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According to Pat Guptill, long time South Dakota cattle farmer and seasoned practitioner of Adaptive Grazing, the process is: A Little Bit of Science; Whole Lot of Art. By: Mike Cox Pat Guptill lives in Quinn, South Dakota, on a 7000-acre ranch. In a recent interview with Growing Resilience, Pat explains what Adaptive Grazing is, why it is important, and how he got from considering it to becoming one of the foremost South Dakota experts on the subject. Pat will tell visitors to his operation that cows aren't the most important livestock on his ranch. Microbes are much more essential than any other living thing, and he strives to make sure their existence is guaranteed in every endeavor involving his ranch. If the microbes are healthy then the grass is healthy, which means the cattle that feed there will also be healthy. Adaptive Grazing Management is a process of rotating feeding cattle over several different pastures and moving them quickly. The idea is to allow the cattle to eat high quality food, and then move elsewhere before all that grass has been eaten. This process allows the remaining grass to recover quickly; an absence of bare ground protects the existing root system and keeps the soil microbes thriving. Pat's goal is to ensure that a minimum of 1000 pounds of residue per acre is left behind. This assures that available grass will be there up to a year later. The South Dakota Grasslands Coalition estimates 3-5 years for a bare pasture to recover grazing capability. Adaptive Grazing reduces that recovery time to almost nothing with a little rain. Additionally, manure from the cattle is deposited on the ground and the hoof action of the grazing cattle trample plants to put them on the ground. When the cattle move elsewhere, nature and dung beetles to do what they do with the manure and the ground cover to set the scene for recovery, and leaves a ground cover over the pasture. Although Pat is highly respected on the subject, he insists that he is still searching for the perfect setup. He preaches a simple approach. First, Observe, Respond, Repeat; no matter what the plan initially is. Every ranch is different and every season is different. Start slow and small. "It's a little bit of science and a whole lot of art." According to Pat, the best way to begin is by dividing the target pasture in half, and plan toward an ultimate goal of moving cattle daily. While daily rotation might not work for everyone, it allows for changes to other options easily. He also suggests asking for help. The South Dakota Grasslands Coalition offers many types of assistance, including a staff of well-versed mentors. Pat emphasizes that the mentors want to help; want to hear questions. "Most of my knowledge comes from hearing questions I've never thought of before." Pat insists that Adaptive Grazing is a simple process as long as a rancher is prepared to make adjustments. "I was overwhelmed at first." He remembers how his daughter Josie, who was in grade school at the time, helped him start the program and in three weeks knew what needed to be done without further instruction. "Before we began this, it took most of my neighbors helping to move cattle. Now I can do it alone. The cattle trust us. When we take on new cattle in the summer, you have to babysit for the first day. In 3 days, they are manageable and in a month, they will follow you." The goal is to "fix their plates for them." The cows eat their favorite food first and then eat whatever else is available in the designated paddock. If left too long, the herd will return to their favorite grass as new shoots start to appear. The trick is to move them after before any new growth starts. The use of movable electric fencing and portable water tanks and pipeline makes it easier to change plans because circumstances change. Pat does suggest that if one is using electric fence in the same place for as long as three years, it is time to make that fence permanent. The "gentle massage" of the soil by the grazing cows; hooves loosen the soil, put plant residue on the ground as armor and allow rainwater to infiltrate into the ground. When this process first started on Guptill’s operation in 2007, Grasslands Coalition measured organic matter at 12"-18" inches deep. Six years later, evidence of organic matter had moved to at least 36" deep. This translates to a deeper root system for grass and allows the soil to absorb more water; which keeps grass growing year round and makes rain runoff almost non-existent. Pat's Vet bill was about $2500 per 150 cattle 25 years ago. Now it is $50 per 250. Sick cows no longer hide in the herd. "They come out to me now." Being among the cattle on a daily basis reduces stress. The herd becomes comfortable with you and will do as you desire. Stress, which is always a two-way street, is reduced on both streets. Every creature is happier and healthier. Pat emphasizes that the rancher must establish a base of good grass and healthy soil, then pay attention to what is going on. "The whole deal is, if an animal's got the right nutrition and the right vitamins and minerals, it won't get sick. And keep the stress away from them. We can't control stress because we can't control the weather. So you got to watch it. Next year might change. I mean, it's just year to year, it's always different." In addition, we provide some video links that feature Pat: For more information on Adaptive Management see this podcast; https://www.growingresiliencesd.com/podcasts/episode/efba1b3a/32-adaptive-management-applied 2013 SD Leopold Award: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGsjUdScWZM A 2014 video by SDSU visits with Pat about High Stock Density grazing (Pat doesn’t necessarily like to use the words “Mob Grazing”) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWC9qkYdDNA In 2021, Pat and wife Mary Lou, through the SD NOLO (Non-Operating Land Owner) project, discuss “Understanding the Connection: Stress Reduction Through Soil Health”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfIJp-M1K5U Also please visit the SD NRCS Range and Pasture website for more information at:https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/natural-resource-concerns/animals _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Visit these “Growing Resilience Through Our Soils” information pages: 1. Podcast page for drought planning fact sheets, Q&As, news, podcasts and more. 2. Video page to watch videos of other ranchers’ journeys toward improved rangeland/pasture. 3.Follow Growing Resilience on social media: Facebook - Growing Resilience Twitter - @GrowResilience_ Instagram - growingresilience.sd 4. Our homepage: www.growingresiliencesd.com

A TNC volunteer and a Kenyan student are applying a novel approach to measuring river health. Volunteers are critical contributors to The Nature Conservancy’s conservation work. They help build and maintain trails. They work to identify and remove invasive plants. They are community scientists who count migrating fish. They range from students to retirees to Chapter trustees. And then there’s Dave Courtemanch. Since retiring from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) in 2012, Courtemanch has been an extraordinary volunteer with TNC Maine. His work is so important and consistent that he is recognized as a full-time staff member and holds a title: Freshwater Science and Policy Specialist. It’s no surprise, then, that Courtemanch has been instrumental in applying an exciting new approach to monitoring the effects of conservation strategies—a “biological condition gradient.” Read the full article here. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Visit these “Growing Resilience Through Our Soils” information pages: 1. Podcast page for drought planning fact sheets, Q&As, news, podcasts and more. 2. Video page to watch videos of other ranchers’ journeys toward improved rangeland/pasture. 3.Follow Growing Resilience on social media: Facebook - Growing Resilience Twitter - @GrowResilience_ Instagram - growingresilience.sd 4. Our homepage: www.growingresiliencesd.com

