The Pragmatist

In this episode of Stockyard Sessions, Victoria Lawrance sits down with Jake Smith from BJS Farming, a family operation running across five properties in the New England region of New South Wales. Jake grew up on land that’s been in his family for generations, spent time working as a livestock agent, and in recent years has focused on transitioning the business toward more nature-positive and regenerative practices. More recently, he’s been involved in a soil carbon project. Jake’s story is about a gradual, deliberate shift from conventional set stocking to intensive rotational grazing, with knowledge and confidence built over years through courses, books and a lot of observation. This episode is recorded during an intense and prolonged dry spell. Jake has already destocked, is putting his worst paddocks to work with bale grazing, and is thinking carefully about genetics and what it takes to build a truly resilient animal. The episode explores family legacy, a gradual shift away from conventional grazing, the practicalities of a soil carbon project, and what resilience looks like when conditions turn tough. This podcast is brought to you by Atlas Ag, the team behind Atlas Carbon and Atlas Grazing.