Red Hills Rancher

A Sustainable Future

The Mission

Red Hills Rancher is dedicated to revitalizing the Great Plains—one of Earth's most biodiverse yet endangered habitats. Through a grassroots movement, the organization aims to revolutionize agriculture and food systems, promoting sustainable practices that benefit both the land and its stewards.

Key Practices: Principles of Soil Health

Red Hills Rancher's approach to regenerative ranching is built on six fundamental principles:

Know Your Context

Successful regenerative ranchers recognize the uniqueness of each piece of land. They consider specific climate, geography, available resources, personal skills, and family dynamics when applying soil health principles. This tailored approach ensures that practices benefit both the land and operations most effectively.

Covering or Armoring the Soil

Red Hills Rancher emphasizes the importance of constant soil protection. Ranchers use actively growing forages and their residues to maintain continuous soil cover. By carefully managing grazing patterns and stocking rates based on the land's carrying capacity, they ensure sufficient protective cover, reducing erosion and enhancing soil health.

Minimizing Unnatural Disturbance

While recognizing the importance of natural disturbances like grazing and fire in maintaining healthy ecosystems, Red Hills Rancher strives to minimize unnatural disturbances. This approach involves reducing or eliminating practices such as mechanical tillage, which can disrupt soil structure and microbial communities, thereby preserving the natural balance of rangelands.

Increasing Plant and Animal Diversity

Biodiversity is the cornerstone of healthy ecosystems. Red Hills Rancher's practitioners focus on enhancing both plant and animal diversity by implementing multi-species grazing on diverse forage mixes. This approach not only improves soil health but also creates more resilient and productive rangelands.

Maximizing Actively Growing Roots

Healthy rangelands are characterized by a variety of plant species with different growth cycles, ensuring continuous active growth. Red Hills Rancher manages diverse perennial forages and incorporates cover crops to maintain year-round root growth. This practice enhances soil structure, increases organic matter, and supports a thriving soil ecosystem.

Properly Integrating Livestock

Regenerative ranchers distinguish themselves through their approach to livestock management. By utilizing five critical grazing fundamentals, Red Hills Rancher ensures that livestock become a positive force for land regeneration rather than a source of degradation. This holistic approach to grazing is key to their success in restoring and maintaining healthy grasslands.

Our Background and Vision

In the face of climate change and its far-reaching impacts, Red Hills Rancher recognizes the urgent need for cooperative global efforts. The organization firmly believes that while one individual may not change the world, collective action can lead to substantial and meaningful change. Red Hills Rancher is deeply committed to advocating for soil health, promoting local food systems, and advancing regenerative agriculture practices. By aligning their work with these foundational principles, they're not just improving rangelands—they're contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future for all.