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montana website

18 images Created 3 Dec 2015

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  • The Nature Conservancy's Matador Ranch Operations Manager Charlie Messerly works with 13 ranching families in Eastern Montana  at the Matador ranch "grass bank". The “grass bank" is an innovative way to leverage conservation gains, in which ranchers can graze their cattle at discounted rates on Conservancy land in exchange for improving conservation practices on their own “home” ranches. In 2002, the <br />
Conservancy began leasing parts of the ranch to neighboring ranchers who were suffering from  severe drought, offering the Matador’s grass to neighboring ranches in exchange for their  participation in conservation efforts. The grassbank has helped keep ranchers from plowing up native grassland to farm it; helped remove obstacles to pronghorn antelope migration; improved habitat for the Greater Sage-Grouse and reduced the risk of Sage-Grouse colliding with fences; preserved prairie dog towns and prevented the spread of noxious weeds. (Photo By Ami Vitale)
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  • Bryan Ulring gathers horses at the J Bar L ranch, a unique, conservation-friendly ranch nestled into the wide open land of the Centennial Valley in southern Montana. The ranch finishes their cattle on grass, in contrast to the vast majority of ranches in the U.S. that send cattle to feedlots.   The Centennial Valley is an important wildlife corridor for elk, moose, antelope, deer, wolverines, grizzly bears, wolves and hundreds of bird species. The valley is largely owned by a handful of large ranches, which means their use of the land impacts the local environment. © Ami Vitale
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  • Bryan Ulring gathers horses at the J Bar L ranch, a unique, conservation-friendly ranch nestled into the wide open land of the Centennial Valley in southern Montana. The ranch finishes their cattle on grass, in contrast to the vast majority of ranches in the U.S. that send cattle to feedlots.   The Centennial Valley is an important wildlife corridor for elk, moose, antelope, deer, wolverines, grizzly bears, wolves and hundreds of bird species. The valley is largely owned by a handful of large ranches, which means their use of the land impacts the local environment. © Ami Vitale
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  • Ranchers drive cattle 60 miles through the Ruby Dell Mountains to their summer pastures in the Centennial Valley of Southwestern Montana.  The age of open range is gone and the era of long cattle drives over. Today, few ranches drive their cattle with horses, instead moving them by truck. Spurred by growing concern over beef's environmental impact and the long-term viability of their livelihood, a cohort of Montana ranchers is working to integrate ecological practices into livestock management.  The idea is that cows could be good for the landscape, particularly if they mimic the grazing behavior of wild herbivores. By bunching together for safety and intensely grazing an area for a brief period, before moving on, rangeland health will improve.
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  • .Hilary Zaranek and her daughter Elle are met by  draft horses in the Centennial Valley of Southwestern Montana, June 13, 2012. Ranching is tough business with most working 14-16 hour days in the calving season  in the Centennial Valley of Southwestern Montana, June 13, 2012. Spurred by growing consumer concern over meat's environmental impact and concerned about the long-term viability of their livelihood, a cohort of ranchers is trying to apply the understanding gleaned from the science of ecology to livestock management.    The idea is called ?sustainable ranching? and it says to heal the land, put more animals on it, not fewer - but move them after a relatively brief interval. If livestock mimick the grazing behavior of wild herbivores - bunched together for safety, intensely grazing an area for a brief period, and then moving on - rangeland health will improve..June 2012: Hilary Zaranek introduces her daughter Elle to draft horses in the Centennial Valley of Southwestern Montana.  The age of open range is gone and the era of long cattle drives over. Today, few ranches drive their cattle with horses, instead moving them by truck. Spurred by growing concern over beef's environmental impact and the long-term viability of their livelihood, a cohort of Montana ranchers is working to integrate ecological practices into livestock management.  The idea is that cows could be good for the landscape, particularly if they mimic the grazing behavior of wild herbivores. By bunching together for safety and intensely grazing an area for a brief period, before moving on, rangeland health will improve.
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  • Cowboys gather around a fire after a snowstorm and long day of herding cattle in the Centennial Valley of Southwestern Montana, June 13, 2012. Ranching is tough business with most working 14-16 hour days in the calving season  in the Centennial Valley of Southwestern Montana, June 13, 2012. Spurred by growing consumer concern over meat's environmental impact and concerned about the long-term viability of their livelihood, a cohort of ranchers is trying to apply the understanding gleaned from the science of ecology to livestock management.
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  • Bryan Ulring gathers horses at the J Bar L ranch, a unique, conservation-friendly ranch nestled into the wide open land of the Centennial Valley in southern Montana. The ranch finishes their cattle on grass, in contrast to the vast majority of ranches in the U.S. that send cattle to feedlots.   The Centennial Valley is an important wildlife corridor for elk, moose, antelope, deer, wolverines, grizzly bears, wolves and hundreds of bird species. The valley is largely owned by a handful of large ranches, which means their use of the land impacts the local environment. © Ami Vitale
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  • Bryan Ulring gathers horses at the J Bar L ranch, a unique, conservation-friendly ranch nestled into the wide open land of the Centennial Valley in southern Montana. The ranch finishes their cattle on grass, in contrast to the vast majority of ranches in the U.S. that send cattle to feedlots.   The Centennial Valley is an important wildlife corridor for elk, moose, antelope, deer, wolverines, grizzly bears, wolves and hundreds of bird species. The valley is largely owned by a handful of large ranches, which means their use of the land impacts the local environment. © Ami Vitale
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  • J-L ranch in Centennial Valley of Southwest Montana in the USA. (Photo by Ami Vitale)
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  • The horses at the J Bar L ranch are treated with care and love by their trainer, Libby Ulring. Unlike many horse owners, Libby practices and teaches gentle, natural horsemanship. Riders are encouraged to get to know the horse and let it lead them, rather than kicking and provoking the horse. But horses aren't the only animals on the ranch. The J Bar L ranch finish their cattle on grass, in contrast to the vast majority of ranches in the U.S. that send cattle to feedlots. The 2,000 head at J Bar L "never go into a feedlot," said Bryan Ulring, manager of the ranch. He added that the J Bar L is one of the biggest grass finishers in the state. The Centennial Valley is an important wildlife corridor for elk, moose, antelope, deer, wolverines, grizzly bears, wolves and hundreds of bird species. The valley is largely owned by a handful of large ranches, which means their use of the land impacts the local environment. © Ami Vitale
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  • Stephen Becklund and his dogs, Max and Ellie, herd cattle at the J Bar L ranch on a sunny November day in the Centennial Valley of southern Montana. The J Bar L ranch finish their cattle on grass, in contrast to the vast majority of ranches in the U.S. that send cattle to feedlots. The 2,000 head at J Bar L "never go into a feedlot," said Bryan Ulring, manager of the ranch. He added that the J Bar L is one of the biggest grass finishers in the state. The Centennial Valley is an important wildlife corridor for elk, moose, antelope, deer, wolverines, grizzly bears, wolves and hundreds of bird species. The valley is largely owned by a handful of large ranches, which means their use of the land impacts the local environment. © Ami Vitale
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