Turning Cover Crops into Cash Crops Boosts Profit And Lowers Costs. By Raylene Nickel Keeping living roots in the ground year-round is Loran Steinlage’s top priority for his West Union, Iowa, farm. His second aim is earning a profit through a twin-pronged strategy of growing low-input, high-output cash crops. Juggling the goals for his operation keeps his rotation in “a state of flux,” Steinlage points out. While the crop rotation may change, it’s always working to improve soil health and thus continually reduce the cropping system’s dependence on purchased inputs. Read the full article here. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Visit these “Growing Resilience Through Our Soils” information pages: 1. Podcast page for drought planning fact sheets, Q&As, news, podcasts and more. 2. Video page to watch videos of other ranchers’ journeys toward improved rangeland/pasture. 3.Follow Growing Resilience on social media: Facebook - Growing Resilience Twitter - @GrowResilience_ Instagram - growingresilience.sd 4. Our homepage: www.growingresiliencesd.com

Original Publish Date: November 17, 2022 Source: USDA NRCS NRCS is asking for public input through a Federal Register request for information on implementation of more than $19 billion provided by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will use the investments provided through IRA-funded conservation programs. WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2022 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will use the investments provided through IRA-funded conservation programs to support farmers and ranchers in adopting and expanding climate-smart activities and systems. NRCS asks for comments on how to target program benefits, quantify impact, and improve program delivery and outreach, especially for underserved producers. Comments are due Dec. 21, 2022. NRCS will identify immediate changes that can be made in fiscal year 2023 and will continue to identify and adopt additional changes in future years. “Agriculture is at the forefront of the nation’s effort to address climate change, and we want to hear from people on the ground how to implement our programs to maximize climate benefits, promote equity and assist all producers,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “From climate-smart agriculture, to supporting healthy forests and conservation, to tax credits, to biofuels, infrastructure and beyond, this legislation provides USDA with significant additional resources to lead this historic charge.” The Inflation Reduction Act provided unprecedented funding levels for several of the existing programs that NRCS implements. The increased funding levels begin in fiscal year 2023 and rapidly build over four years, totaling these additional amounts: $8.45 billion – Environmental Quality Incentives Program $3.25 billion – Conservation Stewardship Program $4.95 billion – Regional Conservation Partnership Program $1.4 billion – Agricultural Conservation Easement Program $1 billion – Conservation Technical Assistance NRCS is asking for public input on to how to best maximize benefits for climate mitigation, including targeting practices and programs that provide quantifiable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, NRCS is requesting feedback to help identify strategies and provide recommendations on how to maximize, target, monitor, and quantify improvements to soil carbon, reductions in nitrogen losses, and the reduction, capture, avoidance, or sequestration of carbon dioxide, methane or nitrous oxide emissions associated with agricultural production. NRCS is also seeking ideas for how to further streamline and improve program delivery to increase efficiencies and expand program access for producers, especially underserved producers. Public comments should be submitted through this Federal Register notice by Dec. 21, 2022. If you have questions, contact NRCS.IRA.Input@usda.gov. More Information On August 16, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. It is a historic, once-in-a-generation investment and opportunity for the agricultural communities that USDA serves. The Inflation Reduction Act will help producers stay on the farm, prevent producers from becoming ineligible for future assistance and promote climate-smart agriculture by increasing access to conservation assistance. In October, USDA took action using Inflation Reduction Act funds to immediately provide relief to qualifying distressed borrowers whose operations are at financial risk while working on making transformational changes to loan servicing. USDA has already provided nearly $800 million in assistance to financially distressed borrowers and has outlined steps to administer up to an additional $500 million in payments. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.    Correction: An earlier version of this news release listed the incorrect deadline. On Nov. 21, the deadline was corrected to Dec. 21. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. ____________________________________________________________________ Visit these “Growing Resilience Through Our Soils” information pages: 1. Podcast page for drought planning fact sheets, Q&As, news, podcasts and more. 2. Video page to watch videos of other ranchers’ journeys toward improved rangeland/pasture. 3.Follow Growing Resilience on social media: Facebook - Growing Resilience Twitter - @GrowResilience_ Instagram - growingresilience.sd 4. Our homepage: www.growingresiliencesd.com

Talking at length about growing grass, finding better ways to treat the soil and the creatures that are linked to that soil keep Shaun Grassel involved and interested. By Mike Cox Growing up around the sprawling openness of the Lower Brule Reservation, Shaun Grassel was continuously exposed to nature on his grandparents’ ranches. Shaun’s mother made sure he was present during fall and spring cattle events like roundups, calf sorting, and branding. His mother’s observance of the natural world influenced Shaun greatly. She kept notes on her calendar each year recording the initial instance of significant events. Maybe the first Robin each spring, or the first Mourning Dove she saw. It could be lilacs blooming, or the day she saw geese traveling north or south for the season. “I wish I could go back and collect all of her calendars.” Those early years really underlined how important the surrounding world was. Shaun’s mother would load the kids in the car for a tornado sighting, or to watch a meteor shower. “Being on my grandparents’ farms and ranches and just watching her track wildlife. That just really imprinted on me.” At age ten, Shaun’s family moved back to the reservation, and he became this “curious little kid” wandering the open spaces that stretched in all directions. Along with his dog, he would explore the creeks, and wander up and down the Missouri River in all types of weather. “It didn't matter what time of year it was, I would be out exploring in the dead of winter, be out at night. Summer times were full of adventures and so that just imprinted on me. And then when I got older and was trying to figure out what I'm gonna do with my life, you know, being a wildlife biologist was just kind of a natural step. I'll be 50 here this next year