SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Growing Grassland Habitat
sustainable grazing practices on their own land, such as removing fescue, using rotational grazing methods and planting native grasses, helping to keep the larger prairie landscape intact. “Partnering with TNC allows us to rest some of our pastures in the early spring, which benefits the local wildlife, including deer fawning and ground- nesting birds,” said John. “It also allows some of our native grasses and forbs to get established, which helps with overall soil health, water infiltration and lessens harmful erosion.” TNC hopes to replicate this relationship with other ranchers to benefit the water quality, soil health, wildlife and financial sustainability of ranching operations and surrounding grasslands. “The grassbank is mutually beneficial,” said John. “The prairie on the grassbank develops more patchiness of structure and diversity as a result of the cattle grazing. And in return, we’re able to rest our land and implement conservation measures that benefit the whole system.” Grasslands are the least protected habitat on earth. Implementing sustainable practices benefits the quality of the land today and improves its ability to provide in the future. That’s important, because the Luekens hope to pass Rolling Prairie Ranch on to Bruce and Myra one day. “That’s the goal,” said John. “If they are interested, it’s something that we’d really like to be able to do for them.”
The Nature Conservancy partners with landowners to encourage grassland sustainability through mutually beneficial land sharing opportunities. John Lueken and his father, Kenny, moved their cattle operation from southern Indiana to Harrison County, Missouri in 2003. Their 900-acre Rolling Prairie Ranch is just a mile from The Nature Conservancy’s Dunn Ranch Prairie. “We were running a smaller operation in Indiana. But with land costs going up in that region, we didn’t have the opportunity to expand like we wanted to,” said John. The Lueken’s ranch is a multigenerational, all-cattle operation. Kenny and John are at the helm, and John’s children, Bruce and Myra, are learning the ropes. Bruce is in the 4th grade, and he’s mostly interested in helping with the tractors, baling hay and riding along as they move the cattle around. “He’s still a little intimidated by the cows, but not Myra.” John laughed, referring to his 2-year-old daughter. “She isn’t fazed by them. I guess she’s going to be our cow person.” In 2020, the Luekens partnered with TNC and the Missouri Department of Conservation via the Wildlife Diversity Fund on TNC’s first grassbank project in Missouri at Dunn Ranch Prairie. For the next three years, the Luekens and another local rancher will be allowed to graze their cattle on two specific pastures at Dunn Ranch Prairie. In return, they will implement
LEARN MORE about TNC’s sustainable agriculture work at nature.org/MoAg
THIS PAGE top Kenny, Bruce & John Lueken © Kent Wamsley/TNC; bottom Cattle on the grassbank © Kent Wamsley/TNC
NATURE.ORG/MISSOURI 7
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker