New Principles of Regenerative Grazing Video Series

08/19/2025
By: Kevin Watt, Bookcliff Consulting

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new video series: Regenerative Planned Grazing: Principles to Graze By! 

This six-part series is designed to educate ranchers, landowners, and technical assistance providers across California about the core principles of regenerative planned grazing. These videos were developed in partnership with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District (SMRCD) and with a grant from the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI).

Led by Hayley Strohm, Science Coordinator at TomKat Ranch, these lessons offer valuable insights into practices that can improve the productivity and resilience of landscapes.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn in the series:

Lesson 1: Introducing the Principles of Regenerative Grazing

• What is regenerative agriculture?
• Why do we care about it?
• An introduction to the six principles of regenerative agriculture, viewed through a grazing lens.

Lesson 2: Understanding Context

• Defining context in an agricultural system.
• Exploring ecological context and how it informs management decisions.

Lesson 3: Keep Soil Covered

• The importance of soil cover and its impact on soil biology and water cycles.
• Practical ways to maintain soil cover through regenerative grazing.

Lesson 4: Enhance Living Roots/Optimize Photosynthesis

• The critical role of living roots and photosynthesis in soil health.
• Strategies for encouraging robust root systems and optimizing plant growth.

Lesson 5: Optimize Disturbance

• Understanding different forms of agricultural disturbance (biological, chemical, physical).
• How to optimize disturbance, especially grazing, for positive ecological outcomes.

Lesson 6: Enhance Biodiversity

• The benefits of biodiversity in plants, wildlife, microbes, and livestock.
• Management steps to enhance biodiversity on ranches you manage or advise.

Whether you’re new to regenerative practices or looking to deepen your understanding, this video series offers an accessible and practical guide. We believe these lessons will be a valuable resource for anyone aiming to improve the health and resilience of their grazing lands.

You can access the entire video series on our Regenerative Ranching Toolkit on the TomKat Ranch Educational Foundation website.

We encourage you to watch, learn, and share these resources with others who may benefit!