and I've been extremely lucky. It's just what I love to do.” Shaun received his bachelor’s and master’s degree at South Dakota State University, and earned his Ph.D. at Idaho State in Moscow, Idaho. After college, he moved back home and took a job working for the Lower Brule Reservation’s Wildlife, Fish and Recreation Department (WFRD). Dr. Grassel is now Director of Programs, Stewarding Native Lands for the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. When the black tailed prairie dog was petitioned to be declared endangered, the department began analyzing the robust existing prairie dog population to decide how to react. This study eventually led to black footed ferrets, the natural predator of prairie dogs, and their connection to prairie dog species control. Shaun, and the WFRD, concluded that a significant population of black footed ferret kept the prairie dog population limited without using other means of control, and the presence of cattle keep the mound villages small enough to limit damage. This conclusion is controversial among ranchers but a program to substitute ferrets for poison is working in some places. About three years ago, Shaun began ranching on family land. His initial plan was to continue as those before him had, but he wanted to improve the land, reintroduce cattle, and improve wildlife habitat. He also became interested in native grass species and rangeland diversity in the process. “From a wildlife biologist perspective, I’d like to see Prairie dog colonies out there, but I also like to see areas that have taller grass. We started going through this process and we're still very much in the early stages of putting cross fences out there, developing water sources.” As Shaun is still in the early stages of establishing ranch infrastructure, where cross fencing is not available, he relies on water to move the animals where they need to be. This allows him to utilize land further away from the Missouri river which was in the past underutilized because of a lack of water. Shaun is also experimenting with alternative means of pest control, for example he’s using pour-ons for internal parasites that are safe for dung beetles (they are abundant on Sean’s land), and he switched from fly tags to adding garlic in the mineral feeder. “..s.so it goes through their body and basically makes them stinky or something and so it lowers the fly load” Shaun has also modified fencing to improve conditions for wildlife. The lower fence strand is 18” above ground and smooth rather than barbed. This allows animals like pronghorn that can’t jump high to traverse the fence easily and doesn’t affect the cattle. The top strand is 42” rather than 48, which allows wildlife that can jump to easily clear those barriers. While still experimenting with different grasses like big bluestem and western wheatgrass for seed, Shaun gets three crops from his big bluestem field: Cut early for hay, harvest seeds when ready, and finally a late cut for straw. He is still experimenting a lot and changing things on a regular basis, focusing primarily on soil health and wildlife preservation. “You talk about mindset. My grandfather did the same thing every year. I'm always doing something different. The decisions that we make keep wildlife kind of front and center and not only the wildlife but the pollinators and the insects. All those things are important to us.” Dr. Grassel is now Director of Programs, Stewarding Native Lands for the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe and can be reached at https://www.firstnations.org/staff/shaun-grassel/ Dr. Shaun Grassel’s Research Gate profile also provides one with an insight into his research interests https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Shaun-Grassel Also please visit the SD NRCS Range and Pasture website for more information at: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/sd/technical/landuse/pasture/ ____________________________________________________________________ Visit these “Growing Resilience Through Our Soils” information pages: 1. Podcast page for drought planning fact sheets, Q&As, news, podcasts and more. 2. Video page to watch videos of other ranchers’ journeys toward improved rangeland/pasture. 3.Follow Growing Resilience on social media: Facebook - Growing Resilience Twitter - @GrowResilience_ Instagram - growingresilience.sd 4. Our homepage: www.growingresiliencesd.com

“Everything works together. The more diverse a pasture or grassland is, the healthier it is, the more resilient it is to any disturbance that comes at it. So, if we can have that diversity it’s going to reduce the inputs needed and the landscape can be more resilient as well.” By Mike Cox Emily Helms holds a degree in Range Management and Agronomy from South Dakota State University. She was working toward soil health in 2012, with Pathways; a Federal program that allows high school students and recent college grads the opportunity to work for Federal Agencies and learn about various jobs while also getting paid. During her Pathways time, Emily completed the Grand Tour of Milbank, Brookings, Burke and Hayti, SD, right on the edge of Lake Marsh. Emily served as NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist in Huron for the last three years and recently moved to Rapid City, where she continues in this role. She oversees all technical information pertaining to grassland management, coordinates new employee training, and partners with the Grasslands Coalition. Emily grew up on a small ranch near Wall, SD, which solidified her interest in working outdoors. She joined the FFA and got involved in Range Judging, and that’s where she developed a knowledge and passion for soils, plants and grazinglands. Her current focus is on the loss of rangeland and what’s causing that loss. She currently spends much of her time interacting with ranchers, farmers and tackling these big issues. The first of four threats to rangeland is: Woody Encroachment, which is an increase in density, cover and biomass of woody plants in grassy ecosystems. Four states, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Kansas have formed a coalition to reduce the spread of woody species (including Eastern Red Cedar and Russian Olive trees), among other woody species, that are rapidly moving into grasslands and disrupting the existing grassland ecology. Combating woody encroachment is not easy, but essential work. Mechanical treatment, i.e., simply cutting the encroaching trees, is a short term solution, but may result in many more seedlings sprouting from the mother tree. Re-introducing the tool of fire, followed up by proper grazing management and monitoring appears to be the most effective method of addressing this problem. Nevertheless, opportunities for prescribed burns are limited and really need to be addressed at a community level; for example see, what the Mid-Missouri Prescribed Burn Association is doing. Urban Encroachment is the second of four primary threats to rangeland. Emily singled out the Black Hills area as an example of locations where natural grasslands are being carved up to make way for more development. Spearfish and Sturgis are seeing large scale growth with little regard to preserving the grasslands that have existed for centuries. Conservation Easements are one way to combat this threat. Families can decide what to do with the land if they no longer want to farm that property. A permanent conservation easement allows a family to save the property from development and keep it natural forever. “Once a house is built there, we can't ever get that back. That diversity, that soil; That ecosystem is basically ruined with putting the House on