Riley and Jimmie Kammerer with daughters, Karlie, Katelyn, and Kymbal. Photo Credit: Joe Dickie Calving in Sync with Nature: What Changed On a Western South Dakota Ranch Riley Kammerer, his wife Jimmie, and their daughters Karlie, Katelyn, and Kymbal, ranch near Piedmont, South Dakota, where spring does not politely arrive on the calendar. It fights its way in — sometimes through blizzards that drop feet of snow well into April. The Kammerers are a multigenerational ranching family running roughly 400 cow–calf pairs in western South Dakota. Their operation isn’t small, and it isn’t theoretical. It’s real cattle, real grass, real weather, and real risk. A short reel we posted recently — South Dakota Ranch Riley talking about “calving in sync with nature” — crossed 100,000 views in a matter of days. Hundreds of likes. Dozens of comments. Shares across state lines. For a 20-second clip filmed on a ranch yard, that kind of response surprised us. What surprised me even more was the tone. Most of the comments were supportive. Some were cautious. A few pushed back on the economics. Ranchers from Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Montana raised thoughtful questions about milk production, breeding in cooler weather, fall market timing, and whether later calving is truly the most economical system. In other words: serious producers engaging seriously. That felt less like controversy and more like an opportunity — an invitation to slow down and look more closely at what actually changed on this ranch and why. “Calves Aren’t Born with a Winter Hair Coat” When I spoke with Riley this week, it was five degrees with a stiff thirty-mile-an-hour wind. “I’m glad I’m not calving today,” he said. That sentence carries weight in western South Dakota. The Kammerers used to calve in what many would call winter, late February through early April. Some of their worst losses came from blizzards that arrived right up until the tenth of April. Frozen calves. Long nights. Stress stacked on stress. At some point, Riley says, the paradigm shifted. “Calves aren’t born with a winter hair coat.” It’s a simple biological truth. And yet much of our management in agriculture involves trying to outmuscle it. By moving the bulk of their calving into May — with only a few early calves trickling in by late April — the Kammerers shifted their exposure to weather risk. That doesn’t mean it would make sense everywhere. A rancher in Oklahoma or Pennsylvania is managing a different climate and a different risk profile. Even ranchers 100 miles north of Piedmont may face different conditions. Context matters. But for this particular ranch, in this particular place, the weather risk alone was reason enough to reconsider tradition. Moving the Production Cycle The deeper shift wasn’t just the date on the calendar. It was the production cycle itself. Instead of trying to hold cows at a body condition score of five or better through February on harvested hay, the Kammerers restructured their system so cows spend winter in their second trimester grazing stockpiled pasture — forage that hasn’t been grazed or disturbed for 10 to 12 months. By the time those cows enter their third trimester, they’ve already been on green grass for weeks. “We can put 150 pounds on a cow fast,” Riley told me. “By the first of May, they’re in a body condition score of six — with no feed.” That statement challenges a lot of assumptions. Later calving, in their system, aligns peak nutritional demand with peak forage quality. It reduces hay. It reduces supplement. It reduces stress. And for a 400-head operation, labor matters. Winter calving in this region takes a crew. It takes tractors. It takes diesel. It takes barns. It takes nights in bitter wind. The Kammerers decided they didn’t want to build their business around that model anymore. Cutting Hay as an Enterprise One of the most significant changes wasn’t about calves at all. It was about hay. “We cut that enterprise out of our business,” Riley said. At one time, feeding costs were running around $3 per day per cow — roughly $1,000 per day for their herd. Today, through year-round grazing, stockpiled forage, and full-season cover crops (we're creating a separate post on this subject), feeding costs are closer to $1 per day per cow. Hay is reserved primarily for severe weather events. That shift eliminated not just feed bills, but much of the associated capital and labor: fewer tractors, less diesel, no calving barn, no large-scale haying operation. Could they run more cows by adding a massive haying enterprise? Possibly. “But we’ve been there before,” Riley said. “We ran ourselves ragged. We’re not willing to do that anymore.” That’s not laziness. That’s clarity. More Than a Calendar Change During our follow-up conversation, Jimmie offered a perspective that deepened the entire discussion. “So the biggest aspect of all of this is people don’t see what our goals are,” she said. “Our goal for our business is to not degrade our resources. And those resources include the land. They include our financial situation, they include our labor, and they include our family.” That sentence deserves to be read slowly. “Ranchers are hard workers,” she continued. “We can work hard, and we do the work. But at what cost? There’s a mental health crisis in agriculture. The average age of farmers and ranchers keeps climbing. Young people don’t want to return to this field. Why are we having these crises? That goes back to our goal of not degrading our resources.” For the Kammerers, moving their calving date wasn’t just about weather. It wasn’t just about weaning weights or market timing. It was about aligning their production system with their goals. Land. Finances. Labor. Family. All four count. An Invitation to Think in Systems None of this suggests that later calving is universally superior. Several commenters rightly pointed out tradeoffs — lighter calves at certain sale windows, regional differences, breeding considerations. Those questions deserve thoughtful answers, and we’ll continue exploring them in future conversations. But what this moment revealed is something encouraging: ranchers are thinking in systems. They’re asking not just, “What have we always done?” but, “What fits our land, our climate, and our family?” For the Kammerers near Piedmont, South Dakota, calving in sync with nature has meant fewer frozen calves, lower feed costs, reduced capital outlay, healthier cows, and a more sustainable rhythm of life. That may not be everyone’s system. But it is theirs. And if a short video about that can spark a thoughtful national discussion, perhaps that’s not controversy at all. Perhaps that’s education. If you’re evaluating your own calving window, explore the South Dakota Grassland Coalition’s Calving Considerations resources to weigh the tradeoffs in your context. __________ 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

