Ranchers improve soil health

Roger and Betsy Indreland have come to believe that grazing animals can have a positive influence on soil health and the regeneration of organic matter in the soil which increases water holding capacity. They ranch just north of Big Timber, MT. “Mother Nature has a system,” said Roger Indreland. “If we work with Mother Nature, we can do things a lot more economically.” With a focus on improving soil health, the couple has transformed how they ranch. “If we improve the grasses it improves the feed for the cattle which then improves their nutrient density of the meat which also affects our health,” said Betsy Indreland. “We can do a lot to improve that to make our food more nutritious and make us healthier as well.” By planting different species of plants that improve soil health, it increases forge their cattle graze year-round. At the same time, it also decreases the costs of running their family business. Indreland Angus uses an electric fence to divide their pastures. This way, they can maximize how much their cattle graze and limit the impact that the animals have on the landscape. “The primary thing we’ve been able to do to improve the ranch is our grazing,” said Roger Indreland. “That’s moving the cattle real often from pasture to pasture.” By using rotational grazing, it benefits the soil and leaves additional feed for the cattle during winter...MORE