CALF_News_October_November_2021

26 CALF News • October | November 2021 • www.calfnews.net By Larry Stalcup Contributing Editor F aced with higher input costs and tighter profit margins, most ranchers need to get more out of their soil, water and pastures, without hurting those treasurable resources. The Noble Research Insti- tute’s focus on “regenerative ranching” aims to help producers find solutions to meet those challenges. Headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., Noble is in its 75 th year of helping ranch- ers and farmers. The nonprofit indepen- dent research organization owns and operates about 14,000 acres of working ranchlands in southern Oklahoma. It’s described as a “living laboratory” that enables researchers to demonstrate and practice regenerative principles and ideas that help deliver value to livestock producers across southern Oklahoma, northern Texas and much of the United States. “Research in grazing lands is often overlooked,” says Hugh Aljoe, Noble’s director of producer relations. “There are some 655 million acres of public and private grazing lands in the U.S., which represent almost 41 percent of our nation’s land. Grazing exists in all 50 states. The majority of this land cannot sustain row crops. It is reported that up to 70 percent of the world’s grazing lands are in a degraded state.” Noble’s mission to assist producers began in 1945. Oilman and conserva- tionist Lloyd Noble established The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation to help farmers and ranchers rebound from the dreadful Dust Bowl that nearly destroyed agriculture on the Great Plains. “Our goal is to achieve regenerative land stewardship in grazing animal production with lasting producer profit- ability,” Aljoe says. “Targeting grazing lands, regenerative ranching supports the goals of maintaining clean water and the environment, while at the same time keeping farmers and ranchers profit- able. Regenerative agriculture is about principles, not practices. It focuses on outcomes, actual improvements to soil health and the overall quality and health of the land.” Noble operates on the principle that each farm or ranch differs, based on their unique natural resources, climate vari- ability and animal and ecological dynam- ics. In regenerative ranching, producers apply those principles for their particular region, operation and personal situation – a concept called “context.” Robert Wells, Noble livestock con- sultant, says cowherds in a regenerative program prosper from soil health. He outlines the six principles of soil health:  Context: Successful regenerative ranchers know their context – their individual situation, including their climate, geography, resources, skills, family dynamics, goals and other factors that will influence themselves and their operations. They under- stand how their ecosystems function and what’s available to them to get the most out of the land.  Cover the soil: Regenerative ranchers use forages that are actively grow- ing, as well as forage residues to keep the soil covered. They manage forages and residues through proper grazing and stocking rates based on carrying capacity. If land is consis- tently overstocked and overgrazed, it’s nearly impossible to keep the soil sufficiently covered. Regenera- tive ranchers manage forage residual heights and amounts during both the growing and the dormant seasons. If the base forage does not provide enough soil cover, they may also use annual forages or cover crops.  Minimize unnatural disturbance: There are many kinds of distur- bances. Grazing and periodic fire are natural disturbances in grasslands. Lack of either one would be an unnatural disturbance. Mechani- cal tillage is unnatural and should be minimized. Carry this principle The regenerative cow should match her environment. Noble Research Institute Program Promotes Better Soil, Better Pastures and Better Herd Production Regenerative Ranching A regenerative cow should be the goal of every cattle producer.