Date:
6/17/2004 12:00:00 AM
Title:
North Dakota Ranch is Region VII Honoree (2004)
Roise Ranch Wins NCBA Environmental Stewardship Award
Washington, D.C. (June 17, 2004) – Gerald and LuAnn Roise, owners of the Roise Ranch in Powers Lake, ND, have been selected as regional winners of the 2004 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP), administered by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). The Roise Ranch is one of seven regional winners nationwide, and represents NCBA’s Region VII, which includes North and South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas. They were nominated by the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association.
This annual award program recognizes cattle producers whose stewardship practices are inventive, cost-effective and contribute to environmental conservation. In its 14th year, the program is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences LLC and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of USDA. 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.
Located near Cottonwood Lake, the Roise Ranch is a commercial cow-calf beef operation, also producing feed crops and commercial alfalfa hay. Gerald, LuAnn and family have the ability to run 260 head of English-based cattle which utilizes 3800 acres of native and tame grass prairie ground. Hay and feed crop production occurs on the remaining 1200 acres. The ranch itself has been in the family for 75 years, and is well on its way to being fourth generation operated.
“Gerald Roise has been an active partner with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), accomplishing many conservation projects that improve and/or protect wildlife habitat while also improving the profitability of his land,” says manager of the FWS Lostwood Wetland Management District, Todd Frerichs. “It is obvious through his management that he believes in passing on his property to future generations in better environmental condition than when he found it.”
“Mr. Roise has worked extensively with the FWS and North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension Service to develop two-cell grazing systems that enhance grass production and protect the natural lay-of-the-land,” explains Megan Tipton, NCBA’s Associate Director of Environmental Affairs and manager of ESAP. “He has signed perpetual grasslands and wetlands easements with the FWS and has utilized resources NDSU has provided with the Integrated Resource Management program.”
Additional stewardship practices on the ranch include studying wind energy as a resource on surrounding land ridges, developing a pond that benefits wildlife and cattle, as well as taking measures to protect the endangered waterfowl species in the area. The Roise Ranch has been featured on several tours, demonstrating to other producers the importance of both environmental stewardship and effectively communicating with federal agencies such as the FWS.
“Our main goal for this land and livestock operation,” says Gerald Roise, “is for all entities to work together for both increased production and environmental benefit.”
The Roise Ranch is a leader in the community and the state, combining progressive cattle production with strong environmental practices, while maintaining a seamless union between profitability and production. In the process of accomplishing his stewardship goals, Gerald Roise has worked closely with several other organizations such as the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, High Country Wind Power LLC, Northwestern Dairy LLLP, the Farm Service Agency and NRCS.
The Roise Ranch will be formally recognized as a regional ESAP winner at the 2004 Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver, Colorado on August 11th. One of the seven regional winners will be selected as the national winner, announced in January 2005. For additional information on this family or other regional winners, contact NCBA’s D.C. office at 202-347-0228.