it.” Grasslands are also being lost by being converted to croplands. The temptation to convert to cropland can be driven by improved crop prices, but also be convenience; as producers get older, there is the attraction of being able to benefit financially from row crops without the burden of dealing with animals year-round. “We have an aging farm and ranch community. Lot of guys are getting older, and they don't want to deal with cattle. So it's a lot easier to plant it in April, harvest it in August and then go to Arizona in the fall and winter. The AAA club, some people like to call it and that is pretty easy to just be a farmer.” The fourth issue with loss of grassland habitat is the encroachment of cool season invasive grasses, Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome and crested wheatgrass have taken hold in the grasslands. Why are they a concern? Yes, they do present grazing opportunities for a short period in the early summer, but they shade out native species.They crowd out the deep-rooted natives withtheir shallow root systems. Tools like targeted grazing/utilization of the cool season invasives and prescribed burns, if used carefully can be effective. Solving these four problems won’t be easy. Education and support for the grasslands are sometimes hard to translate into action. Prescribed burns for invasive trees and grasses can be effective but must be done with care. Utilization of cool season invasive grasses in the early summer is another tool that can be context specific – the South Dakota Grassland Mentoring Network, NRCS Rangeland Specialists and SDSU Extension are ready and eager to help. Like so many other environmental challenges we face, turning the tide grassland loss will require changing the minds and habits of everyone with dirt under their feet. Finally, Emily points us toward hope. There is a growing number of ranchers who are embracing adaptive grazing and other effective grazing methods. One only needs to look at the Amazing Grasslands video series, where 12 excellent range managers per year have been featured since 2018. Emily Helms, her team members, partners and participating ranchers embody this hope for the future of the grasslands. Helpful Links: USDA-NRCS South Dakota Range and Pasture website that includes the SD Drought status and drought map, drought tools, south Dakota Range Planning Tools and South Seminar on Invasive Species https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-by-state/south-dakota/range-pasture Webinar: Reducing Woody Encroachment to Conserve Rangeland Production in the Great Plains https://www.growingresiliencesd.com/post/webinar-reducing-woody-encroachment-to-conserve-rangeland-production-in-the-great-plains Dakota Prescribed Burning - https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/sd/technical/landuse/pasture/ SD Grasslands Coalition - https://sdgrass.org/ The Central Grasslands Roadmap: https://www.grasslandsroadmap.org/ Mid Missouri Prescribed Burn Association: https://www.midmissouririverpba.com/ Prescribed Burn Videos, Podcasts and Blogs: https://www.growingresiliencesd.com/prescribed-burn Drought Management Videos, Podcasts and Blogs: https://www.growingresiliencesd.com/drought-management ____________________________________________________________________ Visit these “Growing Resilience Through Our Soils” information pages: 1. Podcast page for drought planning fact sheets, Q&As, news, podcasts and more. 2. Video page to watch videos of other ranchers’ journeys toward improved rangeland/pasture. 3.Follow Growing Resilience on social media: Facebook - Growing Resilience Twitter - @GrowResilience_ Instagram - growingresilience.sd 4. Our homepage: www.growingresiliencesd.com

By James Hoorman - Posted on December 8, 2022 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101 Source: Ohio Country Journal No-Till Farmer recently put together a report: How No-Till Improves Land Values. This report put an economic value on conservation farming practices that improve the environment but also preserve our soil. While farmers own the land and have the right to farm it how they choose, long-term society has an interest in preserving the land for future generations. Here are some results of research on the benefits of no-till to society. An organization called Rural Investment for Protecting our Environment (RIPE) came up with $112 per acre as the value associated with no-till farming. This included $7 for increased carbon sequestration, $16 for improved air quality and human health, $25 for better water quality and $44 for improved soil nutrient management — all on a per acre basis. No-Till Farmer has been documenting farmer benefits for 25 years with farmers indicating they saved $25-$90 per acre in reduced production costs. A conservative figure is $30 per acre on average for reduced fuel, equipment, labor and nutrient (fertilizer) costs and higher water use efficiency, especially for irrigated farmland. Altogether, no-till farmers gain at least $142 per acre in economic benefits. This value represents $16 billion dollars of value to the 110 million acres in the U.S. that are using no-till farming practices. RIPE recently received an $80 million dollar grant from the USDA farm programs to develop Climate Smart Programs. They are doing a pilot project in four states: Arkansas, Minnesota, North Dakota and Virginia. RIPE pays famers up to $100 per acre to adapt conservation practices like no-till, cover crops and strip-till based on the stewardship value to society. They will compare these conservation practices to farmers who don't use conservation practices. RIPE will document changes in carbon sequestration, reduction in greenhouse gasses, increases in soil health, improved water quality and other environmental benefits (reduced flooding, reduced water usage, wildlife benefits, etc.). RIPE says that their recommended conservation practices would guarantee a fair return to farmers for their voluntary practices that deliver public benefits for clean water, land preservation, healthy soil, climate mitigation and other environmental services. This pilot program may be an indication of how USDA farm programs may be handled in the future, based on public service or benefits to society. North Carolina University also did an economic study comparing the value of no-till on land values. They used government satellite data, which is generated every 5 years to determine how the land is farmed and compared that to actual current land sales. Their results showed that for every 1% no-till in an Iowa county, land values increased $15 per acre. In other states, which covered a much larger area with more diversity of land productivity, the value was about $8 per acre. The researcher’s theory is that the more productive the land, the higher the benefits to no-tilling. Also, Iowa has much better information while the other areas had less information, and it covered a much greater diversity of soil types and soil productivity, so the results were about half as great. The value of cover crops was also studied but the difference was not significant, probably because cover crops are only used on about 3.9% of USA cropland. Is it possible that if an Iowa county or a county outside Iowa increased no-till to 10% to 50%, that could increase land values in Iowa by $150/A to $750/A or about $80 to $400 outside of Iowa? The answer is probably a big YES! Consider what happens when land is put into the government Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for 10-20 years. That land is usually the least productive, highly erodible land, and the least profitable to farm. After 10-20 years of CRP rest in long-term grass, soil