Reid Suelflow with his Cow-Calf Herd in Forage Corn. Photo Credit: Joe Dickie Winter Grazing in South Dakota: Reid Suelflow’s Practical Approach to Corn Grazing and Bale Grazing In January 2021 — the kind of January when South Dakota reminds you who’s in charge — Joe Dickey headed west from Minneapolis while I stayed gratefully at my desk in mild South Carolina. Joe’s assignment was simple: document what winter feeding looks like when cattle stay out on the land. He spent time with several producers that week — including Bart Carmichael, Harold Gaugler, Drew Anderson, Pat Guptill, and near White Lake, a fifth-generation farmer named Reid Suelflow. Reid’s cattle weren’t standing in a yard waiting for a feed truck. They were grazing. A Fifth-Generation Farm, Managed Differently “I run a small family farm south of White Lake,” Reid told Joe. “Primarily a cow-calf operation, and I have some farm ground.” The Suelflow family settled there in 1884. Reid is the fifth generation. His children — ages ten, seven, and five — are the sixth. About four years before Joe’s visit, Reid began grazing corn and incorporating bale grazing into his winter system. “I was looking for a way to feed the cows in the winter at a lower cost and to keep them out in the fields spreading their manure.” Instead of harvesting corn, hauling it home, feeding it in a yard, and hauling manure back out later, Reid leaves the feed in place. The cattle harvest it themselves. “With my cows being trained to electric wire, it actually has worked pretty well for me.” Using GPS on his loader tractor, he lays out precise strips before grazing so he knows exactly how much corn the cattle receive. When grazing standing corn, he often starts on the south side and works north — allowing the remaining corn to act as a windbreak against prevailing winter winds. It’s simple. But it’s intentional. Bale Grazing as a Soil Tool Bale grazing serves a similar purpose. Some producers set all their bales out in the fall. Reid prefers flexibility. Depending on conditions, he may set up a field in advance or haul bales out as needed. “The bale grazing… you can use it to target certain areas that may have some fertility issues. It is a good way to add fertility to the soil.” Rather than concentrating nutrients in a winter lot, manure and wasted hay are distributed exactly where improvement is needed. The result? Fewer chores, less fuel, and fertility where it counts. Economics Opened the Door. Soil Health Kept Him There. Reid didn’t begin this shift because of philosophy. He started by trying to improve margins. “I was just looking for ways to maximize my land a little more.” But as he researched and experimented, something changed. “The more I learned about soil health and just the whole ecosystem function… it just makes sense to farm with nature.” That simplicity doesn’t mean less management. It requires more observation. “There’s a lot of management into it… you’ve got to learn as you go.” Cover Crops, Bees, and Paying Attention One field Joe visited was an experiment: 60-inch corn rows with soybeans planted between them, plus a diverse cover crop mix seeded into wetter areas — turnips, flax, sorghum, millet, and more. Through EQIP and other NRCS programs, Reid installed cross-fencing, improved water access, and planted a shelterbelt. He also enrolled acres in a honeybee-focused EQIP program that supports flowering cover crop mixes. “Part of it is I never used to pay attention,” he admitted. That awareness may be one of the most important changes of all. Practical Advice for Getting Started For producers considering corn grazing or bale grazing: Talk to someone in your area who’s doing it Work with your local NRCS office Watch videos and do the research Build relationships and learn from others’ mistakes Be prepared to clearly explain your approach to landowners Winter feeding doesn’t have to mean confinement and constant hauling. Sometimes it looks like electric wire stretched across standing corn — and a farmer who has learned to pay attention. __________ 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

Woody encroachment of trees can be managed to save cattle stocking rates and water loss. Rod Voss, NRCS Rangeland Management Specialist in Mitchell, South Dakota, discusses the importance of using prescribed burns to control red cedars in pastures—before they turn valuable grazing land into a forest. Listen to his podcast interview with Robin “Buz” Kloot on Growing Resilience podcasts . ​ “South Dakota is on the front edge of a slow-moving tree glacier that, left unchecked, can cut pasture stocking rates by 70 percent,” says Rod Voss, NRCS rangeland management specialist from Mitchell, SD. Eastern red cedar is an invasive juniper species that can change pasture diversity within a ranch generation, especially since fire and buffalo aren’t around to keep it in check. Its encroachment is often overlooked because the pasture takeover starts slow. From Texas to Nebraska, southern and High Plains states have learned the value of prescribed burning to battle these trees for years. “As I drive the roads along the James and Missouri River valleys in the southern South Dakota counties of Charles Mix and Gregory, you see a significant number of red cedar beginning to overtake pastures,” Voss says. “It’s South Dakota’s turn to make sure we don’t transition from a grassland ecosystem to a forest ecosystem.” Fire as a managed tool Within the NRCS, Voss says a newly signed agreement between Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas and South Dakota will prioritize this woody encroachment issue. “We need to get landowners involved and help support them as we prove the value of prescribed burn management plans to manage red cedar before it gets out of hand.” One local effort by landowners helped form the Mid-Missouri River Prescribed Burn Association in Gregory, Charles Mix, Brule and Lyman Counties. “They’re independently working to address the red cedar issue, now getting support from NRCS and SDSU to help develop detailed burn plans and conduct the prescribed burn,” Voss says. Prescribed burn plan critical These landowners learned from Nebraska prescribed burn association members regarding organizational structure, planning and conducting safe burns. A prescribed burn plan is critically important because it lays out a strategy to conduct the burn. “The idea behind it is to make you think through how to make a burn go correctly and identify all the potential issues that might not go correctly—so that you have that in your mind before you start the fire,” Voss says. Safety is your number one concern, as is accomplishing your objective, whether it’s eastern red cedar control or perhaps invasive cool-season species control. “Part of writing the plan is to figure out the burn size and complexity and the number of experienced people you need. There are resources out there. The Mid-Missouri River Prescribed Burn Association can be very helpful,” Voss adds. Tree size matters Prescribed burns have proven to be very effective and economical on smaller red cedars. Voss says 90 to 95% of three to four-foot-tall trees will get killed by a prescribed grass burn. “Once they reach six feet tall, a grass fire only kills about 70 to 75% of them. And the big trees, 20-foot or more, won’t be killed without building ladder fuels or stocking piles.” Red cedar growth accelerates as they get older. For the first three to five years, these trees don't grow very rapidly. But during the fifth to the ninth year, they grow exponentially faster. “It takes a recognition of the problem and education. If you see a tree in your pasture or grazing land, you don't really consider that a problem,” Voss says. But pretty soon, you see four, then eight, then 16. Before you know it, the first trees are 20 feet tall and producing berries. Over 20 to 30 years, you’ve lost a significant amount of grass production underneath those cedar trees.” ​ Here’s more of what Voss had to say in this podcast: “We need more prescribed burn associations in South Dakota. The White River and the Cheyenne River both have a lot of woody encroachment starting to show up, and we need to pay attention at look at dealing with those issues now.” “The Prescribed Burn Association requires everyone to carry insurance, so check with your insurance agent to make sure that you're covered for a prescribed burn.” I think our plant communities are reflecting that lack of fire, and as a result, we see an increase in trees as well as an increase in invasive grasses, such as smooth bromegrass and Kentucky bluegrass. If we modify our understanding of the ecosystem to understand that fire is a necessary component on this grassland, then it can actually work for us and restore the diversity that our native grasslands have always had.”

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.”

