All posts by grasslands

CEC Supported Pilots, Community Management, Ecosystem Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Grazing Management, Invasive Species and Pest Management, Sustainable Energy Management, Water Resource Management

Bill Barby Ranch

 

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization BbarB Ranch
Country USA
Region Clark County, Kansas
Grass Type Tall, mixed-grass and sand sagebrush prairie
# of head of cattle 200
Hectares 1,503
Language English
Date modified August 2016

The B bar B ranch is located in southwest Kansas within the Great Plains of North America. The property is primarily a working cattle operation with small-scale, premium deer hunting. The region also exhibits abundant northern bobwhite quail and other grassland birds. Beneficial practices carried out on this 1,416-acre project included establishing electric cross fencing, constructing firebreaks, prescribed grazing and conducting periodic prescribed burns.

Four pastures were divided into 12 paddocks through installation of 12,736 meters of high tensile electric fence. The system included wire, chargers, remote control, step-in posts, reels, diverter and solar supplies. The ranch is off the grid so all electricity is generated from solar energy to pump water and maintain fences. The cross fencing will increase rest periods by 50–75% for each pasture, resulting in more biomass production both above and below ground level. Increased biomass and herd impacts will add soil organic matter for soil health. Also, increased rest for the pastures will maintain suitable cover height for ground-nesting birds. The ranch has gained more grazing management to enhance forage utilization and build fuel as needed for prescribed burns. The plant community will be conserved by not grazing the same cell during the same season each year, allowing plants to complete their life cycles. A diverse native plant community mitigates soil moisture deficits and maintains higher stocking rates.

Bill Barby, an active member of the local prescribed burn association (PBA), installed firebreaks and conducted a 250-hectare prescribed burn in the spring of 2015 to control invasive trees, improve livestock forage, and restore wildlife habitat. The Great Plains grasslands are the product of the interaction among grazing, fire and climate. When fire is removed from the grasslands’ cycle, invasive trees begin to dominate and cause negative impacts. Invasive trees, especially eastern red cedar, significantly lower livestock forage production, grassland wildlife habitat, and water resources, while also increasing the risk of wildfires. Tamarisk leaf beetles were released to control salt cedar—a highly invasive non-native tree that overtakes riparian areas.

The ranch has hosted tours and workshops for local producers and associations as well as state, federal and international partners. The owner-operator is a conservation leader in the community, organizing the Cherokee Strip PBA and the Clark-Comanche-Meade Regional Grazing Group.
Project partners included the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition, Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks and Tourism, US Fish and Wildlife Service Partners Program, the Kansas Department of Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Tamarisk Coalition.

CEC Supported Pilots, Community Management, Ecosystem Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Grazing Management, Invasive Species and Pest Management, Water Resource Management

Burnette Ranch

 

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization Burnette Ranch
Country USA
Region Comanche County, Kansas
Grass Type Tall, mixed-grass and sand sagebrush prairie
# of head of cattle 50 Cow/Calf pairs and 2 bulls (under drought plan)
Hectares 710
Language English
Date modified August 2016

Burnette Ranch is located within the Southwestern Tablelands in the Cimarron Breaks ecoregion of the Great Plains. This ranch has benefited from grazing management, exhibiting excellent climax native grass species composition, a diverse forb community and an active lesser prairie-chicken lek. The beneficial practices applied on this 524-hectare project included the establishment of firebreaks, periodic prescribed burns, prescribed grazing, and planting of native forbs within grassland that had been cropped.

The project focused on reclaiming native prairie being invaded by eastern red cedar (Juniper virginiana) and deciduous trees. Historically, in the Great Plains, trees were naturally controlled by periodic fire. The trees significantly reduce livestock forage, groundwater, and wildlife habitat and will replace prairie without control measures. Mechanical tree removal, using a skid steer equipped with a saw, and prescribed burns were used to eliminate trees. The landowner attended burn workshops, joined a prescribed burn association, and engaged neighbors to discuss coordination of cedar control activities.

The project also involved planting a mix of native forb species that bloom during early, mid and late growing season, benefiting pollinator species. Thousands of Monarchs have roosted at Burnette Ranch during their North American migration. A grassland location that had a crop history was selected for increasing forb abundance and diversity.

