General

The most important “feed” your animals consume isn’t feed at all. It’s clean, fresh water.

You can buy the highest quality hay, the best feed, and the perfect mineral program, but if animals aren’t drinking enough water, they won’t eat enough feed, digest it as efficiently, or perform to their potential.

Water is involved in nearly every function of the body:
✔ Digestion and nutrient absorption
✔ Milk and egg production
✔ Temperature regulation during hot weather
✔ Muscle function and growth
✔ Healthy circulation and metabolism

Most livestock consume 2 to 5 pounds of water for every pound of dry feed they eat. This can double in extremely hot weather, or during lactation. When water intake drops, feed intake usually follows, especially forage. Fortunately, improving water intake is often simple.

Easy ways to encourage better water consumption:

💧 Clean waterers regularly. Algae, slime, manure, and old feed can make water less appealing – even if it looks “good enough” to us.

💧 Keep water cool in the summer whenever possible. Animals often drink more when water is fresh and not sitting in the hot sun all day.

💧 Check waterers every day. A clogged float valve, frozen line, tipped bucket, or slow leak can quickly become a big problem.

💧 Make sure every animal has access. Dominant animals can prevent timid animals from drinking, especially in smaller pens.

💧 Place water where animals naturally spend time, but away from heavy manure accumulation to help keep it cleaner.

💧 Keep quality salt available at all times. This naturally encourages water intake, and helps the animal balance their electrolytes.

💧 During periods of heat stress, illness, travel, or other stressful events, consider adding an electrolyte, a little molasses, or a hydration supplement to encourage water intake and replace lost minerals.

If you want to improve feed efficiency, animal performance, and overall health, don’t just look at the feed. Start with the water.

When animals drink well, they usually eat well, and that’s where good nutrition begins.

💬 What’s your favorite trick for keeping water clean and encouraging animals to drink more during the summer?

We are excited to introduce this new series sharing simple and practical feeding tips. Good feeding practices don’t have to be complicated, but they are important to the health of your animal and the effectiveness of your feed.

Simple Feeding Tip #1: Feed Off the Ground

One of the easiest ways to improve animal health, reduce feed waste, and stretch your feed budget is to keep feed off the ground whenever possible.

Why does it matter?
Many of the most common livestock parasites and disease organisms are transmitted through the fecal-oral route. In simple terms, animals become exposed when feed or water comes into contact with manure. Every time feed is dropped onto a muddy lot, manure-covered bedding, or a heavily trafficked feeding area, the risk of contamination increases.

Feeding off the ground can help:
✔ Reduce feed waste
✔ Keep feed cleaner and more appetizing
✔ Reduce manure contamination
✔ Lower parasite exposure pressure
✔ Improve feed efficiency
✔ Keep feeding areas drier and easier to manage

And the savings can be significant. Research has shown that feeding hay (as an example) without a feeder can result in over 50% waste, while well-designed feeders can reduce losses to single digits.

Simple ways to keep feed off the ground:

• Use feeders, bunks, troughs, hay rings, racks, or feed pans.
• Hay nets are great for containing forage for animals without horns
• Place feeders on a gravel pad, concrete surface, rubber mat, geotextile pad, or other well-drained area.
• Set feed pans or mineral feeders on pallets or another raised surface to keep them out of mud and standing water.
• Use over the fence buckets or large mineral feeders with a cover for minerals and salt blocks to keep them clean and prevent contamination.
• Secure feeders and pans to prevent nosy or pushy animals from tipping them over and spilling feed on the ground.
• Create a designated feeding area in a remote spot rather than feeding directly in your high-traffic areas.
• Move portable feeders regularly to prevent manure buildup and muddy conditions.
• Use feeders that catch dropped feed or forage instead of allowing it to fall onto the ground.
• For pasture-based systems, avoid repeatedly feeding in the same location as much as possible.

Whether you’re grass-fed, conventionally fed, or raising a few animals in the backyard, keeping feed cleaner is one of the simplest management changes you can make.

Nothing is getting cheaper these days. Better feeding is about wasting less of the feed you already have, to help your dollar go further. Your animals will be healthier too!