Pete Bauman In the Field In July's Our Amazing Grasslands   video , courtesy of SD Grassland Coalition, we marveled at the hidden value in so-called weeds — goldenrod testing out as rich as alfalfa, prairie clovers, and milkweeds that feed both cattle and monarchs. That story, framed by Joe Dickie's steady lens, left us thinking of diversity not as decoration but as sustenance. This August's Our Amazing Grasslands   video  features SDSU's Pete Bauman walking us onto different ground — sometimes his own pasture, land worn thin by decades of use. The thread that runs through them is not a quick fix, but the long, occasionally frustrating patience of grassland restoration. When the Prairie Talks Back When we posted that July goldenrod story on Facebook, the responses lit up like a prairie fire. Some were intrigued: "My sheep will hit the goldenrod, sunflowers, amaranth, giant ragweed first on paddock moves"   Others dismissed it: "I never saw anything eat goldenrod. I wiped it out with weed killer" A few added nuance: "You have to graze Goldenrod when it is young, six inches to maybe a foot high"   And plenty rejected it outright: "Sadly if you actually looked at grazed pastures you would see cows avoid it. Until you deal with that no cow farmer will plant it."   That chorus of contradiction is instructive. It isn't that the forage analysis was wrong. It's that context matters: species ID, timing of grazing, class of livestock, even regional traditions of what's considered "good" or "bad" forage. Pete's restoration work echoes that same lesson. Fire might be the great truth teller, but grazing is the long conversation. The Abused Remnant At one stop, Pete stands in what was once a dairy farm site, now overrun with Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, and thistle. The soil was never turned, but the natives had been grazed down and pushed aside until they hardly whispered anymore. Pete calls this "Phase Zero" — the raw starting point. Here, the tools are simple but demanding: rest, patience, and eventually fire. Graze too soon before a planned burn and the fuel vanishes; rest long enough and the brome shoots to four feet, laying down the firepower you need. Fire, in turn, reveals what still lives underground. But Pete is clear: if fire isn't possible, well-timed grazing in spring, followed by getting off before July, can also coax natives back into the light The Personal Pasture Later, Pete takes us to his own place — a remnant so degraded he could barely coax 1,000 pounds of forage per acre. "Brome, bluegrass, quack grass, Canada thistle — that was it," he recalls. For a while, he fought thistle with the backpack sprayer, growing bitter and weary. Then he shifted: rest, then fire, then more rest. Seed gathered from a small restoration plot, scratched into the ash by family and friends. Livestock brought in cautiously, on his terms. Now, after twenty years, the story is different. Big bluestem, Indian grass, blazing stars, prairie clover, echinacea — a quilt stitched back together, though never without thistle. The undesirables never vanish, but the natives take their seats at the table again. The Long Game of Management Across the sites, Pete circles back to the same refrain: choose your tools wisely!  Fire tells the truth of what's still in the seedbank, but it only works if paired with rest. Grazing can pressure cool-season exotics, but only if timed to give natives their window in mid-summer. Spray has its place, but spray alone won't bring back the prairie. And always, patience. A burn today might not show results for three years. A season's rest can feel like wasted forage until the natives rise again. "Sometimes it takes a few years for that plant community to talk back to us," Pete says. Through Joe's Lens Once again, Joe Dickie helps us see what Pete means. The camera lingers on smooth brome, on the surprising flush of bluestem, on the uneasy coexistence of thistle and sunflower. It's the kind of slow, attentive seeing that mirrors Pete's own message: restoration is not spectacle but steady work. Closing thought:  If July's lesson was that diversity has dollar value, August's reminder is that restoring that diversity demands time, restraint, and a willingness to listen. Between fire and grazing, rest and patience, the prairie still knows how to heal itself — if we let it. Some related blog work that we’ve done may be a helpful supplement to this, they include: Diversity into Dollars: Rethinking What Forage Is Really Worth: https://www.growingresiliencesd.com/post/diversity-into-dollars-rethinking-what-forage-is-really-worth Do Cows Eat More Than Grass? What Ranchers Are Learning About Weeds and Forbs: https://www.growingresiliencesd.com/post/do-cows-eat-more-than-grass How the Michalski Ranch Turned Marginal Cropland into a Diverse, Profitable Pasture: https://www.growingresiliencesd.com/post/how-the-michalski-ranch-turned-marginal-cropland-into-adiverse-profitable-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

Some of Van’s Soils – Insets are Saprophytic Fungi that consume residue and mineralize nutrients (left), mycorrhizal fungi that live in Symbiosis with Plant Roots, exchanging minerals and water for plant Carbon. This discussion builds on our recent Facebook post about Van Mansheim’s choice to farm without fungicides—a post that sparked both encouragement and critique. Because the issue is nuanced, we’ve gathered peer-reviewed references (listed below) and included brief summaries of each study at the end of this document to provide additional context for those who wish to delve deeper. In late June, when airplanes buzz low over the wheat fields of South Dakota, most farmers know what’s happening: fungicide season. At $30 an acre, the spray feels like insurance against the invisible threat of disease. But on Van Mansheim’s farm, the planes pass him by. Since 2017, he hasn’t sprayed a drop of fungicide. Instead, he leans on a piece of wisdom he picked up from neighbor Rick Bieber: “Walk out in your field, look down at your feet. If you see soil, you’d better spray fungicide. If you see residue, you don’t need to.” It’s simple, but it runs against decades of habit. Residue keeps the soil from splashing onto wheat leaves, where diseases like tan spot and septoria can take hold. In Van’s system, heavy residue from cover crops and no-till protects the crop—and his bottom line. When Residue Helps—and When It Doesn’t Van’s test works because many foliar wheat diseases start at the soil surface. Studies have shown that raindrops striking bare ground can launch pathogens onto leaves, a problem that residue all but eliminates (Paul et al. 2005; Fernandez et al. 2011). But not every disease follows that rule. Rusts—stripe, stem, and leaf—are carried on the wind, traveling hundreds of miles before they settle into a field (McMullen et al. 2012). Fusarium head blight, too, depends less on bare soil than on whether wheat follows corn. In other words: residue matters, but it’s not the whole picture. The Whole-System Change That’s where the bigger story comes in. Van’s success isn’t just no-till. It’s rotations, cover crops, and livestock integration, resulting in a soil that teems with beneficial fungi and other “good guy” microbes. Healthy soils drain better, resist compaction, and favor “good guy” fungi that suppress pathogens (Sharma-Poudyal & Paulitz 2010; Pérez-Brandán et al. 2012). Insurance vs. Resilience Fungicides feel like buying insurance—you pay before disaster strikes. But true resilience is different. It’s not an annual premium; it’s an environment where disease can’t gain a foothold. That’s what Van is banking on: a soil system that reduces risk every year, without a fungicide spray pass. For farmers, the question isn’t whether fungicides are “bad.” It’s whether the system itself can be tuned to the point where they’re no longer necessary. Van’s fields (and indeed Dakota lake Research Farm’s fields) suggest the answer might be yes. The Takeaway Residue cover reduces splash-borne disease. Airborne diseases like rust may still require management. No-till alone won’t cut it; rotations, soil health, and microbial balance matter. Over time, a healthy soil system can shift the economics: less money to the co-op, more resilience in the field. Have you tried cutting fungicides? Drop us a note in the comments—we’d love to hear how it’s working for you. 