STAPLES FARM

Some of you may remember that Jon and I attended the inaugural OSU Extension Grazing School on May 11 and 12. This morning, I received an email from one of the instructors, Dr. Josh Campbell, who sent a photo of Jon, another participant, and me collecting forage to assess how many pounds per acre were available for livestock. The class was outstanding, and we highly recommend it to anyone involved in grazing livestock. In other farm news, staff members from the ECDYSIS Foundation visited today to launch our participation in Project Avalanche. They collected soil and forage samples, tested the soil's water-holding capacity, observed and documented birds and other wildlife, and gathered insects from the test areas. Tomorrow, we'll receive training to collect samples for the program's second and third years. I'll share the results of the 2026 tests as soon as they're available. In 2027, I will serve as the Avalanche Coordinator for the program in this region of Oklahoma. Please reach out if you or a farmer you know might be interested. -Leo

The past three weeks have been a whirlwind of activity, and one of our FB followers reminded me today that I’ve fallen behind on my posts. Last week, we planted cowpeas, Korean Lespedeza, and Chicory in the hayfields to serve as companion plants for the grasses. Although we received a little rain, it wasn’t enough to replenish the ponds. Just yesterday, I began watering the newly planted pig pasture. Thankfully, it looks like we got a good stand, and we’re grateful to be able to irrigate when needed. Each week during their first month, we weigh our piglets to track their growth. Snowy’s litter turned three weeks old last Sunday, and at tonight’s weigh-in, they averaged an impressive 15.56 pounds. This is easily the fastest-growing group of piglets we’ve ever had. Tomorrow brings another full day: we’ll be planting wildlife areas, delivering hay samples to the OSU Extension Office, and making a quick visit to explore some exciting new possibilities for the farm. While our days are long, the joy of working with family and witnessing God’s handiwork makes every moment worthwhile. We truly feel blessed. We hope you’re enjoying our posts and videos. If you have any questions or suggestions for future topics, feel free to email me at [email protected]. -Leo

Well, Andi has been at it again, creating another fantastic TikTok video. This one is titled "Jurassic Pork." https://www.tiktok.com/@staples.farm/video/7644308846038551838?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7603400661783103006 You can check out all of the videos that she has created for the farm at https://www.tiktok.com/@staples.farm.

We’re grateful for the nearly 1 inch of rain we’ve received since we planted on Monday. Our sow, Snowy, wasn’t a fan of the chilly, drizzly weather in the low 50s that came with the rain. That is, until she walked into her Osborne pasture farrowing hut last night. Thanks to the hut’s insulation, a heat lamp, and the warmth from Snowy and her 8 piglets, the inside was cozy and comfortable. Staples Farm proudly distributes Osborne livestock equipment, and, more importantly, puts it to use every day in our pasture-raised pig operation. #OsborneLivestockEquipment -Leo

Today marks the start of our summer planting, and this year we’re taking a new approach to the pig pasture. In the past, we relied on traditional tillage methods, even though we know that they harm beneficial microbes, disrupt soil structure, and deplete organic matter. This time, we minimized the tillage, focusing only on repairing the spots where the pigs had wallowed. Not only did it save time and fuel, but it also helped preserve our soil's health. We’re keen to observe how plants respond to this change. Our summer pig pasture mix is particularly diverse this year: Poso Millet, Foxtail Millet, Okra, Chicory, African Cabbage, Cowpeas, Forage Soybeans, Mung Beans, Sunn Hemp, Piper Sudangrass, Buckwheat, Sunflowers, Forage Collards, and a Cucurbit Blend. Each component was selected to support our regenerative farming philosophy. Legumes boost protein, grasses add fiber, forbs and brassicas contribute minerals and energy, while sunflowers and the cucurbit blend provide high-energy carbohydrates. We’re looking forward to observing how this blend thrives and how the pigs respond to it. Of course, not everything went as planned—rarely does it in farming. Our seed supplier mistakenly included the Cucurbit Blend in the small seed box mix. Since this blend contains squash, pumpkins, and gourds, we soon discovered that pumpkin seeds don’t fit through the small seed tubes of a Great Plains 1006NT planter. Some seeds were crushed; others clogged the tubes. We had to vacuum out the small seed box, separate the pumpkin seeds, and move them to the large seed box. After that, the rest of the two-acre field was planted smoothly. In a couple of weeks, we’ll plant another field to stagger growth and maximize forage quality. These fields should support the pigs until the fall pasture is ready—assuming we get some much-needed rain. -Leo PS: We’re also sowing this diverse blend in our wildlife areas. Left to grow throughout the summer, these plots will provide excellent grazing and, by late summer, produce a bounty of seeds, pods, and melons for our wildlife.