Date:
7/23/2002 3:05:00 PM
Title:
Arizona Ranch Receives Regional Environmental Award
George and Sharon Yard, owners of Y Bar D Ranch, were recognized for their exceptional environmental stewardship at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) annual summer conference.
Y Bar D Ranch, a cow/calf operation, was established by the Yards in 1991 when they purchased the 15,000 acre Horseshoe Allotment in the Prescott National Forest. Most of the operation is sustained on federal land except for a small privately owned farm operation. The permitted number of livestock for the ranch is 225 head yearlong.
“Y Bar D Ranch is an outstanding example of how cattle producers can give back to their environment,” said Iowa producer and NCBA President Wythe Willey. “This ranch has demonstrated their dedication to the land which they depend upon for survival.”
Sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, the Environmental Stewardship Award Program recognizes cattle producers whose stewardship practices are inventive, cost-effective and contribute to environmental conservation. The recipients of this top U.S. beef industry environmental award are selected by a committee of representatives from university faculty, federal and state government agencies, and conservation and environmental organizations.
“This ranch was considered to be in run down condition in terms of grassland, riparian wetland and improvements. The Forest Service informed us that the range was in a downward trend and that the river riparian areas were in a degraded state,” said George Yard. “We made it our goal to bring this land back around to a productive and environmentally sound state and to use cattle as a tool in doing so.”
In 1994, the Yards voluntarily removed livestock from the riparian pastures and proceeded to develop other management strategies for upland range sites, in concert with the Chino Ranger District staff.
To bring the ranch back to a productive state the Yard’s constructed cross fences to take advantage of a rotational grazing system, sediment filled water tanks were cleaned to increase water facilities and a water well and pipeline was installed to provided fresh water to additional areas of the ranch. Pasture rotation was implemented so that pastures were regularly rested during growing seasons.
A variety of wildlife have benefited from the work that has been done at Y Bar D Ranch. The ranch is home to thriving deer and antelope herds, which receive a bulk of their water supply from the water facilities built by the Yard’s. There is no natural water supply within 10 to 12 miles from the river in any direction, except that built by the Yard’s.
The Yards have worked with numerous local and national organizations to help achieve their goals for the ranch including: National Resource Conservation Service, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Arizona Water Protection and the Arizona State University Cooperative Extension.