health improves, and the soil begins to heal. Many farmers seek out this CRP land because it becomes highly productive and highly profitable once the soil has been restored. As an example, for the same inputs, a soybean farmer may go from 30-bushel soybeans to 70-80 bushels soybeans (40 bu * $13/bu, 50 bu * $13/bu) or $520-$650 in increased value. For a corn farmer, from 120 bushels corn on highly eroded sloping soil to 180-200 bushels corn, a gain of 60-80 bushels ($6/bushel) or $480-$640 per acre. Current Ohio 2022 government conservation practices payments for a new farmer adapting no-till ($16.22/A), conservation crop rotation ($10.39/A), basic nutrient management plan ($6.98/A), precision ag pest management ($46.43/A), and cover crops ($51.05) total $131.07/A (No-Till Farmer, 2022). Conservation practices do pay, but it’s a long-term investment similar to investing in tile. It takes some time and patience to recover your investment. ____________________________________________________________________ Visit these “Growing Resilience Through Our Soils” information pages: 1. Podcast page for drought planning fact sheets, Q&As, news, podcasts and more. 2. Video page to watch videos of other ranchers’ journeys toward improved rangeland/pasture. 3.Follow Growing Resilience on social media: Facebook - Growing Resilience Twitter - @GrowResilience_ Instagram - growingresilience.sd 4. Our homepage: www.growingresiliencesd.com

For this week’s “Resilience Rodeo”, Levi and Crystal Neuharth share their belief in the importance of education and experience for families and communities on regenerative agriculture, and that “just one fence” can start to improve your grasslands. At Prairie Paradise Farms in Stanley County, South Dakota, the Neuharth’s farm about 2300 acres of ground and manage about 3,000 acres of grass. Levi and Crystal have a very diverse crop rotation and rotationally graze a variety of livestock while following soil health principles in both their farming and ranching operations. “You need healthy soil to have healthy foods to have a healthy family”, says Crystal. The Neuharths share the importance of these practices with their peers and community through their annual “Family Farm Day”. 1) What one thing have you done that has been most important to the success of your operation? Crystal: The one thing we've done that has been most important is diversity; not all of our eggs are in one basket. We're diversified to lessen risk and to try to capture the best of what mother nature gives us for moisture and weather. So, diversity. 2) Can you recall a moment or time when the light bulb went on for you to change the way you were grazing? Levi: I guess a moment in time when I had an “aha” moment, was we were going to meetings in North Dakota, and we would see all those different things on their operations. They said, “if you didn't change something within the first seven to 10 days, you weren't going to change something”. We wanted to add chickens to the operation, so we came home and we added chickens within the week. Our son had milk allergies and we added dairy goats and now it's becoming a very lucrative dairy goat herd and the kids love to show them. So that would be one of the moments, I guess. Crystal: That is exactly my light bulb moment. You took it from me. 3) What surprised you most when you changed the way you were grazing? Levi: I guess what surprised us the most was probably the amount of head that we were able to sustain on our land by rotating more and having more forage out there for the livestock to eat. 4) What would you say is the biggest misconception people have, who are not managing their grazing system for resiliency and soil health? Levi: I would say that the biggest misconception of people that are not managing their pastures for the soil health, is that they think it's too much work. They think that it takes too much time to go out there and put up a fence, but it is really rewarding, and it does so much good to the pastures that it isn't any work at all. 5) Is there something you'd still like to do that you haven't done yet to improve your soil health or grazing system? Crystal: Another thing that we would like to do to try and improve what we are doing, and we are starting it, is to wean our cropland off synthetics, and we want to take a gradual approach and not a cold Turkey approach, but we're slowly eliminating some of the synthetics like the commercial fertilizer and pesticides and herbicides. We're doing our best to only use them only when necessary. There's a lot less resistance if you use it more responsibly and to be able to gradually eliminate that and maybe sometimes be pesticide, herbicide, insecticide, and synthetic fertilizer free and just do with what nature gave us. That's a goal of ours. It's going to be a long-term goal, but it's a goal. 6) What advice do you have for someone who is considering changing their grazing system to one that's better for building soil health? Levi: I guess my advice for someone that's going to change their grazing system for soil health is that just one fence can improve stuff. Start it a little bit at a time and make sure that it looks like it's going to work for you, but in the long run it's going to work and it's going to get healthier. Just get started. You can do a lot with a few step-in posts, poly wire, and electric fence. And you can graze areas that you hadn't been able to graze before. 7) When you walk across your grasslands or croplands, what do you look for as an indicator of healthy grassland and healthy soil? Crystal: An indicator we look for in our healthy grasslands is that the more diverse plant communities we have, we feel the more resilient that our grasslands are becoming. It's a fun game we have with the kids as we try to do plant identification and they're kind of one up on us on that as far as us confirming that they're correct because they are more knowledgeable with that. They can one-up us on that. But just seeing a lot more diversity in our grasslands make us feel like we're doing a better job each year. 8) What change have you made that you've at first thought would never work? Crystal: We've had a lot of faith in our resources and Dr. Dwayne Beck. He hasn't led anybody astray, and we just have had confidence in any mentorship that he has given us for the new things that we've tried and just networking with other producers to see what they have had success and failures with. We try to learn from them as well. 9) What are the signs that your land is resilient and what does resiliency mean to you? Levi: I guess signs that our land is resilient is that you can still make a crop in the wet years and in the dry years. Being resilient is being strong and being able to get through the extremes, I guess. We see that a lot as far as this year being a drought, we didn't have much rain and so it didn't have much chance to really grow, but when it got some rains, it really greened up and took off and stuff that we had grazed started growing. And it's ready to take off when mother nature allows it. 10) There are three important 'R's’, rotate, rest, and recover; grazing management words important to resilient range lands, which of the three do you relate to most and why? Crystal: Rest, Rotate, Recover.. That's a difficult question. Want to take a shot at it? Levi: I guess, of the three 'R's and the grazing, I think that we probably relate to rotation the best, I guess, because when we first were doing it, we were season long grazers and now we rotate. And rotating through the pastures helps it get healthy and helps it get diversity in the pastures. 