The accomplishments on Burnette Ranch are a perfect example of groups partnering together, sharing resources, to accomplish a task none of them could achieve individually.  Coordinating project partners included the Gyp Hills Prescribed Burn Association, Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition, Kansas Prescribed Fire Council’s Southwest Regional Coordinator, Burnette Ranch, The Nature Conservancy, Commission for Environmental Cooperation, Pheasants Forever, US Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service, and US Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.

CEC Supported Pilots, Community Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Grazing Management, Water Resource Management

Circle H Farms

 

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization Circle H Farms
Country Canada
Region Brandon, Manitoba
Grass Type Mixed-grass
# of head of cattle 34 cows – 32 calves
Hectares 65
Language English
Date modified August 2015

Circle H Farms, located in Brandon, Manitoba, is a working cattle operation. The owner-operator, Brian Harper, is a conservation leader in the community and conducts tours on his operation for other producers, demonstrating the various management approaches he has applied to his land. He is also an active workshop speaker on a variety of topics relating to pasture management.

The objectives of this pilot project were to increase carbon sequestration and soil organic matter, improve soil biology, increase pasture productivity and drought proofing, improve livestock average daily gains (ADG), increase stock density, decrease paddock size, decrease the grazing period and increase the recovery period.

As a first step, a soil assessment, including soil health parameters, organic matter and carbon levels, was conducted (soil will be retested in three years), followed by a pasture assessment of species’ composition, and the amount of bare ground and litter present. Cattle weights were also recorded at the start of the grazing season and when the animals were coming off pasture.

A sod-seeded legume mix was planted to increase diversity and nitrogen fixation. Water troughs were added to the pasture system and portable fencing equipment was utilized to decrease paddock size. The grazing period was reduced from three to seven days in 2013 to one day or less (2014), and the recovery period increased from approximately 40 days to over 100 days for some paddocks (yielding 1 to 1.5 grazings per year). The paddock size was also reduced from 16 acres (6.5 hectares) in 2013 to 1 acre (0.4 hectare) or less in 2014.

As a result, stock density increased from approximately 3,000 lbs. of beef per acre (3,360 kg of beef per hectare) in 2013 to over 7,000 lbs. of beef per acre (7,846 kg of beef per hectare) in 2014.

At a winter producer workshop and on a summer tour, Brian discussed the project and the beneficial results of high-stock density grazing, and two articles written about project and tour were submitted to local papers for distribution.

CEC Supported Pilots, Ecosystem Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Grazing Management

Dolen Ranch

 

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization Dolen Ranch
Country Canada
Region Spirit River, Alberta
Grass Type Mixed-grass
# of head of cattle 130
Hectares 129
Language English
Date modified August 2015

The Dolen Ranch is located in the Peace River Region of northwestern Alberta. This region often sees harsh winters and has struggled with inconsistent summer precipitation. Conrad Dolen was born and raised in the area and has been farming the ranch’s “North Fork” for the last ten years. Since the ranch was first established it has grown significantly, now housing 130 commercial beef cows. A half section (320 acres, 129.5 hecatares) of mostly native pasture is the heart of the operation, providing both summer grazing and a primary wintering site. Conrad focuses on extending the fall grazing season by stockpiling native pasture and improving the soil through the use of bale grazing during the winter months. Conrad is actively involved in attending workshops and field days with the Peace Country Beef & Forage Association and is always looking for innovative ways to improve his operation.

Conrad maintains excellent grazing records for all of his pastureland. Cattle numbers and turn-in and -out dates are available for all pastures. He has monitored the performance of his land for a number of years and is passionate about improving his land for future generations. Wintering cattle on pasture, instead of in winter corrals, benefits the land in a number of ways and returns nutrients to the soil that would otherwise be lost. However, wintering cattle on pastures in the Peace Country poses a number of challenges, including providing adequate shelter from the elements. Many pastures in the area, including Conrad’s, include wooded areas where cattle can seek shelter from the wind. However, over time, areas where the cattle frequently congregate become overloaded with nitrogen and other nutrients. In Conrad’s case this has led to loss of trees and likely of some native grass species.