👉 Read Van’s full story here: Growing Resilience SD – Building Living Soil References Fernandez, M.R., et al. “Crop Rotation and Tillage Effects on Tan Spot, Stagonospora Blotch, and Septoria Leaf Blotch of Wheat in Saskatchewan.” Agronomy Journal, vol. 103, no. 4, 2011, pp. 1321-1331. McMullen, M., et al. “Epidemiology of Rust Diseases in Wheat.” Plant Disease Management Reports, 2012. Paul, P.A., et al. “Effect of Residue Management on Splash Dispersal of Wheat Pathogens.” Phytopathology, vol. 95, no. 4, 2005, pp. 427-436. Pérez-Brandán, C., et al. “Crop Rotation and Tillage System Effects on Soil Microbial Diversity.” Applied Soil Ecology, vol. 54, 2012, pp. 24-31. Sharma-Poudyal, D., and T.C. Paulitz. “Soil Health and the Suppression of Soil-borne Pathogens.” Plant Pathology Journal, vol. 9, no. 4, 2010, pp. 179-190. Reference Abstracts Fernandez, M.R., et al. (2011) Crop Rotation and Tillage Effects on Tan Spot, Stagonospora Blotch, and Septoria Leaf Blotch of Wheat in Saskatchewan — Agronomy Journal Summary / Abstract-style overview: This study evaluated how different crop rotations and tillage systems affect foliar diseases of wheat — specifically tan spot, Stagonospora blotch, and Septoria leaf blotch — under Saskatchewan conditions. The authors compared continuous wheat versus rotations including noncereal crops, and tillage versus reduced or no-tillage. They found that wheat grown after noncereal crops generally had lower levels of foliar disease, and tillage practices influenced disease development, often interacting with residue levels and disease inoculum carried over in crop residues. Crop rotation, particularly avoiding continuous wheat, emerged as an important factor in suppressing disease. The findings suggest that residue management and cropping sequence are key to managing foliar disease risk in wheat systems. McMullen, M., et al. (2012) Epidemiology of Rust Diseases in Wheat — Plant Disease Management Reports Summary / Abstract-style overview: This review covers the epidemiology and spread of the major wheat rust diseases—leaf rust (Puccinia triticina), stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis), and stem rust (Puccinia graminis). The paper discusses how rust pathogens are dispersed, the distance their spores can travel, how weather influences epidemics, and how host resistance and disease management strategies shape rust outbreaks. It emphasizes that rust spores are airborne and can travel long distances, making local residue or soil management less effective for controlling these diseases once inoculum is present. The authors explore the role of weather, cultivar resistance, and long-distance spore dispersal in the development of rust epidemics, and implications for disease forecasting and intervention strategies. Paul, P.A., et al. (2005) Effect of Residue Management on Splash Dispersal of Wheat Pathogens — Phytopathology Summary / Abstract-style overview: Paul and colleagues investigated how different residue management practices influence the splash dispersal of wheat pathogens from the soil surface onto foliage. They designed experiments to simulate raindrop splash under different residue cover conditions (bare soil, partial residue, full residue) and measured how effectively pathogens could move from soil or residue to leaf surfaces. The study found that residue significantly reduced splash dispersal of pathogens compared to bare, exposed soil. This suggests that residue cover acts as a physical barrier, reducing the upward movement of soil-borne inoculum via splash droplets, thereby lowering the risk of foliar infection. The results support the idea that residue cover is a useful cultural practice to help suppress splash-borne foliar diseases on wheat. Pérez-Brandán, C., et al. (2012) Crop Rotation and Tillage System Effects on Soil Microbial Diversity — Applied Soil Ecology Summary / Abstract-style overview: Pérez-Brandán and co-authors examined how different crop rotation schemes and tillage practices influence soil microbial communities, with a focus on bacterial and fungal diversity. The study compared monoculture versus diversified rotations, and conventional tillage versus reduced or no-till systems, sampling soil microbial DNA to assess community composition. Their findings showed that diversified crop rotations and reduced tillage enhanced fungal diversity and promoted shifts in microbial community structure compared to simpler systems. In particular, more complex rotations and minimal soil disturbance favored beneficial fungal groups, potentially improving soil health and resilience. The authors discuss how these microbial community changes might affect soil-borne pathogens and disease suppression over time. Sharma-Poudyal, D., and T.C. Paulitz (2010) Soil Health and the Suppression of Soil-borne Pathogens  — Plant Pathology Journal Summary / Abstract-style overview: Sharma-Poudyal and Paulitz review how soil health management practices—such as organic amendments, cover crops, crop rotations, and reduced tillage—can influence the suppressiveness of soils against soil-borne pathogens. They explore mechanisms by which improved soil physical, chemical, and biological health can reduce disease pressure, including enhanced microbial antagonism, improved nutrient cycling, and increased activity of beneficial organisms. The authors highlight case studies showing that healthy soil systems can reduce the incidence or severity of soil-borne diseases by shifting microbial communities toward beneficial fungi and bacteria that compete with or antagonize pathogens. The review calls for integrated management strategies that build soil health as a long-term disease suppression approach rather than relying exclusively on chemical controls. ______________________________________________ ______________________ 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

Ray Weil and a Student collecting Soil Nitrate Samples down the Soil Profile Introduction: Beyond Erosion — The Scavenging Power of Cover Crops At the risk of quoting Ray Archuleta too much, I did spend time with him last week, and he reminded me that cover crops carry a stigma. He said that when he spoke to farmers about the benefits of cover crops, they said, “We don’t have erosion!” End of discussion. We have already touched on Dr. Ray Weil’s work in an earlier blog, Soil Compaction Fixes: Dr. Ray Weil on Deep Roots & Water. As I reviewed video from our October 2014 visit with Dr. Weil at Steve Groff’s farm in Pennsylvania, I was struck by how well cover crops serve as scavengers, especially of nitrate nitrogen. If that nitrate isn’t taken up in the cover crop in the fall, it will leach out of the root zone during the fall and winter. In this post, we take a closer look at what Dr. Weil said in that video — and what he and his students have published over the years — to understand more fully the remarkable scavenging power of cover crops. Cover Crops and the Hidden Depth of Nitrogen Dr. Ray Weil and his team have conducted detailed soil profile studies on mid-Atlantic farms, extracting soil samples down to depths of 7½ feet (≈2.3 meters). Their findings show that cover crops — especially forage radishes and mixed species planted after silage or grain