Ecosystem Partnering
Since we began ownership in 1978 the B Bar Ranch has operated organically, but it wasn’t until later on that we sought certification. In 1989, with a purchase of 15 heritage breed cows, one bull, and a heap of skepticism, our organic journey officially started. Opting for less output at a slower rate of gain while learning how to treat new challenges as opportunities presented a road less traveled for our team. In our first year of organic practices, we decided to leap into eliminating chemicals, grain, excessive vaccines, and almost all previous conventional practices. Breaking away from the dominant standard came with losses and problems but the shift also came with far fewer costs. Empowered by our new mindset, we shifted to a long-term perspective treating the environment as a standard of
success alongside economic viability.
Certified Organic for 30+ Years
Under organic management for over 30 years, we are committed to using low-stress livestock management and carefully controlled grazing practices which contribute to creating greater biodiversity, building soil health, and providing the best animal welfare possible. We strive to not only carefully tend to the natural resource and raise great-tasting, healthy beef but also leave a full range of opportunities on a healthy landscape for those who follow us. At the B Bar, our mindset is long-term working towards more resilient ecosystems. Thus, our ecological practices stem from responding to present conditions while considering historic patterns and prospective goals. Whether it’s bringing a heritage cattle breed, such as our conservation herd of Ancient White Park Cattle, back from the brink of extinction or building up the soil health of our rangelands, we are dedicated to creating a better and sustainable future. In addition, we know knowledge is power and do our part to share what we’ve learned over the years with others interested in alternatives to the conventional agricultural paradigm. We often hold educational events onsite and offer ranch tours and do our best to be a positive force in the communities we serve.
Ecological Practices
Low stress Stockmanship, Regenerative Grazing, Composting, Pasture Stitching, Ecosystem Monitoring
Challenges and Opportunities
Currently, we are blessed that our ecosystems’ health is in great shape where we aren’t fighting a comeback. No matter the recognition of how our stewardship practices create healthy ecosystems, our influence is limited to the overall stature of the ecosystem. For instance, the risk of overgrazing and exhausting natural resources is a potential issue that is constantly considered and factored into our management strategies and practices. On the other hand, seasonal variety and drought years are increasingly worsened by climate change and are beyond our immediate control. Somewhere in the middle, where our involvement is critical as community leaders, are organizations that enact policies and laws that determine capabilities and experiences for the greater good. Overall, the most significant aspects, for better or worse, often impact the environment for the longest period. Being okay with the hand that is dealt is an important part of handling challenges, no matter how they arise.
Caring for our ecosystem requires constant vigilance, an open mind, and readiness to adapt. Today’s problems are rarely solved by yesterday’s solutions. Faced with a perpetual and dynamic state of flux, each situation we encounter is unique. Human intervention is more often the cause than the solution and all too frequently results in unintended negative consequences. We look to nature as well as science to provide guidance and insights for our stewardship.
Prompted by the impacts of climate change, the mature stage of most of our forest, and the increasing frequency of big fires in the region, the ranch engaged Ottman Forestry in the fall of 2015 to do some limited logging up the Skully drainage to minimize fire danger to our headquarters.
During dusk in the early fall from a perch overlooking the B Bar’s Reed pasture, one might observe grizzly, elk, and cattle grazing the same swath of land. Many wonders, “Aren’t the cows and elk scared that the grizzly might attack them?” This notion comes from a rooted idea that brown bears are bloodthirsty animals and will stop at nothing to eat meat. In reality, much of the time bears are perfectly fine foraging for caraway roots, berries, and bugs. Rarely, a grizzly may discover the taste of beef and will stalk the herds. This relationship between livestock and predator is one we’ve circumvented for many years without a direct “solution”. We mitigate this by riding with the herds daily and removing and burying deceased animals, grazing Ancient White Park cattle that have retained their strong protective instincts and a sensitive wide “flight” zone, and a strong herd mentality, transitioning from cow/calf pairs to only yearlings and two-year-olds in the Basin to prevent calves from being easy targets, and if problems persist working with agencies like Fish Wildlife and Parks to relocate or euthanize a bear as a last resort.
When an “undesirable” plant propagates the primary mitigation methods we use include: grazing at certain times, bale grazing on top of patches, using controlled fire, and spraying with vinegar. We consider these plants as opportunities to learn more about the land and its relationship with livestock rather than an invasive weed that needs to be killed. This problem-solving method protects the biodiversity of soil and the productivity of the land.