The Wintering Site Assessment and Design Tool, created by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) and Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA), was used to evaluate alternative locations within the native pastures to feed cattle over the winter. This project enhanced nutrient distribution and reduced the stress on areas where cattle traditionally congregated to seek shelter. Providing portable windbreaks allowed Conrad’s cattle to remain on the pasture throughout the winter to graze stockpiled forage or bale graze while limiting the negative effects their presence had on the native pasture and trees.

Drought across the region during the summer months did not allow Conrad to plan for any grazing of stockpiled forage on his native grasslands/bush areas. The native pasture within this project (which includes some bush areas) was grazed once over the summer and Conrad was unable to utilize it as stockpiled forage in the fall as it was a very dry summer across most of the Peace Country. Wintering plans were altered to bale graze on areas that are seeded to tame pasture, located nearby to the native pasture (Conrad did not plan to do any bale grazing on the native pasture). A target area without natural shelter was selected as a wintering site. The bales were placed throughout the field, with a goal of increasing nutrient distribution utilizing the Wintering Site Assessment and Design Tool (WSADT). Soil samples were taken in early September at various points across the chosen feeding area as a benchmark for monitoring soil changes. Samples of the available forage were taken and analyzed for nutrient content. Historical knowledge of the site and forage availability were noted. Cows were moved onto the site in January 2015 and were monitored to ensure they maintained good body condition. They remained at the site until late April 2015. The portable windbreaks were moved periodically during February through April to distribute manure. Cattle will not re-enter the area until late summer of 2015. Soil samples were collected in the fall and growth of the forage species were monitored.

CEC Supported Pilots, Ecosystem Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Grazing Management, Sustainable Economic Management, Sustainable Energy Management, Water Resource Management

Ejido Casa de Janos

 

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization Ejido Casa de Janos
Country Mexico
Region Municipality of Janos, Chihuahua
Grass Type Open tussock grassland
# of head of cattle 50 on the El Madroño pasture and 118 on the El Piojo pasture
Hectares 1,681
Language Spanish
Date modified August 2015

With the implementation of sound management practices, Ejido Casa de Janos seeks to improve both the grazing system and the grassland conditions, which will result in a better habitat for fauna. This project was carried out in sector 2 of the ejido (Ejido Casa de Janos is divided into sectors), where various paddocks are located. The El Madroño and El Piojo pastures were selected for the project. While these paddocks have sources of water, a water distribution system is lacking in the paddocks.

In estimating the soil cover in the El Madroño area, 50% of the total area was found to be covered with brush, primarily annual, although areas (not very extensive) are protected with a base of much more abundant perennial scrub (such as grama and tobosa). As regards the soil structure, humus covers 58.4% of the area, while 14.8% is covered by rock, and just over one-fifth (22%) is fully bare, without any other strata protecting the soil from wind or water erosion.

At the El Piojo plot, brush (annuals for the most part) covers 44.8% of the area and there are also spots of perennial scrub, such as tobosa grass, which protects the soil from erosion. Most of the area’s soil surface is covered by humus (64%) and rock (11.6%), while 13.2% is bare soil.

The goal of this project is to enable improved management of grazing. In the last three years, a group of ranchers from Ejido Casa de Janos has been trained in pasture management; however, the lack of infrastructure on the premises has hindered the application of the knowledge received. El Madroño was designed with 11 paddocks, and El Piojo has 10. Both pasture zones have water for cattle, but require better water distribution. All fences are currently electric, powered by fixed and movable solar panels. These fences let most of the pasture rest, with only one paddock being grazed at a time. The pilot project’s two pastures are managed with two different cattle herds.

CEC Supported Pilots, Community Management, Ecosystem Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Grazing Management, Invasive Species and Pest Management, Water Resource Management

Gentry Ranch Partners LLC

 

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization Gentry Ranch Partners LLC
Country USA
Region Barber County, Kansas
Grass Type Tall, mixed-grass and sand sagebrush prairie
# of head of cattle 255 cow calf
Hectares 1,942
Language English
Date modified August 2016

Gentry Ranch Partners LLC is located in the heart of the Great Plains within southwest Kansas. The ranch manages Angus- and Hereford-based cow/calf pairs on an area with a diverse native plant community, abundant wildlife, springs, and caves. Practices carried out through this 1,426-hectare project included firebreak establishment and prescribed burns.