harvest — actively clean nitrate from deep soil layers. Without cover crops, nitrate concentrations remain detectable far down the profile, poised to leach beyond the root zone and be lost to the producer forever. Under cover crops, nitrate levels deep in the soil profile are nearly zero. In fallow or bare treatments, nitrate concentrations of 5 to 15 parts per million (ppm) can be found all the way down — amounting to roughly 120 lbs of nitrogen per acre. The implication is clear: cover crops don’t just build organic matter, they scavenge nutrients, intercepting and holding nitrogen that would otherwise be gone. Weil’s work with Sedghi (2022) underscores this point: “ Fall cover crop nitrogen uptake drives reductions in winter-spring leaching ” (Sedghi & Weil). The study highlights how timely and well-established cover crops can significantly reduce nitrate loss, especially when planted early after harvest (Sedghi and Weil 2022). Another study by Hirsh and Weil (2019) documents large end-of-season mineral nitrogen pools in deep soil layers, showing that much of the nitrogen remaining after harvest isn’t easily accessible unless living roots are present to capture it (Hirsh and Weil 2019). How Planting Date, Cover Crop Species, and Biomass Matter Not all cover cropping strategies are equally effective, and timing and species selection are critical. In Maryland, earlier-planted cover crops — especially those seeded soon after harvest or interseeded into standing crops — accumulate more biomass and develop deeper root systems, greatly improving their capacity to scavenge nitrate. Late-planted covers, by contrast, are less effective (“Cover Crops and Nitrate Leaching,” Wisconsin Extension). Forage radishes, in particular, have taproots that reach nitrate moving downward post-harvest, then winter-kill and release nutrients in time for the next crop (Weil and Notto 2018; Wang and Weil 2018). The takeaway: it’s not just whether you plant cover crops, but when and what kinds you plant that determine how much nitrogen you retain Weil and colleagues (2023) have even explored whether adding a small shot of nitrogen fertilizer to cover crops in low-nitrate soils could boost biomass and scavenge more N. Their conclusion: in many cases, the return wasn’t worth the input — a cautionary note for farmers considering that approach (Weil, Stefun, and Lewis 2023). Why This Matters to Farmers The nitrogen captured by cover crops isn’t just a soil health benefit — it’s fertilizer value. Weil’s work shows that cover crops can intercept 100–200 lbs of nitrogen per acre that would otherwise slip below the root zone. At current prices, that’s $60–120 per acre you don’t have to replace with synthetic fertilizer. Compaction and nutrient loss go hand in hand. When roots can’t push through tight layers, they can’t chase moisture or capture nitrogen deeper in the profile. Deep-rooted covers create those natural root channels, giving cash crops access to water and fertility that would otherwise be locked away. And while agronomists may emphasize nitrate leaching to streams or groundwater, the farmer’s bottom line is simpler: every pound that leaches out is a pound you’ve already paid for and won’t see again. Cover crops keep that nitrogen cycling in your field, where it can work for the next crop instead of disappearing. Where Do the Nutrients Come From? It’s worth stepping back to ask: if cover crops are scavenging nutrients, where did those nutrients come from in the first place? The answer is twofold. A lot of folks assume that most of the nitrogen in their crops comes straight out of a fertilizer bag. The surprise is how little of that fertilizer nitrogen actually reaches the plant — research shows much of it is lost to the air or leaches away in water. The real “bank account” for nitrogen is the sky overhead: the atmosphere is nearly 79% nitrogen gas (N₂). Legumes and soil microbes tap into that vast supply, turning it into forms crops can use. By contrast, nutrients like phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and the metals come from the slow weathering of rock already in the soil. And here’s where biology really matters: the more biologically active the soil, the more those rock-bound nutrients are made available. Roots, fungi, and microbes release organic acids and enzymes that free up phosphorus, potassium, and other minerals that would otherwise stay locked away. As Drs.Weil and  Brady note in The Nature and Properties of Soils  (15 edition) that the bulk of a plant’s body doesn’t come from the soil minerals at all. Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen — derived from carbon dioxide and water — make up roughly 90–95% of a plant’s dry weight, with nitrogen adding another 1–5%. That means well over 90% of the biomass of every corn stalk, soybean plant, or radish root comes directly from the atmosphere. Soil minerals supply the rest — small in percentage, but essential in function. This perspective reframes the role of cover crops: not only do they scavenge nitrogen that would otherwise leach away, they also help cycle the mineral nutrients that rocks and soil biology slowly release. In doing so, cover crops connect the atmosphere above and the geology below into the living fabric of healthy soil. Conclusion: Rethinking “Clean” Soils and What We’ve Left Behind For years, the conversation about cover crops has been boxed in by one line: “We don’t have erosion.”  As if erosion control were the only reason to plant them. Weil’s work shows us something different: cover crops are not just about protecting the surface — they are about reaching into the soil profile, pulling back nitrogen that would otherwise slip away, and making it available for the next cash crop. When we think about soil fertility, we often focus on the top foot or so — the zone we sample, till, or fertilize. But a surprising amount of nitrogen and other mobile nutrients can be lurking — or leaking — deeper than that. Weil’s research challenges us to think deeper — literally — about where nutrients go after harvest and how cover crops give us a tool to pull back what many assume is gone. For farmers willing to look below the surface, cover crops offer a way to reclaim nitrogen that was never truly “lost” — just waiting for a root to find it. And with nitrogen prices where they are, that’s not just a soil health story — it’s money in the bank. Selected Works by Ray Weil (Please get in touch with us if you have trouble finding these references) Hirsh, Sarah M., Sjoerd W. Duiker, Jeff Graybill, Kelly Nichols, and Ray R. Weil. “Scavenging and Recycling Deep Soil Nitrogen Using Cover Crops on Mid-Atlantic, USA Farms.” Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment , vol. 309, 2021, art. no. 107274. Sedghi, Nathan, and Ray R. Weil. “Fall Cover Crop Nitrogen Uptake Drives Reductions in Winter-Spring Leaching.” Journal of Environmental Quality , vol. 51, 2022. Weil, Ray R. “The ‘Cover Cropping’ Renaissance.” The Earth and I , 22 Aug. 2023. Weil, Raymond. Spring Management of Cover Crops: How Termination Timing Affects Soybean Growth and Yield. Maryland Soybean Board Research Report, University of Maryland, 2024. Temple, Laura. “Does Fertilizing Cover Crops Boost Nutrient Capture?” Soybean Research & Information Network, 4 Dec. 2023 Weil, Raymond. Soil Health and Nutrient Flows with Enhanced Cover Cropping and Soil Management. Thriving Agricultural Systems in Urbanized Landscapes, 2025. Weil, Ray R., and Nyle C. Brady. The Nature and Properties of Soils. 15th ed., Pearson, 2017. ______________________________________________ ______________________ 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

