A Step Outside the Box for an Oklahoma Grass Farmer
A step outside the box led one Oklahoma grass farmer to see a decrease in inputs and an increase in forage quality and quantity. Donny Brown’s father-in-law, Jack, purchased a piece of land in Claremore, Oklahoma, in the 1970s with the goal of transforming the wooded area into a pasture of grass and cattle production, intending it to remain in the family for generations. Donny now manages the daily operations of the business and is open to trying new approaches to improve the land. Some of these approaches include working with the Natural Resource Conservation Service and raising non-traditional livestock breeds.
Trying Something New
Donny is part of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), which offers annual payments for implementing enhancements and operating and maintaining existing conservation efforts. Donny began bale grazing his cattle around 4 years ago, thanks to the guidance of Justin Cash, District Conservationist in Claremore, Oklahoma. In addition to bale grazing, as a participant in CSP, he also established a pollinator plot and adopted an enhancement to clip mature forages, improving the vegetative quality for his livestock. Before participating in CSP, Donny worked with NRCS through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program using the brush management practice to clear out greenbrier and improve forage stands.
Bale grazing is the practice of feeding livestock throughout winter using bales placed on pastures in a pattern set before winter. Areas targeted for bale grazing are determined through soil tests for organic matter. Bales are then pre-placed, and animals are provided with access as needed to identified areas. The livestock are moved progressively through the pattern by moving temporary electric fences and bale rings. This practice not only distributes nutrients to cattle throughout the feeding season but also builds soil fertility, organic matter, enhanced infiltration, nutrient cycling, and weather resilience. Reduced labor costs are an additional benefit.
Donny has seen the advantages of the changes he’s made in his management practices since working with NRCS. “I have learned to be more consolidated with where I feed cattle and when I move them,” Donny explains. “Take your time to feed them in areas where you want good grasses to grow. And to anyone worried about weeds, like I was, if you cut them when you’re supposed to, it will help keep the weeds down and the good grasses will grow taller — It took a couple of years to really start seeing the benefits, but now our bales are full of good grass, and we no longer have to use commercial fertilizer to help the pastures grow.”
Donny has always been interested in improving things where he can and trying something new when an opportunity presents itself, which is why he didn’t shy away from the opportunity when his wife, Kathy, brought up the idea of raising and selling Highland cattle. Fast-forward to today, and the Browns are proud to have sold Highland cattle in all 50 US states, and their business continues to flourish. In addition to the 105 Highlands, the Browns also run 250 commercial cow-calf pairs and 25 Wagyu cows on the 1,200 acres. In addition to their livestock, Donny bales 300 acres, which produces 1,000-1,100 round bales, and another 1,250 square bales being produced from 60 acres.
More Information
USDA offers a variety of risk management, disaster assistance, loan, and conservation programs to help producers weather ups and downs in the market, recover from natural disasters, and invest in improvements to their operations. Learn about additional programs.
For more information about USDA programs and services, contact your local USDA service center.