Prescribed burns are required to control tree invasion within this region, especially eastern red cedar (ERC). The invasion rate of ERC has been estimated at over 308 hectares per day in Oklahoma. ERC encroachment has caused lowered water resources, reduced livestock forage production and grassland bird habitat, and increased risk of catastrophic wildfires. For example, trees with diameters of 2.5 and 30.5 centimeters have been estimated to use 1.9 and 79 liters of water per day, respectively. Additionally, the canopy intercepts the majority of rainfall before it reaches the ground. ERC water use results in reduced groundwater recharge and base flow of streams, impacting aquatic wildlife. Cattle stocking rates are also lowered because the dense canopy of the ERC prevents herbaceous growth. The manager of Gentry Ranch has been a leading member of the Gyp Hills Prescribed Burn Association, assisting other landowners by providing expertise, equipment and labor. This project utilized three innovative approaches: growing season burns, closed canopy ERC ignition techniques, and a chaining demonstration. Thirteen kilometers of firebreaks were installed and numerous fire management resources were prepared. The growing season burn was unique because the vast majority of ranchers burn during early to mid-spring; however, research suggests that warm season burns suppress woody species more than cool season fires and mimic historical fire seasons. In addition, crown ignition techniques were utilized to burn mature, closed-canopy ERC, where igniting trees can be a challenge due to lack of ground cover. Dead trees were cut and stacked against live standing trees along slopes to increase fuel loads and a terra torch was used to ignite canyon flanks. A helitorch has been utilized in the past. Prescribed burning in the Great Plains has the added benefits of improving livestock utilization, increasing weight gains, creating diverse early successional wildlife habitat, and improving nutrient cycling. A third approach was chaining. Based on research, chaining is more efficient than other techniques for certain tree densities and heights.

Project partners include the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition, Oklahoma State University, Gyp Hills Prescribed Burn Association, Kansas Prescribed Fire Council’s Southwest Regional Coordinator, US Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Gentry Ranch Partners LLC, and US Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.

CEC Supported Pilots, Community Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Grazing Management, Sustainable Economic Management, Sustainable Energy Management, Water Resource Management

Gould Ranches Ltd.

 

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization Gould Ranches Ltd.
Country Canada
Region Consort, Alberta
Grass Type Mixed-grass
# of head of cattle 490 cows and heifers
Hectares 129
Language English
Date modified August 2015

The Gould Family has ranched south of Consort, Alberta, for nearly 100 years. The operation includes native range, reseeded forage and annually cropped acreage near the center of Special Area 4. As with other long-term residents of the Special Areas, the Goulds have thrived and expanded their operation under the harsh growing conditions typical of east central Alberta. Now managed by the fourth generation of the family, Gould Ranches Ltd. includes cow/calf, back grounding and yearling enterprises along with the annual cropping for grain and feed production. Expertise within the family includes a veterinarian, two agronomists and well over 100 years of hands-on experience. They are well connected to organizations that promote sustainable management practices such as the Alberta Institute of Agrologists, Green Hectares (mentoring and communicating with young farmers), Farm-On (promotion of agriculture and educating the general public about agriculture), Prairie Heritage Angus Beef (natural beef) and the Chinook Applied Research Association (applied agricultural research, demonstration and extension). One goal of the ranch is to spend limited resources on feed and feeding, so the annual grazing rotations typically extend well into the winter months. Native range is maintained in a productive state by providing periods of rest using reseeded forage.

Bale grazing was initiated by Gould Ranches as a management practice to improve soil quality and forage production as well as to provide rest periods for native range within their grazing system. Fields that have been bale grazed are sampled to establish benchmarks in order to monitor soil chemistry and nutrient changes. Bale distribution is determined in two ways: randomly (at time of baling, according to onsite forage production) and planned (for imported bales, based on noted soil deficiencies). The Wintering Site Assessment and Design Tool and Agriculture and Rural Development’s Nutrient Calculator were consulted when determining appropriate areas for bale placement. The areas were also on well-drained soil, away from low areas prone to water accumulation. A dugout located on the property was modified for the installation of an energy efficient offsite watering source (Sundog solar) and electric fences were erected to restrict access to the bales, natural shelter and adjacent native range.

