KLR Marketing Podcast

Co-trainer Mel Kiel (Yeoval, NSW) and co-founder Grahame Rees unpack what KLR Marketing is really all about — beyond the myths, beyond "systems," and well beyond simply trading cattle. Mel shares how she went from turning up at a KLR school with a two-year-old on her hip to running a 100% trading operation and now training producers across Australia and the US. Grahame traces the origins of KLR back to working with Bud Williams, the partnership with Rod Knight and Jim Lindsay, and how the KLR principles have evolved over more than 20 years. Together, they walk through the five KLR principles, why grass is the real driver of profit, how to think about cost of carry that incorporates overheads, and how KLR helps you create cash flow and profit in any market — rising, falling, or sideways. If you've ever wondered, "What actually IS KLR?" or "Is it only for traders?" this conversation gives you a clear, practical overview. What We Cover Mel's story: from a small farm and young family to Full-time Trading and KLR trainer Grahame's background at Ivanhoe, stockmanship with Bud Williams, and the birth of KLR How Knight, Lindsay & Rees (KLR) came together — and the legacy of the Late Rod Knight Where KLR is being used: Australia, NZ, US, Canada, South Africa, and beyond Why KLR is not just about trading – and why breeders often have more opportunity The five KLR principles and how they guide day-to-day decisions Grass as the foundation: matching stocking rate to carrying capacity The concept of cost of carry vs "cost of gain" and why overheads matter Using the Business Analyzer, spreadsheets, and the cloud app to make decisions Real examples: When to Sell, When not to Replace, and when the numbers say "walk away" The role of agents, bankers and advisors in your KLR "team" The structure of the KLR Marketing School and the ongoing Mastermind & 6-week sprint Why KLR doesn't try to predict the market — and focuses on margin, not prices. Key Takeaways KLR is a decision-making framework, not a rigid system. It gives you tools and principles to make your own choices around grass, money, and livestock. Breeders AND Traders can use KLR. KLR applies whether you're trading, backgrounding, or running a breeding enterprise — you simply use the tools in different places in the business. Grass comes first. You're a grass producer before you're a livestock producer. Matching stocking rate to carrying capacity is central to both profit and peace of mind. Cash flow is as important as profit. KLR helps you design trades and strategies that keep money moving through the business, not just paper profits. Cost of Carry includes overheads. It's not just freight and animal health — overheads, interest, and time all need to be accounted for in your trades. You can profit in any market direction. Rising, falling, or sideways, there are always price relationships and margins to work with — if you have a way to measure them. Know and understand yourself. Your risk profile, habits, skills with numbers, grass management and people all affect how you use the KLR tools. You're not alone. The KLR Mastermind, agents who understand the approach, and other graduates create a support network to help implement, not just "learn and leave." The Five KLR Principles Balance the trading between the inventories of grass, money and livestock Every day we sell and replace (can be sell and replace with grass or upcoming progeny) Know the price relationship between what you have to sell and what you can replace it with today Sell the overpriced, buy/keep the underpriced (for you, after cost of carry) Know and understand yourself About the Presenters Mel Kiel – Co-Trainer, KLR Marketing School Mel lives at Yeoval, NSW, where she and her husband Dave run a 100% trading operation complemented by a mobile diesel mechanic business. She first attended a KLR school over 20 years ago and has been using the principles ever since. Today, Mel co-trains KLR schools in Australia and the US, supports producers through the KLR Mastermind, and is known for her practical focus on grass, cash flow, and unemotional decision-making. Grahame Rees – Co-Founder & Trainer, KLR Marketing School Grahame spent his early life at Ivanhoe, NSW, managing sheep and wool operation and trading cattle, He has a long background in grazing management and low-stress stock handling. After working closely with Bud Williams and partnering with Jim Lindsay and the late Rod Knight, he helped develop what is now the KLR Marketing School. Grahame continues to teach, manage livestock on a smaller scale, travel to ranches worldwide, and refine the KLR tools and principles. Standout Quotes "We're not teaching a system. We're teaching principles you can apply anywhere." "We're really grass producers. The way we sell that grass through animals determines profit." "The formula is simple: sell – buy – cost of carry = profit or loss. The human mind is what complicates it." "It's not about whether the market is high or low. It's about the relationship between what you're selling and what you're replacing it with today." "Knowing and understanding yourself is often the biggest block when making decisions."  

Trading With Confidence: How Numbers, Grass & Teamwork Drive Better Decisions ~ Rhys and Catherine Daniels In this episode, we dive into a practical and powerful conversation about livestock trading, using tools like AuctionsPlus and the KLR Marketing calculator, and how clear thinking—not emotion—creates consistent profit. Our guests share how they transformed their business by focusing on cashflow, grass budgeting, timing, and teamwork. 🔥 Key Topics Covered Using AuctionsPlus strategically – how real-time updates during a sale with the KLR Calculator App, help remove emotion and guide buying decisions. The power of the KLR calculator – working out profit per head, per trade, and per annum before committing. Setting a clear "sell" first – why knowing your sale price makes buying decisions far simpler. Removing emotion from trading – no more falling in love with "nice-looking" cattle; decisions are purely numbers-based. Cashflow transformation – how their trading success exceeded expectations and delivered stronger-than-anticipated cashflow. Why market risk is overrated – and why feed risk is now the biggest factor to manage. Grass budgeting as the real edge – understanding how feed reserves unlock opportunity and protect profit. Opportunity in low markets – why falling prices often create the best margins. Teamwork in trading – how Catherine's fresh perspective and enthusiasm enhanced decision-making. Using data to challenge assumptions – when the calculator shows cattle are overpriced, even if "they don't look done". Finding margins everywhere – using the calculator to test scenarios: sell now or add weight? Hold or trade? Balancing fieldwork and market awareness – how working together helps identify opportunities they might otherwise miss. 💡 Key Quotes "I just look at the numbers and that's the decision." "The market isn't the risk for us anymore—the biggest risk is feed." "Low prices create the best opportunities because people make silly decisions." "The calculator says they're ready." "Being able to take opportunities has been a huge part of our success." 🎧 Why This Episode Matters This episode is a masterclass in thinking clearly about livestock trading: ✔ How to trade confidently—without stress ✔ How to use numbers instead of emotions ✔ How to turn low prices into opportunity ✔ How teamwork and fresh eyes improve decisions ✔ How to remove market risk and focus on the real risk—feed If you're managing livestock, juggling grass, cashflow, and markets, or looking to improve decision-making on your farm, this episode is full of practical insights about the benefits of attending a KLR Marketing School. Find out more at www.klrmarketing.com.au