11) Tell me about your dad. I think that it's really important that we talk about it, cause I think he paved the way for you. Levi: Yeah. It's been really great to have a father that came from the city and came to the country that they said he wasn't going to be able to make it work. But he was very resilient. He had lots of patience and was very open-minded. So, he went to his banker, told him he was going to sell all his tillage equipment and by a no-till drill and a sprayer. And from there and [with] the help of Dwayne and Ruth Beck and other mentors, is where it all started. It has been very great to have a father that has been so open-minded and willing to change, because change is really hard for some people. Sometimes the pain of not changing comes so hard that it forces people to change. It's been great to have a very supportive father and he's just been very helpful and just does a great job of showing hard work. We’re trying to pass that on to our next generations, and it's just been a really good opportunity to be able to come into the soil health journey with my father. I pretty much didn't know anything different. I pretty much grew up into the system, but we've just been improving a little bit here and there and just keep going on and even if I didn't know anything different. I wouldn't change it. It's a great way of living and it's a great way to raise a family. ____________________________________________________________________ Visit these “Growing Resilience Through Our Soils” information pages: 1. Podcast page for drought planning fact sheets, Q&As, news, podcasts and more. 2. Video page to watch videos of other ranchers’ journeys toward improved rangeland/pasture. 3.Follow Growing Resilience on social media: Facebook - Growing Resilience Twitter - @GrowResilience_ Instagram - growingresilience.sd 4. Our homepage: www.growingresiliencesd.com

On this week’s “Resilience Rodeo," Ray Effling of Britton, SD shares that just because a rancher is making good numbers doesn’t mean that they’re benefiting their grasslands, especially in the long-term. With two separate herds in Marshall County and Deuel County, Ray Effling’s primary goal in ranching is soil health. “We try to improve our soil health, plant diversity, get the native plants going; and we also look out for the cattle.” Ray, a former high school teacher – turned rancher, has shown first-hand that soil health practices benefit not only the soils on the land he farms and ranches, but also the native grasses, weed control, wildlife, pollinators, and of course, the health of his cattle. He’s found much success from implementing these practices, even in the very sandy soils of Marshall County’s Sandhills. 1) What one thing have you done that has been most important to the success of your operation? Boy, what one thing have we done? We've done several things; I would say there's two things that are very important. One was grouping the cattle and two was getting the water development so we could group the cattle, get those cattle in bigger and bigger bunches and moving them through. I think that's increased our biodiversity. It’s given us a chance to increase our rest periods on the paddocks and having the water available so that we can do that. And those two things I think have done more to increase the profitability and to increase the soil health on our properties as anything. I don't think I could say one single thing has done it; I would say those two things in combination would do it. 2) Can you recall a moment or time when the light bulb went on for you to change the way you were grazing? When we saw that we're definitely improving was probably when I took over dad's land; that gave us the opportunity. We always had some pastures, always had some cattle, and we were doing some rotational grazing. But when we took over dad's land, that really did set up the game. Because one, we were set up where we could put cattle to rotate. We could move cattle. Our cattle handling abilities became so much better. Looking back on how we used to handle cattle and how we handled those pastures to the way we handle them now, it's night and day difference. But when we took over dads, that goes back to when we started grouping those cattle, started cutting those paddocks in half. We did the big water development project down there with EQIP and that was really when we started seeing the benefits that we have now. 3) What surprised you most when you changed the way you were grazing? What surprised us the most? Well, we knew that we should be able to increase the numbers of animals we're using and the rest period. And that probably would be it, and what increased profitability also is that we are able to increase the number of cattle that we had out there. You got to be careful when you do that, because we've gone overboard on that also, and we had to back off. But we've seen benefits. Increasing the benefits that way has helped us quite a little. 4) What would you say is the biggest misconception people have who are not managing their grazing system for resiliency and soil health? From what we've seen of other pastures and even in this area, that they believe that they're doing the right thing. I've had operators come up and we talk about how many acres per animal and yada, yada, yada, all that. And they'll sit there and tell me, "Oh, I'm doing that. I'm doing that." and they're at the same numbers. Granted, every time that we do something doesn't work perfect. But they also tell me, "Well, I'm spraying every year. I'm putting fertilizer down every year." And to me, costs like that are just astronomical. And our pastures still look better, in my mind. So, I think the misconception that they have or believe that "Yeah, boy, we can get the production that you are." And maybe they are, but I just don't think they're benefiting their grasslands in the long run. I think they get overrun with smooth bromegrass and Kentucky bluegrass. We have enough of that also, but it's a battle, and I think that we have a greater chance of getting ahead of that. 5) Is there something you'd still like to do that you haven't yet to improve your soil health or grazing system? One thing I'd like to do or get back to is, one year we did try the daily moves. We were giving the cows three to four acres per day, and that was phenomenal. And I truly believe this, that if we ever got back to that, doing the daily moves, that a dry year like this, we would be in better shape than somebody that doesn't or even better shape than what we are now. Because if that was done properly, we could have rest period. You could give 150 days of rest. You'd graze that acre one day a year and then rest it the rest of the year. I really think that would be a huge benefit, and talk about increasing numbers and profitability! I think you're way ahead of the game when you do that. And that's one thing I would like to get back to if we could. 6) What advice do you have for someone who is considering changing their grazing system to one that's better for building soil health? Group your cattle. Get your cattle in bigger and bigger bunches, so they're less selective when they're out there eating. Then move them through the pastures and get them some rest, and it could be done. You could do it with a quarter land. You could do it with an 80 of land, but get your water developed and get your cattle grouped together so that they're not eating the same spot every time. We've got cattle, and I can show pictures of it. Well, heck, even today, we have cattle eating some wormwood sage, even mature wormwood sage. And it's not perfect. They're not eating all of it, but they are eating some of it down. So, they're still selecting plants that are less desirable to eat. And it's definitely some benefits to that, and that's what I would recommend. 