This project enhanced the use of bale grazing as a resource for late fall or winter grazing within the Gould Ranches’ annual feeding program. Providing a portable windbreak enabled the Gould cows to bale graze during the late fall and early winter months without destroying natural brush and shrubs. Manure from the cows also remained on the field instead of being concentrated within the natural brush or within a confined feeding facility at the home yard. Nutritional characteristics of native range make it a valuable asset during the late summer through to winter, but overgrazing during this period can jeopardize the health and presence of desirable species. Bale grazing on the hayland helps maintain a healthy range component of the Gould’s grazing program.

Total days of grazing achieved at the site is one factor that was measured to determine the success of using portable windbreaks in a native pasture late in the year. Damage to existing shrubs was also monitored as well as the distribution of manure. Body condition of the cows was evaluated periodically to ensure they were getting adequate nourishment and shelter.

The impact on soil quality was monitored and compared to benchmarks established in 2013. Analysis included basic soil chemistry, organic matter and microbial populations.

Matthew Gould participated in a Producer Panel at the December 2014 Western Canadian Grazing Conference in Edmonton, Alberta, to discuss highlights of this project.

CEC Supported Pilots, Ecosystem Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Grazing Management, Invasive Species and Pest Management, Water Resource Management

JP Sons LLC

 

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization JP Sons LLC
Country USA
Region Russell County, Kansas
Grass Type Mixed grass
# of head of cattle 5,000
Hectares 2,833
Language English
Date modified May 2015

The goal of the project for JP Sons LLC was to improve the grassland ecosystem for livestock grazing and wildlife. It focused on 618 hectares of the ranch, located in the southern region of the Kansas Partners for Fish and Wildlife, North Central Prairies focus area. The site is located near the Wilson Reservoir, where the prairie uplands have been impacted by fragmentation and an increasing encroachment of woody species.

Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), for example, is a highly invasive native woody tree that encroaches in the absence of fire. Most of the western half of Kansas rangelands has not been subjected to fire periodically since settlement so eastern red cedar is quickly taking over hundreds of thousands of hectares.

In this project, the landowner implemented restoration practices such as tree removal, prescribed burning, and a grazing management system. In particular, the eastern red cedar was mechanically removed by clipping or sawing, facilitating the restoration of the native prairie plant community and helping to reduce soil erosion, improve water cycling and restore habitat for grassland and wetland species, as well as improving onsite and downstream water quality. Later in 2015, JP Sons LLC also plans to do prescribed burning on the site, establish a rotational grazing system—dividing the pasture into six paddocks using cross-fencing, and add a waterline and tanks.

Bird species such as Greater prairie chicken, Grasshopper sparrow, Dickcissel, Short-eared owl, Upland sandpiper, Bobwhite quail, and Red-headed woodpecker directly benefit from the implementation of these beneficial practices. Migratory waterfowl and shorebirds, as well as numerous fish species, also benefit indirectly.

Project partners included the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition, US Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

CEC Supported Pilots, Ecosystem Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Grazing Management, Sustainable Economic Management, Water Resource Management

Perrin Ranching

 

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization Perrin Ranching
Country Canada
Region Beechy, Saskatchewan
Grass Type Mixed-grass
# of head of cattle 450 cow/calf pairs, 100 replacement heifers
Hectares 5,058
Language English
Date modified August 2015

Perrin Ranching 1990 Ltd. is a fourth-generation ranch located in southwestern Saskatchewan near Beechy. Reg and Shannon Schellenberg, along with their son, Coy, and his wife, Laura-Lie, run this commercial cow/calf operation. The ranch consists of nearly 12,500 acres (5,058 hectares), with 90 percent being native rangeland. The Schellenberg Family has always taken pride in their native landscape and, like the generations before them, carefully manages grazing to maintain biodiversity and a healthy ecosystem. Healthy, productive grass and riparian areas, clean water, and abundant wildlife are signs of this careful stewardship.

