West Texas High-Desert Mountain Ranch
All living systems function similarly so the insights below apply to deserts as well as marshlands and estuaries. Even in Texas, the wind blows only one way on coastal estuary water issues. As to Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority and San Antonio …
Here is the legislation that changed Texas’ native elk from treasured, protected game animals to vermin that are shot on sight at all state-managed lands in far-West Texas. The legislative declaration that elk are not native is scientifically incorrect and …
A profile of Circle Ranch Co-Owner Josie Negley Gill, from Texas Monthly Magazine.
It is a sad fact that Texas’, agencies, universities, governmental and conservation organizations resist holistic wildlife and agricultural management practices. In this 5-minute video, range scientist Allan Savory discusses why this is so, and how this resistance might be overcome.
The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) say aoudad harm desert mule deer, pronghorn and desert bighorn, and habitat, because they (1) eat plants, (2) drink water and (3) do well. In fact: Aoudad and Bighorn are Complimentary, not Competitive The articles below reflect the institutions’ longstanding but scientifically unproven …
When grazed properly, cattle can be very beneficial for elk. Cattle are similar in their grazing impact to bison; bison and elk were mutually dependent for many thousands of years in North America. NOTE: originally published in HMI In Practice Newsletter May June 2013
Collusion between regulators and the companies they are supposed to regulate is as pervasive in food production as in every industry where power and control is concentrated in a few hands.
“Chichuahuas and Keyline” explains Chocolate the Keyline Dog’s take on contour subsoil plowing.
A terrific choice for America, for Texas, and, for Western ranchers, wildlife & habitat.
This touching photo evokes the ancient connection between humans and livestock. Sadly, modern industrial agriculture – including much dairy and meat production – breaks this connection and increasingly disregards humane animal husbandry.
When we divert rainstorm runoff from eroding gulleys to restore desertifying canyons and grasslands, what are the best equipment & practices? Our conclusions might surprise you.
Soil health and soil fertility should be the goal of every farmer and rancher. Imagine the changes in habitat and wildlife practices if every action and every inaction – such as using fertilizers and pesticides, or removing animals – were tested according to how that action would affect soil health and fertility.
The agrochemical giants effectively control our agencies, legislatures, universities and conservation organizations. Their latest poison – which EPE rubber-stamped for general use – is 2,4-D, a primary component of Agent Orange, the infamous Vietnam poison. Agent Orange caused about 2-million birth defects in Cambodia and Vietnam. Over 60,000 American vets at one time were on …
CWD could prove a disaster for far-West Texas mule deer and elk. High fences, artificial feeding and predator removals will accelerate the spread of CWD, as they have in South Texas.
Restoring the Southwest’s desert grasslands takes water. Most ranches treat eroding gulleys and roads – and their stormwater runoffs – as liabilities. In fact these are potential water assets on every ranch. This little diversion dam harvests water from a steep desert canyon and returns it to water-starved meadows, restoring upstream plants and reducing downstream …
Thistle is a great rescue plant for desertified ranges. Quail love thistle seeds and the bugs it hosts, and many wild and domestic animals use it when it is young and tender.
