Volume VII Number 2 March/April 1999

Montana Cattle Ranch Wins National Environmental Award





The Matador Cattle Company, managed by Ray and Sue Marxer, was recognized as the national winner of the 8th annual National Cattlemen's Beef Association Environmental Stewardship Award. The ranch, with headquarters in Dillon, Mont., was honored for using innovative practices to protect and enhance natural resources, while increasing the profits of the business.

They use planned grazing systems to reduce soil erosion and increase the quality and quantity of forage. The company also develops off-stream water using gravity flow pipe to move water to metal tanks away from the stream to increase livestock distribution. Temporary fences and time-controlled grazing to stabilize stream banks and improve water-carrying capacity are also used in the operation.

Using innovative practices to protect and
enhance natural resources earned the Matador
Cattle Company of Dillon, Mont., the NCBA
Environmental Stewardship Award. By working with
government agencies, conservation groups, Montana
State University and resource management consultants,
the Marxers have seen increased wildlife populations
and improved water and range quality.
The Marxers report the ranch is flourishing from the overall management of natural resources. Plants and wildlife are abundant. The wildlife includes elk, moose, beaver, sandhill cranes, and bald eagles. Fish are also plentiful in rivers and streams on the ranch. They also report an increased carrying capacity on the ranch by eight percent in the past seven years, cutting feed costs by 25 percent and increasing weaning weights by 22 percent -- that's more than 110 pounds per calf!

"We operate in a renewable resource harvesting business," said Ray Marxer. "If we don't take care of resources, we'll be out of business. Part of Koch Industries' overall principle and mission is that our environmental policies be above reproach. We want to do more than just comply with the laws -- we expect to be leaders."

The Matador Cattle Company was nominated by the Montana Stockgrowers Association and was selected from five regional winners. The ranch runs more than 6400 cow/calf pairs and 800 stocker cattle on approximately 250,000 acres, and is owned by Charles and David Koch of Koch Industries.

Past President of NCBA Clark Willingham said, "The Matador Cattle Company is an extraordinary example where some of our most valuable resources -- earth, water, wildlife, grasses and trees -- are thriving hand in hand with a healthy cattle operation. This is a prime example of the unique partnership U.S. cattlemen have with the environment. Working with the rhymes of nature, cattlemen can increase their bottom line, while improving the earth for future generations."

The ranch sign sums up the award winner's philosophy. It reads "Environmental Stewardship -- It's Our Business."

"Any business deriving their long-term profitability from renewable natural resources knows that the best way to improve and sustain the business is to improve the health of the resources," said Marxer.

The Environmental Stewardship Award program is funded by NCBA and the Cattlemen's Beef Board. Dow AgroSciences is also a sponsor of the program.
 








  

   
   

   


   

   		
  
   



  

    



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