The ranch currently supports a 450-head cowherd, using a Black Angus genetics base and some Simmental cross breeding for hybrid vigor. They also background nearly 100 replacement heifers each winter, some of which are sold in the spring or fall and the rest kept as replacements and integrated into the cowherd.

The Perrin Ranch at Beechy has a history of working with conservation groups, such as Ducks Unlimited Canada, to forge agreements for deferred grazing periods on some pastures to help conserve nesting habitat for waterfowl. The ranch has also implemented many of their own beneficial management practices, including water development and cross-fencing, to provide better grazing management for their pastures. Particular attention is paid to their grazing plan, where season of use is alternated for each pasture so that pastures are not grazed at the same time each year. During the grazing season, pastures are monitored very closely to determine when it is time to move the herd. They also use salt and mineral feeders as another method to attract the cattle to uplands and under-utilized areas of pastures.

The Schellenberg Family recognizes that the practices used by the generations before them, and the practices they use today, are setting the stage for the generations to come. They are focused on ensuring that the land and water remain healthy and productive well into the future. The ranch has been economically viable over the years and this was especially proven through the economically challenging years after Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), which put many Canadian operations out of business.

This project consisted of cross-fencing one of the ranch’s largest native pastures. The pasture encompassed five sections (3,200 acres, or 1,295 hectares) and a plan to cross-fence it has been long in the works to allow for improved control of grazing frequency, intensity, and duration. The cross-fence, approximately two miles in length, split the pasture in half, with resulting north and south sides: the north half of 1,760 acres (712 ha.) and south half of 1,440 acres (583 ha.). There are at least three very large dugouts, lakes, or springs on each side, which ensure water availability throughout.

A range health assessment was conducted in September of 2014 (two areas on each side) with the assistance of local range professionals. The south end of the pasture is typically over-utilized and the north side is typically under-utilized by grazing animals. Assessments revealed that pasture condition is healthy on the north side and healthy with some problems on the south side. The healthy status is largely due to a healthy vegetation status; very extensive and diverse plant communities inhabiting several vegetative layers, the abundance of litter, and minimal invasive weeds. It is also due to healthy hydrologic function and soil protection, minimal to zero soil erosion and bare soil, and healthy riparian areas. The health status of these pastures is a result of good grazing practices, including suitable stocking rates. While the Schellenbergs realize that the acres available could potentially support more cattle, their previous grazing plans included aggressive drought-proofing measures aimed at ensuring adequate carryover in the event of drought.

Water resources are well scattered and readily available for the livestock. The ranch has continued to develop dugouts and springs over the years, along with installation of remote watering systems to protect these water resources and provide cleaner water to the cattle. The lay of the land in many of the pastures is well suited to holding run-off and excess water in many sloughs and lakes, which increases water availability and helps take the pressure off the native prairie when the slough grass comes.

Biodiversity is seen in many ways on this ranch. The plant biodiversity is not the only community that is extremely diverse. There is also several species of wildlife that call this place home, including elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, antelope, moose, coyotes, badgers, beavers, and many other species of animals and birds. The vast presence of so many species indicates that the ranch has created some excellent habitat.

This project was completed during early spring of 2015. Results will be monitored by conducting range health assessments over the next number of years to ensure that range health is being maintained or improved.

For the coming season (2015), the Schellenbergs plan for grazing to commence on the north pasture in early June with 350 cow/calf pairs. This area of the pasture was typically underutilized by grazing animals. It is anticipated that cattle will remain on the north side until mid- or end of July. Grazing is always monitored closely, and cattle will be moved earlier or later, if needed. Once grazing of the north side is complete, the 350 pairs will be moved to other pastures on the ranch and return to graze the south end in September of 2015 for a short time (two to four weeks). In the past, the south end was grazed more heavily and by delaying grazing into September of 2015, plants in this pasture will have almost an entire growing season of rest, with a short grazing period in the fall. Looking toward 2016, the Schellenbergs indicate that they plan to assess pasture conditions in the fall (2015) and base decisions for the 2016 grazing season on that fall assessment.