Soil Regeneration Spiral. Source: Anderson 2005 We pulled into the parking lot at the USDA-ARS facility in Brookings, South Dakota, cameras in hand, wind tugging at our jackets. I remember thinking—this may be a quiet campus, but something important was about to be said inside. Dr. Randy Anderson didn’t deliver a long lecture that day. In fact, the heart of what he shared lasted less than three minutes. But in those few minutes, he offered a bird’s-eye view of how soil health really improves—how one practice begets another, and how a small management decision can spiral into something much bigger. Randy is not a man of fanfare. He’s soft-spoken, precise, and deeply thoughtful—shaped by years of working in the semi-arid Great Plains. And what he described that day was what he calls the Spiral of Soil Regeneration : a framework that ties together erosion control, water management, nutrient cycling, plant health, weed suppression, and profitability. It all starts with no-till and surface residue. That residue conserves moisture. More moisture means more plant growth. More plant growth means more residue. That alone starts the cycle. But it keeps building. That extra moisture opens the door to more diverse, more frequent rotations. Those rotations add organic matter. Microbial life flourishes. Aggregates form. Infiltration improves. Nutrient cycling takes off. “No-tillers were reducing nitrogen by 25 to 35%, and in some cases phosphorus by up to 50%,” Randy told me. “Some even eliminated phosphorus altogether—and yields still went up.” Healthier soils brought more vigorous seedlings, earlier nutrient uptake, and fewer plant diseases—especially the belowground ones we often miss. One long-term study showed that growing corn just once every four years, instead of every two, led to a 15–20% yield bump under the same conditions, just by lowering root disease pressure. Then came something even more surprising: crops in regenerated soils were more tolerant of weeds. In a Pennsylvania study, corn grown in biologically active, cover-cropped soil could tolerate five times more weed pressure than corn in conventionally tilled ground—with no yield penalty. But Randy didn’t just stop at plant health. He pointed to a long-term economic assessment of Great Plains producers who embraced these regenerative principles. Their net returns were 3 to 5 times higher than those of conventional tillage operations. Fertilizer and herbicide use dropped. Soil organic matter more than doubled. “They were just simply getting more profit,” he said. This spiral isn’t a metaphor. It’s a high-level systems view—one that makes sense to farmers who live in the day-to-day details, but need to see the big picture too. In revisiting this interview nearly a decade later, and seeing the kinds of questions showing up in our social media comment threads, we realized this message still hits home. It gives producers—especially those feeling stuck—a 30,000-foot path forward that’s both grounded and actionable. That’s why we’ve worked hard to bring this back to life in video form. We’ll be releasing the full 3-minute version soon. In the meantime, we’ve created a <1-minute teaser to give folks a quick, accessible gateway into this story—and into the full article. And we’re not done. In a follow-up piece, we’ll share more of Randy’s work on rotational diversity and weed suppression—an area that’s becoming even more critical as herbicide resistance rises and costs mount. Further Reading: For an early visual representation of this concept, see Randy Anderson’s Spiral of Regeneration  diagram in Leading Edge , Winter 2005 (pp. 220–226): “Crop Residues & No-Till Stimulate a Spiral of Soil Regeneration.” ______________________________________________ ______________________ 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

Over the past few weeks, the tillage and no-till debate has sparked surprising and passionate discussion among our readers. We've responded with a series of blogs diving into the science, farmer experience, and stewardship questions at stake [1–5]. As part of this effort, we're highlighting two key South Dakota studies, both based at the Brookings research station, that offer important, complementary insights into why longer crop rotations can make not just agronomic but economic sense. Two Complementary Studies, One Big Takeaway Recent peer-reviewed work by Bansal et al. [6] and Feng et al. [7] compared long-term no-till systems: continuous corn, corn–soybean (CS), and diversified four-year rotations with small grains, peas, and sunflowers. While they explore similar themes, the two papers differ in focus and together provide a fuller picture: Bansal et al. (2024)  focus on yield and profit comparisons , showing corn yields up to 89% higher after peas vs. continuous corn, soybean yields ~38% higher after wheat, and net revenues holding steady or improving in diverse systems. They emphasize reduced nitrogen and seed costs as profit drivers. Feng et al. (2021)  zoom out to a systems-level view , examining not only profits but economic resilience over time , especially under limited fertilizer or weather stress. They show diversified systems buffer farms against risk and input price swings, offering stability beyond just yield numbers. Why It Matters for South Dakota Farmers Both studies agree: longer rotations offer more than agronomic perks—they bring real economic advantages.  While small grains or peas may have lower per-acre market value, they improve soil health, lower input needs, and set up following crops for success. Diversified systems also weather market and environmental ups and downs better—critical for long-term profitability. A Personal Note In an interview I did with Dr. Dwayne Beck at Dakota Lakes Research Farm back in October 2013—as the Atlas storm rolled into South Dakota—he summed it up simply: "Corn is a good thing. We can keep a high percentage of corn in the rotation. But we're throwing this other stuff in there just to mix it up, and it makes the corn better and much cheaper to grow."  Beck has long emphasized that diversity gives economic advantages you don’t always see on paper—until you experience the system yourself. To us, these new Brookings studies beautifully corroborate what Beck was saying more than a decade ago. Other Resources We also reviewed summaries from USDA-ARS and SDSU Extension [8,9]. These provide useful overviews, and we hope our blog helps whet readers' appetites to explore the full research landscape even further. Our Take For producers wondering if it’s worth expanding beyond corn and soy: the evidence says yes. The challenge ahead is translating these findings into practical, region-specific tools that help farmers on the ground. If you think we should dive even deeper into the literature or explore additional questions, let us know—we welcome your input! References Growing Resilience Team. What we’re really arguing about when we talk about tillage. Growing Resilience SD. Available from: https://www.growingresiliencesd.com/post/what-we-re-really-arguing-about-when-we-talk-about-tillage Growing Resilience Team. When does no-till work? Two major studies and what farmers told us. Growing Resilience SD. Available from: https://www.growingresiliencesd.com/post/when-does-no-till-work-two-major-studies-and-what-farmers-told-us Growing Resilience Team. No-till and chemical inputs: What the research tells us. Growing Resilience SD. Available from: https://www.growingresiliencesd.com/post/no-till-and-chemical-inputs-what-the-research-tells-us Growing Resilience Team. Beyond no-till: Why crop rotations matter more than you think. Growing Resilience SD. Available from: https://www.growingresiliencesd.com/post/beyond-no-till-why-crop-rotations-matter-more-than-you-think Growing Resilience Team. No-till, no yield? Are we putting corn above soybean yields? Growing Resilience SD. Available from: https://www.growingresiliencesd.com/post/no-till-no-yield-are-we-putting-corn-above-soybean-yields Bansal S, et al. Yield and profit comparison of diversified versus conventional crop rotation systems in South Dakota. Agron J. 2024;116(2):1012–1030.  DOI/full text: https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21688 Feng X, et al. Yield and economic performance of crop rotation systems in South Dakota. Agrosyst Geosci Environ. 2021;4:e20170.  📄 Full text (open access): https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20196 USDA-ARS. Economics of different crop rotation systems in South Dakota. 2022. Available from: https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=402752 Wang T. Economics of different crop rotation systems in South Dakota. SDSU Extension Bulletin. Available from: https://extension.sdstate.edu/economics-different-crop-rotation-systems-south-dakota ______________________________________________ ______________________ 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