What’s your favorite trick for feeding off the ground and reducing feed waste? Share a photo of your feed setup below!

In today’s uncertain economy, more families are looking for practical ways to stretch their budgets, improve food security, and become less dependent on fragile supply chains. One of the simplest and most rewarding ways to do that is by keeping a dual purpose chicken flock. Unlike specialized commercial breeds that are designed only for egg production or only for meat production, dual purpose birds are exactly what their name implies: chickens that can provide both. Hens lay a steady supply of eggs for the family, while excess roosters and older hens can also contribute quality meat to the table. For many homesteaders and backyard chicken keepers, this creates a more sustainable and self-sufficient system.

Over the last several years, many people have experienced firsthand how vulnerable the food system can be. Rising grocery prices, hatchery shortages, bird diseases, and shipping delays have made families realize how dependent they are on outside systems. A dual purpose flock offers a way to reclaim some independence.

Instead of relying on a hatchery every spring to replace production birds, a healthy dual purpose flock can reproduce naturally year after year. Families can hatch their own meat chicks, raise replacement pullets, and maintain their flock long-term. This reduces dependence on outside suppliers while preserving valuable genetics that work well in your environment and management style – something a hatchery cannot reproduce.

A self-sustaining flock also teaches important skills that many families are working hard to recover: incubation, brooding, selective breeding, culling, pasture management, and food preservation. These are practical, real-world skills that strengthen both households and communities.

Modern commercial laying breeds are excellent at producing large numbers of eggs, but they were never designed to sustain themselves naturally over many years. Dual purpose breeds, on the other hand, often offer greater hardiness, better foraging ability, stronger mothering instincts, and improved adaptability to pasture-based or backyard systems.

Popular dual purpose breeds such as Plymouth Rocks, Orpingtons, Australorps, Wyandottes, and Rhode Island Reds can thrive in a wide variety of settings. Many families appreciate their calm temperaments, cold hardiness, and ability to convert pasture, bugs, and kitchen scraps into valuable food. If you are looking for the best in heritage dual purpose birds, the America Bresse is hard to beat. In difficult economic times, every bit of efficiency counts. Now might be the time to convert your flock into more than a hobby or laying flock, but a meaningful part of your household resilience.

One important thing to remember is that a reproductive dual purpose flock often has different nutritional needs than a standard laying flock. Producing fertile eggs, maintaining strong hatchability, supporting healthy rooster fertility, and developing vigorous chicks all place additional demands on the birds. Breeding animals require higher overall nutritional support because they are not only maintaining themselves and producing eggs, they are also creating the next generation.

Key nutrients such as quality protein, balanced amino acids, vitamins, trace minerals, and healthy fats all play important roles in reproductive performance and chick vitality. Birds that are expected to breed naturally and raise strong offspring often benefit from more nutrient-dense feeding programs than flocks managed solely for table egg production. For homesteaders seeking true sustainability, nutrition becomes one of the most important investments you can make in the long-term health and productivity of your flock.

Keeping dual purpose chickens is building a system that helps families become more capable, more resilient, and more connected to their food. A carefully managed flock can provide nourishment, education, and security for years to come. In a world where so much feels uncertain, there is something deeply valuable about gathering eggs from your own hens, hatching chicks from your own breeding stock, and knowing your family is capable of producing real food with your own hands.
These days, that peace of mind may be the greatest benefit of all.

We are proud to carry a full line of feed designed specifically for the needs of a dual purpose flock, with supercharged nutrition and extra vitamins & minerals to support reproduction or growth. Ask about our “Dual-Purpose” feeds today.

Flies are more than just a nuisance around the farm – heavy fly pressure can have a real impact on livestock health, comfort, and performance. 🪰

When animals are constantly fighting flies, they spend less time eating and resting and more time stressed and irritated. Excessive fly pressure has been shown to reduce weight gain, lower feed efficiency, decrease milk production, and negatively affect overall animal well-being. In severe cases, flies can even contribute to disease transmission and infections.

