STAPLES FARM

We send our love to Emma and all the children who have DDX3X.

Staples Farm was pleased to be a sponsor of the 2026 DDX3X Beast Feast in Newkirk Oklahoma. We also donated a Yeti 45 cooler stocked with our delicious pasture-raised Berkshire pork. DDX3X syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by spontaneous mutations in the X-linked DDX3X gene, primarily affecting females. https://ddx3x.org/ This is our third year to attend and second to be a sponsor. -Leo

You might have noticed we're distributors for Osborne Livestock Equipment. Not only do we sell their products, but we also use them in our farrow-to-finish pig operation. Last night, I snapped a photo in the feeder pig paddock. With the abundance of high-quality forage, none of the pigs were at the Osborne Big Wheel feeder. At Staples Farm, we only offer products that we trust and use ourselves. -Leo

Gabe Brown, a leading figure in regenerative agriculture, brought widespread attention to six key principles of soil health. 1. Context 2. Minimize Disturbance 3. Soil Armor 4. Diversity 5. Living Roots 6. Animal Integration These principles are part of our regenerative plan. For years, obtaining a no-till drill was a significant challenge, often forcing us to plant outside the ideal windows for fall and summer cover crops. We overcame this hurdle last fall by purchasing a Great Plains 1006NT, allowing us to plant on schedule. In Oklahoma, April is a challenging month for planting as it is generally considered too late for spring oats and too early for warm-season crops. My dad always believed that successful farms are built on a willingness to experiment, whether that means trying a new plant variety, method, timing, or type of fertilizer. Today, we’re planting the one-acre plot where our pigs grazed late last fall with a diverse seed mix, including: * Forage Oats (50 pounds) * Yellow Peas (50 pounds) * Buckwheat (5 pounds) * Chicory (5 pounds) * Forage Collards (1 pound) * Forage Kale (1 pound) * Red Mammoth Fodder Beets (2 pounds) * Berseem Clover (4 pounds) We also threw in the alfalfa, GA9908 red clover, and Daikon Radish seeds (1 pound) that we cleaned out of the no-till last fall. The early growth of oats and peas supports the establishment of the other plants. The brassicas (collards, kale, and radish) develop deep roots and provide excellent grazing for our pigs. Chicory mines minerals from deep within the soil, while the fast-growing Berseem Clover, technically not a true clover, delivers high-quality forage. Buckwheat is notable for scavenging phosphorus and being rich in lysine, an essential nutrient for pigs. Fodder beets offer high-energy forage, though our current grazing schedule prevents them from reaching full maturity. Although cool-season plants dominate, this multi-species blend is designed to extend grazing into the warmer months. The Buckwheat, Chicory, and Berseem Clover were gifts from Tom Ross of Ross Seed Company. Tom and his son Mason have been strong supporters of our mission to produce high-quality forage for our pasture-pig operation. We are still missing animal integration across our farming operation, which I consider the most important principle of soil health. In the coming months, we hope to solve this issue by adding pasture-raised broiler chickens, hair sheep, and cattle to the farm. -Leo

Wishing you an Easter filled with joy, love, and cherished moments surrounded by family and friends. Happy Easter from The Staples Farm Family!