Photo Credit: By Joe Dickie In western South Dakota, where the prairie stretches wide and the wind speaks in long, slow sentences, Karlie Kammerer has learned the most important lesson a young rancher can know: The land doesn't read a rulebook. It doesn't follow a calendar. It doesn't operate by formulas. It responds to care — attention — and patience. Karlie, 17, is the seventh generation to ranch on her family’s land near Piedmont, South Dakota — a place they’ve called home for over 140 years. Today, that legacy continues as her family leans hard into regenerative ranching — not as a trendy label, but as a way to stay rooted in the land they love and to ensure it thrives for generations to come."We had to change," Karlie says plainly. "We were doing what everybody else was doing — conventional management — but it wasn't working." A Shift in Thinking — From Control to Care Like many ranch families, the Kammerers once measured success the way they were taught — by production, efficiency, and numbers. But the land was telling them something else. So Karlie’s dad, Riley Kammerer, did what good ranchers do: He paid attention. He asked questions. He went looking for better ways — through grazing schools, Ranching for Profit , and conversations with ranchers already walking the regenerative path. Today, the Kammerers follow the five familiar principles of soil health — minimizing disturbance, keeping the soil covered, promoting diversity, maintaining living roots, and integrating livestock. But for them, the most important principle is the one that doesn’t always get listed on the handouts: Context. Context Changes Everything Context is what ties their whole operation together. It's not a practice — it's a posture. “Every pasture is different,” Karlie says. “You can’t treat them all the same.” Context means they don’t move cattle just because the calendar says it’s time. They move cattle because the grass  says it’s time, the soil needs rest, or a dry year calls for a different strategy. It means knowing that some fields respond to more animal impact while others need to be left alone. It means understanding that a practice that works 100 miles west on somebody else’s ranch might not fit here — in this soil, with this rainfall, on this ground. “You have to ranch with your eyes open,” Karlie says — quoting her dad but clearly taking the words as her own. Regenerative Ranching as Legacy Work For the Kammerers, regenerative ranching isn’t about appearances. It’s about leaving something behind that lasts. Their investment isn’t just in cattle or grass — it’s in the next generation. “My dad always says what we’re doing now isn’t just for us,” Karlie explains. “It’s for whoever comes after us.” Sometimes, that means slowing down. Sometimes, it means letting nature take the lead. Sometimes, it means walking away from short-term gain for long-term health. “That’s what context teaches you,” Karlie says. “It teaches you to look past the quick fix and ask what’s really good for the land.”t takes dogs. It takes daily checking. But it works. And it works because  it fits the context. Why Grasslands Matter The Great Plains grasslands — like the ones Karlie calls home — are among the most endangered ecosystems in the world. Millions of acres have been lost to cropland conversion, urban development, and woody encroachment. Yet these grasslands hold the key to clean water, healthy soil, wildlife habitat, and carbon storage. Without healthy grasslands, none of the rest works — not the cattle, not the wildlife, not the rural communities that depend on them. But Karlie believes there’s still time — and still people willing to listen to what the land needs. Listening to the Land — And To Each Other Perhaps what’s most remarkable about Karlie Kammerer is not just how much she knows — but how much she’s willing to keep learning. In a world hungry for fast answers, she stands in the long tradition of ranchers who know the truth of the prairie: The land doesn’t shout. It whispers. It takes a lifetime to listen well. That’s why Karlie talks about legacy — not just as a word — but as a way of life. “It’s not about doing everything perfect,” she says. “It’s about paying attention. Leaving it better. And teaching the next ones to do the same.” Photo Credit: By Joe Dickie By: the Growing Resilience Team ______________________________________________ ______________________ 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: Buz Kloot The prairie does not demand attention. It whispers, it hums, it endures. But to those who know it well, who grew up watching the grasses sway in the wind like a great breathing organism, the prairie teaches everything worth knowing about balance, resilience, and belonging. Kate Rasmussen is one of those people. Raised in the Badlands of south-central South Dakota, Kate was shaped by the very landscapes she now works to protect. Her early days on the family cattle ranch were spent moving cattle, working horses, and learning the subtle language of grasses and wildlife. It was a way of life, but it was also an education—one that led her to a role at the World Wildlife Fund’s Sustainable Ranching Initiative , where she now works with ranchers across western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming to improve grazing practices  and restore native grasslands . “My roots are here,” she says, “and so is my purpose.” Why Grasslands Matter—And Why They’re Disappearing The grasslands of North America—once stretching from Alberta to Mexico in a near-continuous sea of life—are now vanishing at a pace that alarms even the most seasoned conservationists. According to WWF’s 2021 Plowprint Report, 32 million acres of grassland have been lost since 2012 . In that year alone, 1.6 million acres were destroyed —a number greater than the size of Delaware. And yet, these grasslands remain essential. They store carbon, filter water, support pollinators, and provide habitat for countless species. “They’re not just grass,” Kate says. “They’re an ecosystem—quiet, but crucial.” Restoration Through Relationship: A Different Kind of Conservation What sets Kate apart is her deep belief in collaborative conservation . “This isn’t about enforcing a set of rules,” she says. “It’s about listening—truly listening—to the people on the land and finding shared goals.” Kate’s work is grounded in partnerships—with ranchers, scientists, nonprofits, and agencies. Her role is part ecologist, part connector. She helps producers reseed degraded pastures with native grasses, rethink their grazing rotations, and implement regenerative practices  that not only protect the environment but also support long-term ranch viability. “It’s not either-or,” she emphasizes. “We can produce food and fiber and support biodiversity. The two can work together.” Her conviction is born of experience. Having