Good fly control starts with a combination of management practices and nutritional support. A few simple ways to help reduce flies around your property include:
✔️ Keep manure and wet bedding cleaned up regularly
✔️ Eliminate standing water whenever possible
✔️ Improve airflow in barns and shelters
✔️ Keep feed storage areas clean and dry
✔️ Use mineral and feed additives that support natural fly control, and start early!

We carry several products that can help support your fly control program this season:

Redmond 10 Fine Salt with Garlic – now available in both loose mineral and block form!

Riomax tubs with Repel (garlic) or FlyBye (IGR for high fly pressure)

Fertrell Fly Aside – available in both dry feed-through and liquid concentrate options

Most of these products contain garlic as a natural method of fly control, and it really does work!

🧄 Garlic – The Real MVP on the Summer Homestead
Garlic isn’t just helpful during fly season – it has been used for generations as a natural support tool for livestock health on the homestead. While it’s not a replacement for proper nutrition or veterinary care, garlic can offer several potential benefits when included as part of a balanced feeding program:

• Supports natural fly resistance by helping make animals less attractive to biting insects
• Encourages appetite in some animals during heat stress or seasonal changes
• Provides sulfur compounds and trace nutrients that support overall wellness
• May help support respiratory health during dusty or damp conditions
• Supports circulation and immune function through naturally occurring compounds like allicin
• Can help promote healthier skin and coat condition in some livestock species

Many homesteaders appreciate garlic because it fits well into a more natural management approach, especially when combined with clean housing, quality feed, fresh water, and strong mineral programs.
Garlic products are commonly used with cattle, goats, sheep, poultry, and horses – especially during the warmer months when insect pressure is high.

As with any supplement, consistency matters. Garlic tends to work best when fed regularly over time rather than as a one-time treatment.

So how does garlic work to reduce fly pressure, specifically?
When livestock consume garlic through mineral or feed supplements, the natural sulfur compounds are absorbed and released through the skin and breath. That creates a scent flies don’t like, helping make animals less attractive to biting pests.

Research continues to support what many producers have noticed in the field. A Saskatchewan field study highlighted by Redmond Agriculture found cattle receiving garlic mineral had roughly 55% fewer flies compared to control groups, along with noticeably less fly-avoidance behavior.

Garlic can be a great natural tool for reducing fly pressure, especially when started early in the season and paired with good pasture management. For severe infestations, some producers also use an IGR (Insect Growth Regulator) as part of a broader fly control strategy. Unlike repellents, IGRs work by interrupting the fly life cycle in manure, helping prevent larvae from developing into adult flies.

No single method is perfect on its own – but combining nutrition, sanitation, garlic-based products, and when needed an IGR program can make a huge difference in animal comfort and performance through the summer months.

A strong fly control program helps keep animals more comfortable, supports better production and growth, and makes chore time a little more enjoyable for everyone. Stop by the warehouse if you’d like help choosing the best option for your herd or flock this summer! ☀️

In today’s world, labels like organic and non-GMO carry a lot of weight—and for good reason. But it’s worth asking: what do those labels actually guarantee… and what do they leave out?

Organic vs. Non-GMO – what’s the difference?
Non-GMO means the ingredients are not genetically modified.
Organic goes further, with regulations around how crops are grown—no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, and additional standards for handling and processing.

Both have value. But neither label tells the whole story.
The reality is, a label is a certification of a standard—but it’s not a guarantee of freshness, nutrient quality, sourcing transparency, or the integrity of the people producing it. Feed can still sit for long periods, ingredients can vary in quality, and minimum standards don’t always equal optimal nutrition.

At Kraut Creek, we’ve made a conscious decision:
We are certified non-GMO, but not certified organic.

Why? Because while organic certification has benefits, it also comes with significant costs—and those costs get passed on to you. Instead, we focus on building feeds that are as closely aligned with organic practices as we can, without making them financially out of reach for the farmers and homesteaders we serve.

But more importantly, we go beyond what’s required.

We invest in third-party testing of our feeds and ingredients to ensure they are free from:
Herbicides
Pesticides
Mycotoxins
Antibiotics
Hormones

None of that testing is required for non-GMO certification. We do it because we want to know, not assume, that what we’re providing is clean, safe, and worthy of the animals you raise and the families you feed.