Episode: Adaptive Grazing, Sell-Buy Marketing & Ranch Team Culture with Fiona Jackson (Redwing Ranch, Colorado) Guest: Fiona Jackson, Ranch Manager – Redwing Ranch, South-Central Colorado Host: Grahame Rees Location: Eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, elevation 7,200–8,500 ft Episode Overview In this conversation, Fiona Jackson shares an in-depth look at the evolution of Redwing Ranch — a diverse grazing operation in south-central Colorado — and how adaptive management, flexible marketing, and strong team culture drive remarkable production and financial results. Fiona walks us through the ranch's landscape, their shift away from set-stocked management, and the sell-buy strategies that generated over 42% return in 180 days being attributed to both a 'good' trade and a rising market, on some trades – without flogging the paddocks. Realistically we were aiming for around a 20% ROI and the 42% ROI in 180 days was phenomenal.  The initial price relationships were showing 24% ROI which is on target for what we are looking for, and then with a rising market contributing as well, we were positioned with the 42% ROI when we sold 180 days later. Another example on our ROI, our 300 head of stocker heifers this summer had a 21% ROI in 270 day. We were pleased with this.  She also discusses how their decision-making is grounded in grass availability, not habit or tradition, and why people management is one of the most critical skills for running a profitable ranch. What We Cover in This Episode 🏔 Ranch Context & Landscape Elevation ranges from 7,200–8,500 feet across mixed country: Shortgrass prairie Sub-irrigated meadows Historic irrigated hay ground Over 35 permanent barbed-wire pastures, a mile of river, and 20+ watering points Temporary electric fencing used to increase stock density and control graze periods Typical moves every 3–5 days, aligned with grass growth rate and season 🐄 Operation Overview Redwing Ranch is only three years into a major transition, and now runs: Custom grazing Short-term cattle ownership / sell-buy trading 3x Airbnb short-term rentals A new events & education arm (workshops, field days, women's chainsaw training, grazing schools) Before 2023, the ranch was leased for 16 years under continuous set-stocking with low ecological response. Today, the focus is profitability + animal performance + ecological regeneration. 💹 Sell-Buy Marketing: A Big Win in 2024 Fiona breaks down their major trade of the season: Initial Plan: Run 500 stockers for the summer. The Problem: By March, prices became too high to "buy right" — stockers were no longer underpriced. The Pivot: They identified an undervalued class: 3rd-trimester aged cows, expecting May–June calves. All while maintaining ecological goals and not over-grazing their country. 🌾 Grass-First Decision Making A key takeaway: "We don't talk enough about grass in marketing." — Grahame Fiona explains how grass conditions — not markets alone — determined their exit: By early fall, they had just 60–75 days of feed left. Instead of pushing the system, they: Sold all heifers and pairs on one big day Did NOT retain calves or keep cows (even though tempting at high prices) Switched to custom grazing with a neighbour to protect ecological and financial outcomes. This avoided: Feeding hay Market-mistimed selling Elevation health risks (PAP / brisket disease) in older cows Smart, fast decisions = avoided risk + preserved profit. 👥 Team & People Management Fiona believes: "Everything is a people problem." Highlights include: Weekly team meetings Working-on-the-business (WOTB) sessions Intentional hiring of apprentices via the Quivira Coalition Hiring for attitude and integrity more than experience Clear training systems for new team members This year's apprentice — zero ag background, previous aircraft mechanic — was a standout due to mindset and willingness to learn. Key Takeaways Flexibility beats tradition: Don't lock into one class of stock. Grass drives profit: Plan marketing around feed, not habit. Sell-buy works when you identify undervalued opportunities. People matter: Culture, communication, and fit are as important as grazing skills. Small changes compound: Moving cattle every few days, using temporary fence, and monitoring grass growth create ecological and financial resilience. Connect with Fiona & Redwing Ranch Website: Redwing Ranch, Colorado Email: Fiona Jackson (contact shared in the webinar)  

https://www.klrmarketing.com.au teach the 5 key principles to running a profitable Livestock business.The KLR Marketing School is a 2 /12 day school for breeders and backgrounder's of sheep and cattle.

https://www.klrmarketing.com.au teach the 5 key principles to running a profitable Livestock business.The KLR Marketing School is a 2 /12 day school for breeders and backgrounder's of sheep and cattle.

Using KLR Principles to make decisions about buying livestock in a rising market.

Rod Knight from KLR Marketing shares from a KLR perspective te things we should consider when restocking after a drought.

Stacey Curcio is from www.cultivatingwellness.com.au

Di Gill is with the Rural Adversity and Mental Health unit

Jane Weir, Paul McClymont, and Joy McClymont share their journey on a quest to take on a big scary goal.