How This Texas Ranch Thrives in Extreme Drought

What if adding more cattle actually grew more grass—during a drought? In the middle of an extreme Texas drought, one ranch south of San Antonio is doing the opposite of what you’d expect: running more cattle on less land—and thriving. At Southwest Farms, Lee and Fiona are practicing regenerative grazing that’s restoring soil health, increasing biodiversity, and producing better beef—all while neighboring pastures struggle to survive. This film takes you into the field as they demonstrate cell grazing, hot-wire paddocks, and the core principles of regenerative agriculture—heavy animal impact, long rest periods, and keeping soil covered and alive. In just 14 minutes, they create three-quarters of an acre of fresh pasture and show how working with nature, instead of extracting from it, leads to real abundance. 📍 Shot in Medina County, just south of San Antonio, this story is part of my ongoing effort to document practical, hopeful land stewardship across Texas. ⸻ 🌱 What you’ll see in this video: • Why rotational / cell grazing increases carrying capacity • How livestock can improve soil health—even in drought • Diverse pasture mixes: grasses, legumes, broadleaf plants • Why flavor, ecology, and profitability don’t have to be trade-offs • A real-world example of regenerative agriculture actually working ⸻ 📍 About Southwest Farms Southwest Farms is located in Natalia, Texas, about 30 miles south of San Antonio. They produce grass-fed beef and welcome visitors who want to see regenerative ranching in action. https://www.southwestfarmstx.com ⸻ 👋 I’m Cory Ames. I make field-based films about Texas—native plants, land stewardship, food systems, and the people quietly doing things right. If you want more stories like this: • Subscribe for weekly Texas field films • Sign up for my Friday newsletter, Texas Field Notes • Support my work on Patreon for behind-the-scenes posts, early access, and bonus resources Links 👇 🌐 Website → https://coryames.com 📰 Texas Field Notes → https://cory-ames.kit.com/9a43cf682f ⸻ ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Extreme drought in South Texas 01:00 Why adding cattle grew more grass 02:45 The principles of regenerative agriculture 04:00 Building a new paddock with hot wire 07:30 Cell grazing & increased carrying capacity 10:00 A newborn calf + pasture diversity 12:30 Flavor, soil, and abundance 14:00 Regenerating your way forward ⸻ 💼 WORK WITH ME I partner with mission-driven brands, nonprofits, and civic organizations to tell stories that make Texas wilder and wiser. → https://coryames.com/work/ #regenerativeagriculture #texasranching #rotationalgrazing #soilhealth #grassfedbeef #regenerativegrazing #texasland #sustainableagriculture #fieldfilm #coryames