At the end of the day, labels matter, but integrity matters more.
The best guarantee of quality isn’t just what’s printed on the bag…
It’s the people willing to stand behind it.

At Grace & Grain Meats, the connection between land, livestock, and family runs deep. This is the kind of operation where animals are raised with intention, not shortcuts, and where quality starts long before anything ever reaches the table.

Rooted in faith and guided by a commitment to stewardship, Grace & Grain focuses on raising animals in a way that respects both the land and the life it supports. It’s a slower, more thoughtful approach – one that prioritizes animal well-being, clean nutrition, and honest production practices.

Like many small, locally-owned meat operations, their work reflects a bigger mission: providing nutrient-dense, locally raised food while strengthening the relationship between farmer and customer. That kind of transparency and care is what sets homestead-raised meat apart from conventional sources, where quality often begins at the farm level and carries through every step to your plate.

Whether you’re stocking your freezer, feeding your family, or simply looking to know your farmer, Grace & Grain Meats represents what so many of us are working toward: food that’s raised right, close to home, and rooted in something deeper than convenience.

We’re grateful for homesteads like this that are doing the work, serving their communities, and helping bring integrity back to the food system!

We love getting to spotlight families who are truly living out what it means to steward the next generation well—and Double J Farm, run by the Jones family, is a great example of just that.

Rooted in hard work, faith, and a commitment to doing things the right way, the Tasha & Joel Jones have built their farm around quality, care, and consistency. Like many strong family operations, they believe in raising quality animals and products.

At Double J Farm, it’s not just about production – it’s about purpose. About caring for the land, the animals, and the people they serve, and teaching their two daughters the same. The whole family is involved in the livestock around here, from raising a commercial meat goat herd, to breeding and showing ADGA registered Nigerian Dwarfs, rabbits, American game and Asil chickens, and the occasional pig. Their girls have practically grown up in the show pen! When they aren’t busy taking care of their breeding stock, they’re enjoying some down time with the family horses. You can find a little bit of everything on the Double J Farm!

We’re grateful for families like the Joneses who continue to invest in the future of livestock, and passing it to the next generation.

If you haven’t already, go check them out and follow along with their journey:

doublejfarm.net

Double J Farm

This week we’re proud to shine a light on T&W Ranch in Live Oak, Florida – a family-run operation stewarded by the Radwanski family.

Rooted in a legacy that began back in 1991 with Tom and Wanda Cheek (Papa & Mama), T&W Ranch is built on something deeper than farming. They’re carrying forward a commitment to the land, the animals, and the people they serve that was set on a firm foundation of dreams and hard work by the generations before.

At T&W, you’ll find livestock raised the way it should be – out on pasture, living naturally, and managed with care and intention. Their focus on regenerative, ethical practices isn’t just a buzzword… it’s commitment to doing things right, even when it’s not the easiest path.

From pasture-raised beef, chicken, and pork to eggs and raw milk, everything they produce reflects their goal: clean, nutrient-dense food raised with integrity and respect for the land.

But what really stands out is the heart behind it all – a family dedicated to learning, improving, and providing for their community while honoring those who loved the land before them. Operations like T&W Ranch are a reminder of what’s possible when good stewardship meets hard work and purpose.

If you’re not already following along with them, go check them out and show some support

https://twranchfl.com

We’re grateful to be part of a community filled with families like the Radwanskis who are committed to raising food the right way!

This week we’re excited to highlight our friends, Mike & Franque Bradshaw and their homestead, Our Farm on 60! Located in Perryville, Arkansas, the Bradshaws are building something special as they continue growing their homestead one step at a time.

Their farm is home to dairy cows, chickens, ducks and a whole lot of hands-on learning as they expand their operation and keep adding new skills along the way. Like many great homesteads, it’s a constant journey of experimenting, improving, and working with the land and animals every day.

The Bradshaw family has been some of our biggest cheerleaders, and we’re incredibly grateful for their support and enthusiasm for what we do. They host a drop point in Perryville if you are looking for feed near you!

