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Iowa Family Incorporates Feedyard and Soil Conservation Practices to Win Environmental Award As Craig, Brad, and Kirk Utesch farm the land their grandfather purchased in 1944, they strive to implement the same environmentally sound practices and farming ideologies that their father had when he operated the ranch. Being third generation ranchers, Craig, Brad, and Kirk Utesch are concerned about preserving their land and passing values of environmental stewardship to their children. Therefore in 1973, Craig and his brothers formed a partnership with their father to farm the land and run the feedlot that will someday be operated by their children. These ideals coupled with soil conservation and valuable resource management goals are among reasons why Triple U Ranch was named NCBA's 10th annual national Environmental Stewardship Award winner, announced at the Cattle Industry Annual Convention. Sponsored by Dow Agrosciences, the award is given annually to cattle operations that demonstrate innovative and sound environmental practices. "Dedication to the ranch and sound environmental practices is something this family exemplifies," said NCBA president Lynn Cornwell, a cattle producer from Glascow, Mont. "Setting stewardship examples and a strong desire to conserve the land indicates a commitment to the environment." The Iowa Cattlemen's Association nominated the Triple U Ranch for the award. The Triple U Ranch has been in the agriculture business for more than 50 years, building upon a legacy founded by their grandfather in 1944. The Utesch brothers continue to practice farming methods that are innovative, profitable, and environmentally sound. The Triple U Ranch is a family run business located within the Little Sioux watershed in Correctionville, Iowa, in the northwestern part of the state. The farming operation integrates 2,200 acres of crop land, a 200 head cow/calf operation, and a 2,500 head one-time capacity feedlot. Triple U Ranch completes the production circle: Cropland fertility yields corn and forage. The feedlot and cow herd add value to replenish the cropland fertility. Triple U Ranch has a long history of conservation. Raised believing that soil conservation is the key to farm profitability, They use minimal and no-till farming practices to conserve fuel and soil. The Utesch family learned a long time ago to work with the land on which they lived. "Being environmentally proactive is the foundation of our business, " said Craig Utesch. "When my grandfather bought this land in 1944, he wanted to leave the ranch in better shape than when he bought it. I think over the years we've taken steps to do just that." The feedlot is a strong example of how the Utesches value the soil and water. Built into the Iowa hillside, the feedlot has considerable slope. To control runoff, the Utesches worked with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Service in developing a feedlot design to control all runoff from the feedlot. This resulted in a series of pollution terraces that holds the runoff and filters the solids. Besides controlling runoff from the feedlot, the Triple U Ranch has lessened soil erosion by constructing more than ten miles of terraces and the use of extensive contour farming. The Utesches are also concerned for the health of their cattle. While extension agents have told them that the confinement building can hold 900 head, the ranch only puts 700 head at one time in the building. Additionally, they work at dust control in the feedlot by scraping lots to keep them in good condition. Several windbreaks around their feedlot and lagoon keep air moving and minimize odors. "At Triple U Ranch, it isn't just fashionable to be environmentally pro-active," said Craig Utesch, "It's the foundation of our business." |
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