CEC Supported Pilots, Ecosystem Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Invasive Species and Pest Management

Pilgrim Ranch

 

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization Pilgrim Ranch
Country USA
Region Chase County, Kansas
Grass Type Tallgrass
# of head of cattle N/A (Custom grazing operation)
Hectares 485
Language English
Date modified May 2015

The Pilgrim Ranch project site consists of 28 hectares of tallgrass prairie located within the USFWS’s Flint Hills Legacy Conservation Area and the Flint Hills focus area of the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program. This site is invaded by non-native Old World Bluestem, a warm season grass that is difficult to control as it can out-compete native warm season grasses and forbs. Furthermore, the site is adjacent to a very large unfragmented block of native tallgrass prairie that, if invaded by Old World Bluestem, could lose its rich diversity.

The goal of this project was to kill Old World Bluestem, using two applications of the herbicide Imazapyr (at a rate of 0.25/lbs/acre), which tends to eliminate the non-native grass without completely eliminating some native grass species. First, the site was burned in the spring, and then it was sprayed in June 2015. In addition, spot spraying was used for field and fence lines to prevent the spread of Old World Bluestem into the larger, intact, surrounding native grasslands.

Transects were set up prior to the first herbicide application to monitor project success by identifying any erosion that might occur as a result of killing the Old World Bluestem, ensuring the establishment of the native grasses, and checking for any residual invasive grass remaining after the application. A second chemical spray application is planned for spring 2015, with another prescribed fire planned prior to spraying if flue loads permit.

Partners for this project include the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, Kansas State Research and Extension, Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition, US Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service, and US Fish and Wildlife Service. Through the efforts of this project and its partners, it is hoped that a technique may be found that will help control the invasion of Old World Bluestem into native tallgrass prairie across Kansas.

CEC Supported Pilots, Community Management, Ecosystem Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Grazing Management, Invasive Species and Pest Management, Sustainable Economic Management, Water Resource Management

Rancho ‘El Uno’

 

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization Rancho El Uno
Country Mexico
Region Janos Grasslands, Municipality of Janos, Chihuahua
Grass Type Open grassland and halophyte grassland, with mesquite brush associations and prairie dog colonies
# of head of cattle Not available. Custom grazing operation.
Hectares 18,500
Language Spanish
Date modified August 2015

The El Uno Ecological Reserve, better known as Rancho El Uno, belongs to The Nature Conservancy NGO. The main purpose of the ranch is the conservation of grasslands and their biodiversity through the teaching and application of good stockbreeding management and grassland restoration practices. It also functions as an experimental plot for the ecology and biology of wildlife, its habitats and the application of grassland management tools. In its capacity as a grassland conservation center, the ranch has invested funds from various sources of financing, including the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), the National Commission for Protected Natural Areas (Conanp), the National Forestry Institute, Farming and Animal Husbandry Research Institute (INIFAP), the Rio Grande Joint Venture, World Wide Fund for Nature, and the US Forest Service. Activities focus on research, producer training, design and equipment for grazing approaches, specific habitat improvement, and improving the structure of the grassland landscape.

El Uno is located in the Janos Grasslands, a region to the northwest of the Chihuahuan Desert in Mexico. Located, more specifically in the middle of the Janos Valley and surrounded by farmland, the ranch is one of the last open grassland zones in the Chihuahuan Desert.

The principal stockbreeding activity at El Uno is a conservation approach called grass banking, which enables the training of communal farmers and cattle ranches in better grassland and cattle management practices. The producer signs a contract with the ranch for a period of about three years to use the paddocks to graze his cattle. Grazing is managed according to the technical instructions of El Uno and its partners (RMBO, IMC Vida Silvestre, UNAM, UACH, LIVES Savory Hub). While the herds in question graze on El Uno, grassland improvement and restoration actions are taken on the grasslands of the participating communal farms or ranches. The objective is that, by the end of the contract, the rancher will have learned better approaches to cattle raising, in terms of grazing, sustainability, profitability and, besides, supports conservation of the grasslands and its biodiversity. Currently, three different groups participate in the El Uno program: 1) Ejido de Casa de Janos, with rotational grazing of 200 head on 3,000 hectares; 2) Ejido San Pedro, with a rotational grazing system that includes 165 head of cattle on 1,800 hectares; and 3) Rancho San Pedro, with 500 head on 4,000 hectares. Another 1,400 hectares were made available for a herd of 50 free-range bison.