7) When you walk across your grasslands, what do you look for as an indicator of healthy grasslands and healthy soil? When we're looking at grasslands, I look for abundance of grass. We also look for diversity out there. I was told years ago, I believe by one of the NRCS people, that, "Boy, you got leadplant out there." And they just thought that was fantastic, I guess. Well, I didn't know that was great. So we looked for that, and we looked for the diversity, the native plants. But the bottom line is I'd like to see a lot of grass out there because that's where our cattle are eating. We see the benefits in that, so we can see that we do have a diverse plant population out there. 8) What change have you made that you first thought would never work? Oh, every year we do experiments, and I don't know if it was a very good idea, but we were in a paddock and we wanted the low ground chewed down. So we stayed in that paddock probably too long. The high ground was chewed up too hard. We're always doing things like that, where we'll leave them in a paddock a little long for a certain goal to get maybe the big bluestem to come or the native plants to come. And then we move them through. We've worked with Game and Fish, where we've gone into some of their land and just chewed it down to nothing and the big blue and everything else came in. That's one thing that that's really changed how we do things, that overgrazing is a matter of time compared to too many cattle. And we've put 200 pair in 80 acres and left them there for 10 days. But we didn't come back till maybe the next year, and the native plants have come back. It gave a chance for those plants to flourish. So, we've done things like that, that you would think, "Boy, you're beating it up. You're beating it up." But really, you're not. You got to give it the rest to recover, and mother nature will handle the rest. Give them the opportunity. 9) What are the signs that your land is resilient? And what does resiliency mean to you? This year, we're in a drought, we're in a dry year. [But] our land is holding out. We looked greener today than I ever thought we would. [Sometimes when] I think it looks bad, Amy, my NRCS girl, will go out and drive by and tell me "Oh, it's not that bad. You'll be okay." She talks me off the ledge. And I worry about that, we're still not perfect. So, it's still not where I'd like to see it, but if we can be drought resistant and if we can still get something, a crop, every year, that's big in our world, to still be here next year. 10) There are three important 'R's’, rotate, rest, and recover; grazing management words important to resilient range lands, which of the three do you relate to most and why? They're all important. You got to rotate them pastures. You got to rest them. You got to let them recover. You've [also] got to have the root systems. All that. You drop one of them off, you're going to have issues. If you don't rotate them pastures, they're going to graze the same spot over and over and over again. And they're not going to get the recovery in those spots. They're not going to have the root system. They're not going to have all that. They're all equally important, and you need that. I would not put any of them in any more importance than the rest of them. ____________________________________________________________________ Visit these “Growing Resilience Through Our Soils” information pages: 1. Podcast page for drought planning fact sheets, Q&As, news, podcasts and more. 2. Video page to watch videos of other ranchers’ journeys toward improved rangeland/pasture. 3.Follow Growing Resilience on social media: Facebook - Growing Resilience Twitter - @GrowResilience_ Instagram - growingresilience.sd 4. Our homepage: www.growingresiliencesd.com

With the start of the citywide Soil Quality Restoration (SQR) program, the City of Johnston in Iowa, is embarking on a remarkable journey towards creating a healthier environment and safeguarding the well-being of its citizens. This initiative, backed by a generous grant of $125,000, aims to compost and deep aerate yards, offering numerous benefits to the neighborhood and its residents. One of the most significant advantages of the SQR program is the improved stormwater infiltration, which directly contributes to improving water quality in the area by reducing runoff. By enhancing the soil health, the program promotes the growth of lush, vibrant lawns, reducing the need for excessive fertilizers and irrigation water, leading to a substantial reduction in water usage throughout the community. It's exciting to see the City of Johnston taking proactive steps towards environmental sustainability (or, as we see it, regenerative landscaping) which promise also to improve the well-being of its residents. The implementation of the SQR program serves as a great example for other cities, demonstrating how they too can make a positive impact on the environment while simultaneously supporting their community's overall health. This initiative therefore conserves valuable resources and reduces the environmental impact associated with maintaining healthy lawns through minimizing the demand for fertilizers and irrigation. Residents who are eager to participate in the program can reach out to Clayton Ender, the City Planner, at 515-727-7763 to receive a cost estimate or to learn more about this neat initiative. Additionally, a free cost-estimating tool is available for residents to determine their interest in participating in the grant program. By utilizing this tool, residents can submit their information and express their support/enthusiasm for the program, with the city staff readily available to guide them through the next steps. The City of Johnston's commitment to the SQR program is admirable, and we hope that it motivates other cities to follow suit and invest in the future of their communities. By adopting sustainable practices like the SQR program, cities, and their residents can cultivate an active sense of responsibility towards the environment and create a healthier, more vibrant living space for their residents. For those seeking more information about the SQR program and other sustainable practices, a valuable resource can be found at https://iowastormwater.org/campaigns/rainscaping/soil-quality-restoration/ By exploring this website, residents can gain a better understanding of the program and discover additional ways to contribute to the preservation of our environment. ____________________________________________________________________ Visit these “Growing Resilience Through Our Soils” information pages: 1. Podcast page for drought planning fact sheets, Q&As, news, podcasts, and more. 2. Video page to watch videos of other ranchers’ journeys toward improved rangeland/pasture. 3. Follow Growing Resilience on social media: Facebook - Growing Resilience Twitter - @GrowResilience_ Instagram - growingresilience.sd 4. Our homepage: www.growingresiliencesd.com

