission is to foster a community where grass farmers can share knowledge and experiences with one another. We delve into their transition to these practices, explore the ins and outs of their operations, and then move into the "Over Grazing" segment, which addresses specific challenges and learning opportunities. The episode rounds off with the "Famous Four" questions, designed to extract valuable wisdom and advice. Join us to gain practical tips and inspiration from the pioneers of regenerative grass farming. This is the podcast for you if you are trying to answer: What are regenerative farm practices? How to be grassfed? How do I graze other species of livestock? What's are ways to improve pasture and lower costs? What to sell direct to the consumer?