197. Silvopasture in the Real World with Austin Unruh

Austin Unruh returns for another deep, practical conversation on silvopasture — this time focusing on “the dip,” livestock pressure, pruning, shade strategy, pigs and poultry in tree systems, and what to do in Year Zero before you ever put a seedling in the ground. If you’ve ever stared at your pastures on a hot day wishing you had more shade… this one will light a fire under you.

What we cover in this episode:

• The “dip” in silvopasture: why years 1–4 feel like a grind
• Shade as the low-hanging fruit — and why it’s only the beginning
• Livestock pressure: how to protect trees when cattle, horses, and wildlife want to destroy them
• Pruning young vs. established trees (and the dangers of over-pruning)
• Species selection for different goals: shade, fodder, privacy screens, and livestock feed
• Why mulberries and persimmons shine for pigs and poultry
• Running pigs IN establishment-phase silvopasture (pros, cons, protection methods)
• Tree spacing, patterns, and why grids usually beat random placements
• Managing compaction, vole pressure, and bark hardening
• Year Zero → Year Two: fall tasks, maintenance, ordering trees, and setting up for success
• Why early wins matter psychologically (and how to get them)
• Continuous grazing vs rotational grazing when it comes to tree crops

If you’re serious about silvopasture, this episode gives you a roadmap from the ground up — from species selection and timing to realistic maintenance and livestock integration. Austin breaks down the parts most graziers underestimate: the grind, the setbacks, and the discipline it takes before shade and feed finally show up. Whether you’re planting five trees or five hundred, you’ll walk away with clearer steps and fewer unknowns.

Resources mentioned:

• Trees for Graziers — treesforgraziers.com
• Castor oil vole deterrent products
• Acres U.S.A. (publisher of Austin’s upcoming second edition)
• Liberty apple, crabapple, and apple-crab varieties
• Hybrid willow, hybrid poplar, black locust, honey locust
• Rusted Plowshare Farm (Josh Payne)

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Visit our Sponsors:
Noble Research Institute

Redmond Agriculture
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Grazing Grass Links
Website
Community (on Facebook)

Original Music by Louis Palfrey