Date:
7/23/2002 12:00:00 AM
Title:
Iowa Ranch Receives Regional Environmental Award
Jim and Mary Bradford, owners of Brad Z Ranch, were recognized for their exceptional environmental stewardship at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) annual summer conference.
Brad Z Ranch, located in Guthrie Center, Iowa, consists of about 1,000 continuous acres, which are primarily in pastureland and hay ground. Roughly 80 acres are utilized for corn production, which is used in the family feedlot. An additional 600 acres of pasture and cornstalks is leased for winter grazing.
“The Bradford’s are true environmental stewards and have played a key role in teaching the importance of caring for the land and the animals we share it with to others,” said fellow Iowa cattle producer and NCBA President Wythe Willey. “This is evident in the beliefs they have instilled in their nine children.”
Sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, the Environmental Stewardship Award Program recognizes cattle producers whose stewardship practices are inventive, cost-effective and contribute to environmental conservations. 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.
The Bradford’s run a 400 head purebred Angus and 100 head purebred Gelbvieh operation. They sell about 100 bulls a year and the remaining calves, which do not meet their standards for seedstock use are finished out in the farm feedlot.
Brad Z Ranch is divided in to paddocks to allow for rotational grazing. In most cases ponds and streams are fenced off from livestock traffic, with water systems developed to keep cattle away from fragile areas.
“We have a responsibility to teach how grass saves the soil and how ruminant animals are vital to the ecosystem. Our continuing goal is to be more efficient in utilizing roughage in producing high quality protein,” said Jim Bradford.
Cattle are grazed in the winter on cornstalks, saving the energy needed to haul grain and harvest other feed sources. The ranch makes use of solar electric fences in its rotational grazing program. A windmill is used to decrease the need for electricity to pump fresh water to cattle.
Wildlife at Brad Z Ranch includes hundreds of white tail deer, which feed on pastures and stored hay, turkey, Canadian geese and pheasants. A wide variety of small mammals also make their home on the ranch.
The Bradford’s have worked with many groups and agencies in making sound environmental management decisions for their operation. Some of those include; Natural Resource Conservation Service, Iowa Land Improvement Contractors Association, Soil Conservations Service, Raccoon River Watershed Project and the American Angus Association.