Date:
7/11/2006 12:00:00 AM
Title:
North Dakota Ranch Wins Top Environmental Award
For Immediate Release
Brown’s Gelbvieh Ranch is ESAP Region VII Winner
Washington, D.C. (July 11, 2006) –The Brown family of Bismarck, North Dakota has been selected as one of seven Regional Winners of the 2006 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). The annual award program recognizes cattle operations that are proven stewards of the land, dedicated to natural resource conservation through the use of innovative, cost-effective stewardship practices.
Located just a few miles east of Bismark, North Dakota, Brown’s Gelbvieh Ranch was nominated by the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association and selected from entries submitted within the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA)’s Region VII, which includes North and South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas.
“The Brown family’s dedication to responsible stewardship practices makes for a scenic drive on Interstate-94 in central North Dakota,” says Stacey Katseanes, ESAP coordinator. “For this North Dakota family, conservation is a lifetime commitment that has greatly rewarded them. The beauty of the Brown’s Gelbvieh Ranch comes after years of hard work.”
The ranch covers 4,000 acres, including over 1,500 acres of native rangeland, 600 acres of alfalfa, and 465 acres of wildlife cover. The Brown family management team is made up of Gabe and Shelly Brown and their children Kelly and Paul. The diverse cattle operation runs Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle, raises bull calves, and also manages a feedlot where they maintain 100 to 300 animals on diverse homegrown feedstuffs.
“The Browns have practiced zero-till farming since 1994, and since then the soil health has improved, water infiltration and utilization is enhanced and wildlife species have increased both in diversity and population,” says Katseanes.
The family has earned Conservation Security Program (CSP) Tier III status, the highest level attainable, on their entire ranch because of their environmental stewardship practices. They have developed an extensive planned grazing system, rotating cattle every three to seven days on 46 different pastures. A shallow pipeline system supplies water to 25 tanks in the pastures. Working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), they conducted a study regarding the quality and quantity of forage production and soil heath when seeding different legumes in different pastures.
“The Browns also maintain a 465-acre plot specifically for wildlife use and production,” states Katseanes. “This provides a habitat for white-tail deer, ducks, grouse, turkeys, pheasants, and other wildlife. In addition, Gabe and Shelly have planted more than 30,500 feet of trees and have prepared the ground to plant an additional 38,200 this year.”
“Over the past several years, Gabe has made himself and their ranch available for tours and training sessions too numerous to mention,” says Jeff Printz, State Rangeland Management Specialist for North Dakota. “Gabe has made countless presentations in various states to a wide variety of audiences. At each and every tour, presentation or training session, Gabe always does an outstanding job of representing the livestock industry and advocating sound, sustainable management of our natural resources.”
Gelbvieh Ranch is committed to education and outreach regarding environmental stewardship practices. The Brown family works to encourage sustainable management through their participation in the Grazing Management Mentoring Network, and works with a variety of organizations to maximize their conservation efforts. The NRCS and Burleigh County Soil Conservation District helped Browns develop their management systems, shelter belts and forage seedlings. Ducks Unlimited has also assisted in their efforts to enhance wildlife habitat.
“By partnering with NRCS and Ducks Unlimited, they were able to document and analyze a variety of forages and legumes to increase production, enhance grazing and improve soil quality, while at the same time benefiting wildlife with additional nesting habitat and ground cover,” says Tracey Koester of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association.
“Brown’s Gelbvieh Ranch has a strong emphasis on conservation practices and persistent commitment to both agriculture and quality wildlife habitat,” says Jeb Williams of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
The Environmental Stewardship Award Program, now in its 16th year, is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences LLC and USDA’s NRCS and is administered by NCBA. The 2006 National Winner will be selected from of the seven ESAP Regional Winners and revealed at the 2007 Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville, Tennessee next February. For additional information, contact NCBA’s Washington D.C. office at 202-347-0228.
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