Final Report for LNC96-108
Project Information
OBJECTIVES: The overall purpose of our project was to compose, publish, and distribute a guidebook which will: (1) provide landowners with proven approaches to restoring productivity and sustainability to degraded rangeland, and (2) promote general use of sustainable agricultural practices by documenting their successful implementation on South Dakota rangeland. The guidebook describes restoration techniques employed on the Mortenson Ranch in Stanley County, S.D., and offers suggestions for applying these principles on other lands.
METHODS: We organized the guidebook’s contents to include the following topics: (1) the need for restoration, (2) the design of a sustainable cattle grazing regime, (3) planning and constructing a dam system to improve water resources, (4) promoting the growth of native vegetation, (5) economic analysis of ranch productivity before and after restoration activities, and (6) suggestions for landowners and requests for feedback.
RESULTS: The 25-page booklet, entitled “The Mortenson Ranch: Cattle and Trees at Home on the Range” was completed in September, 1998 with the printing of 7000 copies. All county extension offices in South Dakota received copies. Numerous state and federal agencies within South Dakota, students at South Dakota State University, and members of the Stockgrowers’ Association and Society for Range Management are among the groups receiving handbooks. It is available at no cost to any farmer or rancher upon request.
IMPACT and POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: We anticipate distributing handbooks to many audiences (via presentations at conferences, classes, meetings) and look forward to receiving information from readers. Each handbook includes a tear-out postcard requesting suggestions and general feedback from those who used the guidebook.
1. Provide landowners and public and private agencies with proven methods and approaches to restoring degraded rangeland to a healthy, productive and sustainable condition.
2. Promote the general use of sustainable agricultural practices by documenting successful methods on western South Dakota rangeland.
Research
Our approach consisted of collecting detailed information from the Mortensons about how they undertook their restoration efforts and how they plan to continue them. Re-measurements of stream cross-sections established several years ago were conducted, and photographs from permanently-established sites were re-taken. Many additional photographs and data were obtained as well. All information was considered for inclusion in the guidebook, but only the most pertinent materials were incorporated in order to provide a succinct and usable end-product.
The contents were reviewed by several ranchers and others with expertise before the final edition was printed.
The handbook (after many draft editions) was completed and published by the original goal of the project’s ending date (September 30, 1998). Printing expenses were less than originally estimated, allowing an extra 2000 copies to be made. A total of 7000 handbooks were printed and have been distributed throughout the state of South Dakota. We anticipate that continued distribution of the handbook will reach many audiences.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
The Mortensons and the principal investigators frequently give talks to groups of students, farmers and ranchers, academic organizations, and government agencies. These activities, along with the distribution of handbooks to all South Dakota county extension offices should assure that information acquired in this project reaches many people, both within South Dakota and in other states and provinces. Anyone requesting a handbook may receive one free of charge.
The following groups are among those receiving/requesting handbooks to date:
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
South Dakota Division of Forestry
U.S. Forest Service
Natural Resources Conservation Service
North Central Resource Conservation and Development Project
South Dakota State University West River Extension Center
numerous individuals
From Scott Astleford, rancher at White River, South Dakota:
From Clarence Mortenson: