Saturday, January 7, 2012

BEEFSD Group Tours Conservation Ranch


WRITEN BY: LEALAND SCHOON, DISTRICT CONSERVATIONIST, WHITE RIVER
Participants of the BEEFSD class arrived in Northeastern Mellette County to tour an organic/grassfed beef ranch. BEEFSD was developed to assist beginning farmers and ranchers establish successful production and management strategies for the beef industry.

There are five components to the BEEFSD program: 1. Instructional Workshops; 2. Post-Weaning Calf Performance Evaluation; 3. Mentoring; 4. Web-Based Interaction; 5. Travel Studies.

Touring White Thunder Organics ranch met the “Mentoring” objective, while learning more about alternative means of marketing and raising livestock. The NRCS was asked to participate with the tour to showcase the close partnership between the producer and the field office. The Harmons have worked extensively with the NRCS staff and partners to implement and enhance conservation on their ranch. Discussed were conservation practice opportunities through NRCS Conservation Technical Assistance and Farm Bill Programs.

Since 2004, rangeland management on the White Thunder Organics Ranch has moved from a one large pasture system, to a seven-pasture rotation, and recently to a 12-pasture grazing rotation, increasing soil health and forage production in excess of 65 percent from when they started and 40 percent over the historic climax community documented within the USDA technical guides.

The SD Cooperative Extension Service in partnership with the SD Farm Bureau received a $748,892 grant to assist beginning range-based beef cow-calf ranchers. The investment from the USDA and Extension will equate to a scholarship of about $30,000 for each beginning rancher.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded the grant, and the funding will help individuals and families new to ranching to become economically, ecologically, and socially sustainable beef producers.

The USDA’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, or BFRDP, is an education, training, technical assistance, and outreach program designed to help U.S. farmers and ranchers. The program was established through the 2008 Farm Bill.








Ref: http://start2farm.gov/programs/beefsd-beginning-entrepreneurs-expanding-future-south-dakota
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