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Recently at Ranch Resources I was assigned the task to develop an irrigation system for a reclamation site. The following steps were taken to develop the system and get the best irrigation coverage. Continue reading →
Phlaris arundinacea. The scientific name for reed canarygrass rolls off the tongue poetically. It is used as an ornamental and found in moist and wetland areas. Unfortunately, this aggressive invasive species does not deserve even a single rhyme. Reed canarygrass viciously chokes out and denies resources to its competition, forming dense monocultures. These aggressive root systems do provide high stream bank stability, but the native species replaced, such as willows, also provide for stable stream banks. Continue reading →
The importance of managing established noxious weed stands is inherent, but time should also be focused on prevention. How do noxious weeds invade a property? Continue reading →
As the software companies grow and push the digital envelope we find ourselves developing new client services based on software capabilities. Arc GIS, an ESRI product, would have a good argument as our most valuable program. With this software we have the ability to create and manage a system of feature layers that collectively, represent all of the natural and manmade structures that compile a ranch. What is nice about this software is that anything of interest can become its own layer with its own data. By collecting and organizing this information it allows us to critique the land and its features one piece at a time, thus covering the extent of an entire property. By breaking down a ranch into different categories, or layers, we are able to conceptualize the properties potential from different perspectives. Continue reading →
Every ranch is different. Every piece of land has its strengths and weaknesses. One ranch may have a strong agricultural component, while another is only suited for cattle grazing. Another ranch may have a wide diversity of habitats and hundreds of species of wildlife, and yet another can have only sparse habitats. It is common to develop and expand the agricultural poten
tial on a property to make up for any current deficiencies. So too can an owner develop and enhance the habitat and wildlife resource values on his or her ranch.
We begin the process of wildlife habitat improvement by visiting with the ranch owner to get a feeling for which wildlife species they are interested in. Many times the owner is interested in game animals, but increasingly these days, focus and attention is given to nongame species as well. An assessment is made on the resource to determine what the overall potential of the ranch is in meeting the owner’s wildlife goals. This assessment is an important step, not only that it sets the parameters of the habitat potential, but it also brings to light other wildlife features that could be enhanced that the owner may not be aware of. Continue reading →
A few years ago, as a younger, stronger, more active and hungrier man, I welcomed the challenge of the “All You Can Eat” Buffet. The attraction to such an event was partially of course to satisfy my hunger and partially for the vast variety generally set out on the buffet. But I must acknowledge that the real attraction was value. It was my assumption that being larger and more active than the average person, I could eat more than that average person and consequently would get more for my dollar. Continue reading →
Lately, the Ranch Resources posts have focused on management. Management “is what we do” and this post is no different. This post discusses one of the certainties of property ownership. Not taxes, but noxious weeds. Even if your property is free of noxious weeds (be sure to vigilantly check!), management is needed to spot new infestations.
Noxious weed management occurs year-round. Treatment of noxious weeds and undesirable species impacts the species during active growth. Management, however, is not limited to times of active growth. Management includes planning for the coming field season and controlling established weeds, searching for unknown infestations, and preventing new infestations. Noxious weeds spread readily, so vigilance must be constant. Continue reading →
Ranch Resources has been working on a forest management project the last two years, south of Bozeman, Montana. We finished up burning the slash piles yesterday, which did not go unnoticed.
It is no secret that private lands hold some of the most abundant wildlife populations in the west. Each of our clients have different wildlife values and goals for their properties. Managing for these goals is a full time job in the fall months. Continue reading →
Two groups of people sat on opposite ends of the conference table. Tension hung thick as we gathered to discuss a growing crisis. Doing nothing was no longer an option and the relationship between the two groups had seriously degraded. But we all knew that it was time to renew dialog and seek solutions to the problems facing us. Continue reading →
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