Book Review: Comeback Farms
Comeback Farms
Rejuvenating Soils, Pastures and Profits with Livestock Grazing Management
by Greg Judy
4.5 out of 5 stars
Greg Judy writes an inspiring book about how he turned his struggling cattle venture into an overwhelming success. He instructs on how to manage a large livestock grazing operation without owning any livestock or land. You read that right. By finding ranchers who need grass for their cows to graze and landowners looking to lease out their land, Judy has found a low-cost, low-risk way to grow a livestock enterprise,
Comeback Farms describes not only the business model of Green Pastures Farm but how to efficiently turn barren land into lush pastures for his customers’ grazing animals. Through the process of rotational grazing, holistic management, and high-density planned grazing, Judy has managed to turn struggling pastures into diverse, productive ecosystems all while baffling neighbors.
Most of the book is an easy read. Judy describes his business, systems, and trials in a light and easy to understand way; however, he also tried to describe a few rather complex practices that are hard to put into words. I salute him for attempting to convey practices he finds important (and others might understand it better than I) but I would have liked to see more pictures, diagrams, and references to his many videos online.
I really enjoyed this book. There’s a lot to learn from Judy’s farming trials but there are also many entertaining stories he tells along the way. I particularly enjoyed his mishap with a rodeo bull. I really appreciate that Judy identifies exactly (down to the brand) some of the tools and supplies critical to his operation. He also does a great job describing how he plans his temporary paddocks. Though most of book focuses on cattle operations, there is a lot of information on integrating sheep and hogs into his operation. Also, I believe many of his cattle lessons can be applied to other grazing animals (like our sheep). I will certainly be referencing this book as we implement our rotational grazing system here at Apollo Acres. Judy is clearly an expert and I am currently considering attending one of his classes in Missouri to see his practices first hand.
Whether you are considering starting a small farm or are a seasoned rancher looking to improve your operation, Comeback Farms has a lot to offer. This book is a follow-up to No Risk Ranching so consider reading that first, unlike yours truly. Be sure to checkout Judy’s YouTube channel for more insight into his operations. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to start a profitable livestock business.
