Connect with us

HOME

Fire – Friend or Foe How prescribed burning can aid in a healthy, productive and safe ecosystem.

Published

on

By Jessica Crabtree

Fire is seen as a universal enemy. It can be a wild, unpredictable entity that is capable of insurmountable destruction that causes fear among its onlookers. All of this is true in the case of wild fires and civilians. However, in the right hands, fire can be contained and/or controlled. It can even be used as a tool to benefit the land, cattle grazing the land and wildlife making their habitats from the land.

Shane Beavers has 25 years of experience fighting fire as well as leading fires during prescribed burns. With that, Beavers has become a prescribed burn advocate, wanting to educate the public on its benefits. With an engineering degree and a background operating heavy machinery, the third generation dirt mover and dozer operator combined his love and know-how to become first a Fire Prevention Officer with the United States Forest Service. From there, Beavers’ resumé grew, earning him numerous other titles and allowed the Bowie resident opportunities to fight fire in most of the United States. Through Beavers’ various positions, each allowed him ample training, opportunity to train others as well as learn from what he calls “some of the smartest people.” That means analyists, meteorologists, horticulturists, fire ecologist and more who all play roles during a wildfire as various organizations that band together in order to orchestrate a plan, execute it and contain a wildfire. The USDA Forest Service, federal, tribal, state and local government agencies all work together, responding to thousands of wildfires per year.

That entails weather patterns, wind speed, identifying vegetation adding fuel to a fire, structures, other potential hazards and more. This is a minor description of the efforts these folks go through. For Beavers, he has witnessed fire and fought it by crews afoot, by engine, by dozer and by aircraft. With all his experience fighting fire, one may ask why he would ever want to ignite a fire.

Whether fighting a wildfire or working on acreage for a prescribed burn, Beavers shared there are the same principles; however, there is no urgency with a prescribed burn. “With a prescribed burn you plan everything in advance,” Beavers elaborated, “You secure all your resources and make proper security arrangements such as fire lines of adequate size for what fuels and vegetation you’re burning.” Beavers said doing a prescribed burn is actually one of the cheapest tools to grazing livestock management practices as well as wildlife habitat management, foresters, park departments, ranchers, landowners and range managers under specific and safe conditions as to restore a balance to nature.

Here Beavers is shown working a fire. Beavers is a Type 2 Burn Boss and owner/operator of Beaver Dozer. He is an advocate for prescribed burning and the benefits to grazing range, wildlife habitats, residential areas and more. (Courtesy photo)

 

Continue Reading

HOME

Farm and Ranch Injuries

Published

on

By

By Barry Whitworth, DVM

In January, I attended the Oklahoma Veterinary Conference. While waiting for one of the sessions to start, a classmate of mine commented how many of the attendees walk with a limp, used a cane, and/or have damaged hands. We all agreed that working with animals is hard on the body. In general, anything associated with farming and ranching is dangerous.

Most farmers and ranchers know that agriculture is a dangerous occupation. According to United States Bureau of Statistics, workers involved in agriculture, forestry, and fishing had the highest occupational fatality rate in 2022. The fatality rate of 23.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers for this group is much higher when compared to the overall occupation fatality rate of 3.7 per 100,000 FTE. Most of the agriculture-related fatalities are associated with transportation, such as tractor overturns, and vehicle crashes, but a fair number involve livestock.

To read more, pick up a copy of the March issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

Continue Reading

HOME

Jesses Jewelz

Published

on

By

By Jesse Kader

Comfy and keep it western. That’s the name of the game this month. It’s hot and who wants clingy clothing? This jumpsuit is perfectly comfortable and relaxed without forfeiting the fashion. Dress it up or keep it casual. See this and more at www.jessesjewelz.com.

Continue Reading

HOME

Noble Research Institute Expands New Program Offering Farmers and Ranchers the Essentials of Regenerative Ranch Management 

Published

on

By

The educational program has been expanded to three new locations, empowering ranchers and farmers to monitor and improve the health of their land, livestock and livelihood through regenerative principles.

ARDMORE, OK–September 12, 2023 – Noble Research Institute announced the expansion of Essentials of Regenerative Ranching, a new educational program designed to help ranchers enhance and restore the land, making it more resilient and reaching livestock grazing goals through regenerative management. Essentials of Regenerative Ranching provides producers with practical tools, hands-on experience and guidance to make data-driven decisions to decrease costs and improve profit.

The Essentials of Regenerative Ranching course has been expanded to three new locations in Texas and Oklahoma. Registration is open now at www.noble.org/essentials. Seating is limited, so early registration is recommended.

Texas A&M

College Station, Texas

October 17 – 18

O.D. Butler, Jr. Animal Science Complex

Noble Research Institute

Ardmore, Oklahoma

October 31 – November 1

Pavilion Center

Texas A&M

Kingsville, Texas

November 7-8

Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Center

“Program participants gain working knowledge and experience of monitoring and improving the health of their soil, grazing livestock more strategically and making informed financial decisions,” said Hugh Aljoe, Noble Research Institute’s director of ranches, outreach and partnerships. “We use a mix of classroom and field work to send producers home with the tools they need to begin making changes on their ranch.”

Farmers and ranchers navigate uncertainty from weather, fluctuating market prices and escalating costs of inputs. Many producers are seeking new tools that offer greater control and reduce their operational uncertainty. Through this course, ranchers and farmers will calculate their financial situations, determine initial stocking rates, carrying capacity and grazing goals.

“The course is well-suited for ranchers of all experience levels and all types and sizes of operations,” Aljoe added. “No matter your situation, this program will transform the way you think about your ranch.”

The Essentials of Regenerative Ranching program allows producers to overcome obstacles, become more informed problem-solvers and increase the productivity of their grazing lands.  By participating in this program, ranchers join a community of like-minded producers who are shaping the future of ranching and leaving a lasting impact on their land and families. “If I had known what I learned in this course when I started my regenerative journey, I could have avoided some key mistakes,” said Tana McCarter, a rancher, and Essentials attendee. “I left with the tools I needed to monitor my soil health and financial progress. I’ll now have the right data to make informed decisions on how to meet my regenerative goals.”

Noble Research Institute is an independent nonprofit agricultural research organization dedicated to guiding farmers and ranchers in applying regenerative principles that yield healthier soil, more productive grazing land, and business success.

At Noble, researchers, facilitators and ranch staff work together to share with farmers and ranchers the skills and tools to regenerate the land in a profitable manner. Noble is focused on the regenerative management of the nation’s grazing acres, which directly impacts pasture and range environments, wildlife, pecan production, and livestock production. Regenerative management recognizes that each decision made on the ranch impacts the interactions of the soil, plants, water, animals, economics and people. Noble’s 14,000 acres of working ranch lands provide a living laboratory on which to demonstrate and practice regenerative principles and ideas to deliver value to farmers and ranchers across the U.S.

Continue Reading
Ad
Ad
Ad
Ad
Ad

Trending