Judith Basin County Range School 2007

Introduction

With support from the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, the Judith Basin Conservation District, Cascade County Conservation District, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Basin State Bank, Judith Basin County Stockgrowers, and Sloan’s Farm and Auto Supply, the 2007 Range School was a great success. The third annual Judith Basin County Range School was held on May 30, 2007, and the subject matter was based on the comments from the 2006 Range School survey which was provided to each participant and collected after the event last year. After two years of animal science and economics topics, participants requested a return to good, old-fashioned grazing management issues. The schedule of presentations reflected the comments from the survey. The 2007 Range School offered information on the "basics" of grazing management, plant identification, range monitoring, controlling pasture "weeds" with grazing management, and adding a grass-fed yearling program to a ranch operation.

Objectives

The main objective of the 2007 School was to refresh the knowledge of area ranchers and land managers with "just the basics" on how to maintain and implement sound grazing management on their operations with minimum inputs of chemicals, supplements, and any other quick fix additives that can be used as management tools and are often advertised as range management. The grass-fed yearling topic was unique in that it was intended to open minds to a potential niche operation that may become more important with the rising cost of corn and a desire to put more weight on calves prior to being put in the feedlot.

Study Area

The study area for the 2007 Judith Basin Range School was held at the Lazy BS Ranch (owned by Steve and Betty Hedstrom, west of Raynesford, Montana.

Methods

Rod Heitshmidt, retired research leader and superintendent at Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Station, USDA-ARS, kicked off the range school with his presentation entitled, "Always Looking for that Silver Bullet." Rod enlightened listeners by providing some basis ideas about grazing management. He basically told participants that there is no silver bullet and that each rancher has to find what works for them. Mitch Faulkner, NRCS state rangeland management specialist, followed Rod. Mitch presented, "Common Range Plants of Central Montana and their Management." Mitch passed around live samples of each plant species and explained their characteristics and how they are best managed. Mitch focused on grass species. The crowd of 80 then took a lunch break and enjoyed grilled hamburgers, beans, salads, chips, brownies, and more. After lunch, Jon Siddoway, NRCS rangeland management specialist, led participants outdoors to discuss Range Monitoring 101. Jon had set up a transect and an enclosure cage and explained to students how each is used. Jim Gerrish, independent grazing land consultant from Central Idaho, presented, "Is Pasture-finished Beef in Your Future," followed by a presentation on, "The Art and Science of Finishing Cattle on Pasture." At the end of the range school, Matt Ricketts, NRCS rangeland management specialist, presented "Controlling Problem Plants in your Pastures with Grazing Management." Matt also had several live plants to show the participants and explained how good grazing management can be used to help control noxious weeds. The presentations consisted of a combination of lecture, PowerPoint, and hands-on learning. The plant identification class covered 12 common Montana rangeland grasses and at the end of the day, a plant contest was held with $25 gift certificates donated for the top three scores.

The Range School was advertised through the local newspaper and state agriculture newspapers. All conservation district and extension offices in the state, as well as all the landowners in Judith Basin and Cascade counties received a flyer and brochure. Steve Hedstrom, chairman for the Judith Basin Conservation District, was featured on a radio interview with KMON, which ran for the week prior to the event.

Results

The 2007 Range School was in session from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. However, at the end of the long day, the instructors and the students left smiling, laughing, and enjoying all they had learned. There was a great crowd of 80 participants who learned that they need to set goals for their land and for their families. Their grazing management strategy should be designed to meet those goals. They learned that if an operation has too many animals for its forage base (carrying capacity) that no grazing management strategy will allow the operation to be sustainable. And while all of the participants were enjoying the recent abundant rain, they came to understand that rain, while critical to rangeland, does not necessarily make you a good "rainge" manager and even in wet conditions the basics still apply. Finally, the instructors and the students renewed old friendships and made new friends. It is certain that the connections made between ranchers and agency folks on this day will promote grazing management and partnerships long after the 2007 Range School is a distant memory.

The information from the 2007 Range School will be submitted to the Judith Basin County newspaper, the Judith Basin Conservation District newsletter, and the Prairie Star.

Contact Information

Judith Basin Conservation District
Teresa Wilhelm, District Administrator
(406) 566-2322 x107

Natural Resources Conservation Service
Stanford Field Office
Rick Caquelin, District Conservationist
(406)566-2311 EXT 101

Judith Basin County Extension Office
Janna Kincheloe, County Extension Agent
(406) 566-2277 x104

Last Modified: 10/28/2008