We love seeing farms like theirs thrive and can’t wait to see where their homesteading journey takes them next.

Give Our Farm on 60 some love!

As winter fades and we begin planning gardens and pasture growth, early spring is the perfect time to evaluate what your soil actually needs. Months of cold temperatures, snow, and rain can leave soil compacted, mineral-depleted, and biologically sluggish. The good news is that a few simple steps can help wake your soil back up and set the stage for a productive growing season.

Below are some of the most common soil deficiencies and challenges we see each spring—along with simple ways to correct them.

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1️⃣ Mineral Depletion After Winter

Heavy winter precipitation often leaches key nutrients from the soil. Calcium, magnesium, potassium, and trace minerals are especially prone to being washed deeper into the soil profile where young plants can’t easily access them.

Replenishing broad-spectrum minerals early in the season is one of the best investments you can make. Products like Fertrell mineral blends help restore a wide range of trace elements that plants require in small amounts but depend on heavily for healthy growth.

These ocean-derived minerals:

Reintroduce dozens of trace elements

Support stronger plant immune systems

Improve flavor and nutrient density in produce

Help build resilient pasture forage

Applying minerals before planting or just as pasture begins greening up helps ensure plants have what they need from the start.

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2️⃣ Low Soil Biology After Cold Weather

Winter slows microbial life dramatically. Beneficial bacteria, fungi, and other organisms that normally break down organic matter and cycle nutrients are often at their lowest levels in early spring.

Without active soil biology:

Nutrients remain “locked up” in the soil

Plants struggle to access fertility

Soil structure breaks down over time

Stimulating soil biology helps bring soil back to life quickly.

Some effective strategies include:

Adding compost or compost-based fertilizers

Applying biological soil amendments

Feeding microbes with organic matter

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3️⃣ Compaction from Winter Moisture

Repeated freezing, thawing, and wet conditions can leave soil dense and compacted, especially in gardens that were heavily walked on or pastures with winter livestock traffic.

Compacted soil leads to:

Poor root penetration

Reduced water infiltration

Increased runoff and erosion

Stunted plant growth

Improving soil structure is key.

Helpful approaches include:

Light tilling or broad forking garden beds

Adding organic matter such as compost

Improving mineral balance (especially calcium)

Balanced minerals help soil particles form stable aggregates, which create air pockets for roots, microbes, and water movement.

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4️⃣ Poor Early Nitrogen Availability

Nitrogen is the nutrient plants need most for leafy growth, but early spring soils often lack available nitrogen because microbial activity hasn’t ramped up yet.

Symptoms include:

Slow seedling growth

Yellowing leaves

Weak pasture regrowth

Applying a gentle nitrogen source early in the season can help jump-start plant growth while the soil biology catches up.

Organic fertilizers from Fertrell are designed to release nutrients steadily rather than all at once, helping support plants without creating excessive runoff or burn.

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5️⃣ Trace Mineral Deficiencies

Many soils—especially those farmed for years—lack critical trace elements such as boron, zinc, copper, and manganese.

Though needed only in small amounts, these minerals play huge roles in:

Flower and fruit development

Plant immunity

Seed germination

Nutritional value of crops

Broad-spectrum mineral amendments are often the easiest way to address trace deficiencies. Applying SEA-90 Soil Mineralizer helps restore a natural ocean-derived mineral balance that plants evolved to thrive in.

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Simple Steps to Start the Season Strong

If you want to give your garden or pasture the best start possible this spring, focus on these four fundamentals:

1. Test your soil

Knowing your starting point helps guide mineral applications.

2. Replenish trace minerals

Use products like SEA-90 Soil Mineralizer or fertilizer blends from Fertrell.

3. Feed the soil biology

Add compost or biologically friendly fertilizers.

4. Improve soil structure

Reduce compaction and add organic matter.

Healthy soil is the foundation of productive gardens, nutrient-dense food, and resilient pasture forage. Taking a little time to correct common spring deficiencies now can pay dividends all season long.

If you’re not sure what your soil needs, stop in and talk with us—we’re happy to help you choose the right amendments to get your soil and plants thriving this year.