worked on ranches throughout the West, Kate understands firsthand the economic pressures, the family dynamics, the unpredictability of weather. She knows what it means to make a living off the land—and how fragile that livelihood can become without healthy soil, reliable rainfall, and functioning ecosystems. The Heart of Regenerative Ranching Like the ranchers she supports, Kate believes in the core principles of regenerative agriculture : keeping living roots in the soil, maintaining ground cover, promoting plant diversity, minimizing disturbance, and integrating livestock. But she also champions a sixth principle— context —recognizing that every landscape is unique, every operation different. “There’s no one-size-fits-all model,” she explains. “The key is adapting the principles to your own land and learning to read what it needs.” This kind of responsiveness—this trust in nature’s wisdom—is what makes Kate’s work both humble and powerful. She’s not prescribing solutions from a distance; she’s walking the fence lines, feeling the soil, reading the grasses. Carrying the Message Beyond the Fence Line While much of Kate’s work happens in conversations with ranchers and partners, she also sees the value in reaching a broader audience. “People in urban areas don’t always know how much of their well-being is tied to these landscapes,” she says. “We need to tell that story better.” That story, as Kate tells it, is one of interconnectedness —between the prairie and the pollinator, the rancher and the rangeland, the soil and the supper table. “You can quote statistics all day,” she says, “but what sticks with people is the feeling they get when they experience the prairie. When they feel the wind, hear the birds, see the grasses move. That’s what makes them care.” And Kate is right. Conservation is not only about numbers. It’s about stories. And hers is one that speaks to both urgency and hope. Looking Ahead: A Future Rooted in Collaboration Kate Rasmussen is part of a growing movement of young conservationists and land stewards who understand that saving the grasslands  won’t come from top-down mandates, but from bottom-up partnerships . It’s not just about preserving what’s left—it’s about restoring what’s been lost and reimagining how we relate to the land. “I’m hopeful,” she says. “Because I see the energy out there. I see ranchers who care deeply, who want to do right by the land, who are willing to adapt. And when you combine that with strong partnerships and good science, you get real, lasting change.” In a world that often favors speed and spectacle, Kate’s approach—like the grasslands themselves—is quiet, steady, and enduring. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most powerful transformations begin not with declarations, but with listening. Not with conquest, but with care. ______________________________________________ ______________________ 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: Buz Kloot In the heart of South Dakota, where the wide-open spaces of the Great Plains meet the horizon, Johnathon Neuharth is not just a young rancher—he’s a dedicated steward of grassland restoration. At 16, Johnathon is leading the charge for regenerative agriculture on Prairie Paradise Farms, a ranch his family has managed for generations. His commitment to sustainable ranching practices like rotational grazing  and grassland restoration  is transforming the land, breathing new life into the prairies that once thrived across this vast landscape. The Importance of Grassland Conservation Grasslands are among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth, yet they play a critical role in supporting biodiversity and sustaining life. "Did you know that grasslands are one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet?" Johnathon asks. His words are a call to action, not just for the land he’s inherited, but for the future of regenerative agriculture across the Great Plains. Johnathon’s journey is a response to the growing concern over grassland loss. As the agricultural industry shifts toward more intensive farming practices, the prairies that once sustained wildlife and cattle alike are vanishing. According to recent studies, more than 50% of grasslands have been lost in the past century, primarily due to land conversion for farming. But Johnathon and his family are determined to change that narrative through grassland restoration. Regenerative Agriculture: A Solution for Grassland Restoration For Johnathon, the answer lies in regenerative farming  practices, particularly rotational grazing . This method involves moving livestock in a way that mimics natural grazing patterns, allowing the land time to recover and the grasses to regrow. "We rotate our cattle across different fields to ensure the land has time to rest and regenerate," Johnathon explains. "It helps the grass grow stronger and supports wildlife habitats, creating a more resilient ecosystem." Rotational grazing is a cornerstone of Johnathon’s regenerative agriculture practices. This system not only improves soil health but also helps to prevent erosion and promotes biodiversity. It’s a way of working with the land rather than against it, ensuring that future generations can enjoy the same lush, productive grasslands that Johnathon's family has stewarded for decades. A Legacy of Sustainability As the third generation to work on Prairie Paradise Farms, Johnathon carries a deep sense of responsibility for the land he tends. He knows that if current farming practices continue, future generations will not inherit the same vibrant prairies that have sustained his family for over 40 years. "We need to think about the future," Johnathon says. "If we don’t take care of the grasslands, they won’t take care of the wildlife. And if the wildlife goes, we’re all affected." This philosophy has shaped the Neuharth family’s approach to ranching. By integrating livestock into the landscape in a sustainable way, Johnathon and his family are reversing the damage done by decades of overgrazing, deforestation, and crop conversion. They’re committed to grassland restoration , not just for the health of the land, but for the wildlife that rely on these ecosystems. The Challenges of Grassland Conservation Despite the Neuharths’ success, the road ahead is not without challenges. Market pressures, government policies, and a lack of public awareness continue to threaten grassland ecosystems. "People are often driven by short-term profits, like high crop prices," Johnathon explains. "But the real value of the land isn’t in what we can extract from it today—it’s in what we leave for tomorrow." Johnathon recognizes that raising awareness about the importance of grassland conservation  is critical. "We need more people to understand that restoring grasslands isn’t just about saving the environment—it’s about securing our future. If we don’t restore these lands, we risk losing everything that depends on them." The Future of Grassland Restoration Looking ahead, Johnathon is optimistic. He believes that if enough people adopt regenerative practices like rotational grazing and support policies that prioritize grassland conservation, we can still save the prairies. "I think we can turn things around," he says. "We just need to act before it’s too late. Grasslands are resilient, but we have to give them a chance to heal." Johnathon's efforts are a reminder that the future of sustainable agriculture  rests in the hands of the next generation. With a commitment to regenerative practices and a deep respect for the land, Johnathon Neuharth is demonstrating how to restore and protect one of the world’s most precious ecosystems—one field at a time. ______________________________________________ ______________________ 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