Three people—ranch administrator Antonio Esquer; general technical manager José Luis García, and facility and logistics manager Dalia Campos—coordinate all activities of the ranch and of the partners and collaborators from The Nature Conservancy in Janos.

The region where El Uno is located is of international importance in terms of the conservation of grasslands and their biodiversity. The ranch’s grasslands are an essential winter habitat for most grassland birds of common interest, such as the chestnut-collared longspur (Calcarius ornatus), Sprague’s pipit (Anthus spragueii), Baird’s sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii), the grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni), the ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis), the prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus), the merlin (Falco columbarius) and the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus). The ranch is also a habitat for the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and can be for the aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis). Six prairie dog colonies run across Rancho El Uno (Cynomys ludovicianus), which are also sites of concentration of other species related to these rodents, such as the rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox), the badger (Taxidea taxus), the kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) and the lynx (Lynx rufus), to name a few.

The loss of perennial grasses, the invasion of shrubs (mesquite and cholla), wind erosion, and the invasive expansion of weeds such as Russian thistle (Salsola iberica) are the main threats to grasslands at El Uno.

Direct management activities have included the installation of a 50,000-liter basin financed by the CEC, which stores water for four paddocks, the placement of a water basin escape ramp to prevent birds from drowning, the installation of artificial nests for the aplomado falcon, the management of 130 hectares of mesquite and the installation of stockbreeding infrastructure to support better management practices, such as two 6,000-liter troughs, a 40,000-liter basin, 2.6 kilometers of tubing, and electric fencing at paddock dividers.

Key results of the actions at Rancho El Uno include collaboration agreements for the conservation of 2,400 hectares of open grasslands and the training of producers from two communal farms and one cattle ranch.

CEC Supported Pilots, Ecosystem Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Grazing Management, Water Resource Management

Rancho El 15

 

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization Rancho El 15
Country Mexico
Region Municipalities of Villa Ahumada and Chihuahua, Chihuahua
Grass Type Open grassland, halophyte grassland and desert scrub
# of head of cattle 200
Hectares 3,900
Language Spanish
Date modified August 2015

Rancho El 15 forms part of the grassland conservation collaboration initiative between the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) and the non-profit organizations, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, IMC Vida Silvestre and Pronatura. The actions conducted under this initiative—financed with funding from the CEC and the American Bird Conservancy—for this pilot ranch have focused on developing and deploying a grazing management plan on the property.

The ranch is located in the central valley region of Chihuahua, one of the last open grasslands in the Chihuahuan Desert, just at the southern boundary of the farmland that threatens the natural grasslands. The conservation of this land—“marginal” habitat for all grassland wildlife species of interest for conservation—is a priority. Its main activity is cattle raising: currently 200 head of cattle are pastured there and preparations are underway for rotational grazing.

The ranch owner, Ivone Borunda, comes from a family that has engaged in stockbreeding for three generations. With much enthusiasm, she is currently undertaking a process to renew and adapt ranch management with a comprehensive approach, giving the same importance to wildlife and habitat conservation as she does to optimal and profitable cattle production.

The area where El 15 is located, which is of great international importance for grassland conservation, is one of the last stretches of natural grassland in the heart of the central valleys of the Chihuahuan Desert. Most grassland birds of common concern winter in the valley, such as the chestnut-collared longspur (Calcarius ornatus), Sprague’s pipit (Anthus spragueii), Baird’s sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii) and the grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), and it is the habitat of the aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis), the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), and one of the last herds of Mexican pronghorn (Antilocapra americana mexicana).

Through 2008, grasslands at El 15 were overgrazed and undergrazed, to the point of showing signs of being degraded grasslands in their functional ecology. Now they are recovering. Ranch management is in transition, with water distribution and paddock division being reconfigured for the rotation grazing approach.

Actions have included the design of a grazing management and grassland restoration plan and the installation of infrastructure required to execute the plan, namely two troughs (one with a capacity of 4,000 liters and another of 10,000 liters), five kilometers of tubing, and 3.3 kilometers of smooth wire to divide the paddocks.