Are you a young adult with a passion for ranching and looking to turn it into a profitable business? Then you won't want to miss the upcoming "Young Adult Ranching for Profit" workshop. The Young Adult Ranching for Profit Workshop is a hands-on intensive training to develop management skills in agriculture, featuring Dallas Mount, owner of Ranching For Profit Schools. The workshop will be held on July 10-13, 2023, at Frontier Camp, Sturgis, SD. Whether you’re new to ranching or looking to take your existing business to the next level, this workshop will provide valuable insights and practical advice. Here are just a few of the topics the workshop will cover: Livestock selection and breeding: Learn how to choose the right types of animals for your ranch and how to breed them for optimal health, productivity, and profitability. Grazing management: Discover the best grazing practices to ensure your pastures stay healthy and productive, including rotational grazing, rest and recovery periods for pastures, and monitoring forage quality and quantity. Financial management: Ranching is a capital-intensive business, so financial management is crucial. It will cover budgeting, cash flow management, and record-keeping. Marketing and sales: Selling ranch products requires effective marketing strategies. It will cover branding, pricing, and distribution channels. Sustainability and environmental stewardship: A profitable ranching operation also needs to be environmentally sustainable. It will cover soil health, water management, and wildlife conservation topics. The workshop will also feature successful ranchers who will share their experiences and best practices and offer advice to aspiring ranchers. There will be plenty of opportunities to network with other young adults interested in ranching and build relationships that can help you grow your business. The workshop will be held over two days and will be packed with valuable information, hands-on learning opportunities, and access to resources such as materials, tools, and software. Don't miss this chance to turn your passion for ranching into a profitable business. Register now for our "Young Adult Ranching for Profit" workshop and start your journey to success. For more information or to register visit: https://sdgrass.org/young-rancher-management-school/ You can also download a flyer below! ____________________________________________________________________ Visit these “Growing Resilience Through Our Soils” information pages: 1. Podcast page for drought planning fact sheets, Q&As, news, podcasts and more. 2. Video page to watch videos of other ranchers’ journeys toward improved rangeland/pasture. 3.Follow Growing Resilience on social media: Facebook - Growing Resilience Twitter - @GrowResilience_ Instagram - growingresilience.sd 4. Our homepage: www.growingresiliencesd.com

Learning the safety nuts and bolts of a prescribed burn plan helps landowners, neighbors, and the public appreciate the safe rebirth of native grasslands. Sean Kelly, South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension Range Management Field Specialist, Winner, South Dakota, discusses the process of a prescribed burn to showcase the safe use of fire to rid pastures of grass-choking and water-stealing red cedar trees. Listen to his podcast interview with Robin “Buz” Kloot here. Other podcasts are available at Growing Resilience podcasts. ​ “The Eastern Red Cedar invasion is happening right in my backyard. It affects many of my friends, landowners, ranchers, and people I work with in the county. So, I’m grateful for the support of SDSU, NRCS and the efforts by the Mid-Missouri River Prescribed Burn Association (MMRPBA) for getting prescribed fire re-introduced into rangeland management in South Dakota. Everyone realizes how extremely critical this is to halt this Cedar invasion going up the Missouri River.” These sentiments sum up the heart of Sean Kelly, who is not only SDSU’s Extension Range Management Field Specialist, but he’s also a ranch landowner, local volunteer firefighter and board member of MMRPBA, with the role of being SDSU Extenson’s liaison. Kelly built on his passion for rangeland through a bachelor’s degree in range science at SDSU, followed by a master’s degree in ranch management from the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management at Texas A&M. In this podcast, Kelly talks about his supportive role with The Mid-Missouri River Prescribed Burn Association covering four counties (Gregory, Charles Mix, Brule and Lyman). He works with landowners to plan and conduct burns and education and outreach to help lessen people’s fear of using fire as a valuable tool. Ranchers are losing more pastures and their ranch resiliency to a forest-like takeover of the invasive eastern red cedar. “When this dense monoculture happens, no vegetation grows underneath these trees, damaging soil health,” Kelly says. Safety of a prescribed burn The process of a prescribed burn begins when a landowner contacts the MMRPBA for an initial meeting more than one year before a burn is scheduled. “We learn the basics so we can begin to fill out an 11-page detailed burn plan: their objective, initial location of a potential burn, and best way to conduct a burn,” Kelly says. If a pasture is a good burn candidate, it takes several visits to complete a detailed inventory and map the pasture using GPS. That includes judging adequate fuel load (existing grasses/forbs/trees) for a successful burn, soil moisture conditions, topography, water sources, pasture management history, firebreak locations and types, buildings, utilities, calculating escape routes, smoke management, crew and equipment needs, landowner liability insurance and anything else needed to execute a safe and successful burn. “About six months ahead of a potential burn, we make sure there’s enough residual grass to carry fire across the pasture, along with cutting trees to heap under larger trees as needed, creating a ladder fuel to burn hotter. To create the fuel, many landowners quit grazing the area for a year or more to grow 3,000 to 4,000 pounds biomass per acre or one to two-foot-tall vegetation,” Kelly says. Another essential component is firebreaks (river/creek/heavily grazed or mowed area) surrounding the prescribed fire location to stop the burn, given specific wind directions. A black line, or burned area inside the firebreak, helps ensure the fire stays inside the prescribed burn area. People and communications The landowner, usually the burn boss on burn day, discusses plans with neighbors early on and before burn day. The burn plan details the burn crew and all personnel to be contacted before the burn—from EMT, fire, police and highway patrol to hospital emergency, 911 operator, utility companies and more. Before burn day, the weather is monitored frequently and communicated to all parties. “To determine the right conditions during our burn season from February through May, we go by the general 80-20-20 rule: 80-degree air temperature and 20 miles per hour wind maximum, and 20% minimum humidity,” Kelly says. “No wind makes fire movement unpredictable, so 10 to 15 mph is best, also making sure there are no major wind events forecasted in the days immediately following the burn.” On burn day, a crew meeting occurs to review the map and ignition sequence, specific duties, weather report, equipment check, escape routes and safety procedures. “Everyone has a map and remains in constant radio communications to hear burn progress and weather reports throughout the day,” Kelly says. Once complete, the landowner is responsible for the mop-up portion of the burn. They monitor for any possible flare-up over the following 2-3 days. Post-fire benefits land and wildlife “After we do a prescribed burn, the canopy opens up to allow native grasses to come back with a nice diverse mix of cool and warm-season grasses and forbs,” Kelly says. The rangeland becomes more resilient, there’s less erosion as the soil becomes healthier, and the wildlife and birds thrive. Besides helping ranchers, livestock, birds and wildlife, prescribed burns also help people and property by reducing wildfire risks. “Such a wildfire happened in 2012, just south into Nebraska along the Niobrara River, burning more than 50,000 acres including areas that were full of red cedar trees.”