David Garrett
Goodrich Ranch Company
Lampasas, Texas — Spring 1997
I became exposed to HRM in 1983. We began applying HRM principles immediately
and saw great improvements and changes. With the encouragement of and
help from the late Rusty Deeg, we became much more involved in applying
HRM concepts. Fortunately, I attended the original "HRM in Practice"
course taught by Allan Savory in Albuquerque in 1984. Attending a course
taught by Allan himself was immeasurable in benefits. I have also attended
the "Advancing HRM" course in Nebraska, as well as the revised
"HRM in Practice" (second three days) in Fredericksburg.
We have conducted field days to promote HRM and expose people to ideas
and principles, held field days for wildlife management, and hosted field
days along with Extension Service personnel. I try to continue readings
in literature recommended by HRM and enjoy newsletters, magazine articles,
etc.
THE WHOLE - We ranch some 28,000 acres in northwest Burnet County. This
area is on the northeastern edge of the Texas Hill Country and Edwards
Plateau. Terrain varies from gentle, rolling areas with good topsoil amounts
to steep cliff areas that border creeks and the Colorado River and have
very thin topsoil due to large surface coverage of limestone rock.
We are blessed with good amounts of year around surface water in rivers,
creeks and springs and plentiful ground water in wells.
The "whole" is not only the acres and livestock we manage,
but involves our employees and their families, owners, our grass and hunting
lessees and our neighbors, both near and far. We take into account "non-ag"
areas, as to how it affects our management and vice-versa.
The management team consists of the owners-on an overall basis. The Ranch
Manager and ranch employees do most of the short and long term planning,
conduct day-to-day operations and set goals to achieve.
THREE-PART GOAL
Quality of life-Raise a family and make a good living in a small town
and rural atmosphere. Provide an environment of "old style family
values" and conservatism.
Landscape-Participate in restoring Hill Country ranching area to condition
that existed prior to heavy development/settlement (1850's). Have a post
oak savannah type terrain with brush areas mainly confined to steep draws
and ravines.
Production-Maximize production from managed areas to yield high financial
return, yield high gains from domestic livestock and wildlife production,
minimize financial inputs to operations unless they yield high returns,
have operations be self-sustaining to perpetuate continued ownership of
ranching area by family.
How does your three-part goal get translated into day-to-day operations?
In day-to-day operations, I try to remember why I chose to live in a rural
atmosphere and use conservative applications, as well as have a good time
to enjoy both work and life. By working toward the landscape goal of reclaiming
pasture land and stopping encroaching brush, I try to direct efforts to
recognize this and have some effect on achieving it. To increase high
production and yield high returns, our grazing and land reclamation efforts
seek to always positively affect soil surface, plant use and health, and
stop or slow brush encroachment.
What kind of progress have you made in achieving your three-part goal?
Applying HRM principles makes it tough on people to be patient and await
changes to the land because you can see improvements quickly, but always
want more that usually don't occur overnight. It is frustrating, but exciting.
People are usually positively affected and it is great to see their changes
and anticipation of things to come.
The landscape has changed for the most part in higher grass production
volumes. This complicates things in that you can't treat forage plants
just as you would like and therefore you often have too much grass to
graze at periods of the year.
from employees for specific areas they affect. Analysis is done on a monthly
basis for actual vs. expected outcome. Reasons for variances are explained
and necessary adjustments are made.
Progress in reaching landscape goals is seen in a large increase in numbers
of plant species occurring and continuing to increase diversity. Soil
surfaces have been covered more in many areas, but not enough yet, although
we have been working for fifteen years plus on this.
Why did you decide to change your management?
Getting an organization's personnel involved in planning operations and
getting new ideas seemed logical to be able to tap the potential for ideas
and move toward success. Using old grazing techniques and applications
wasn't giving results desired, so changes needed to be implemented.
What steps were taken to change management?
Bringing all personnel, from board level to day labor, into the idea of
affecting operations was done. Financially, stricter adherence to budgets
was implemented.
What changes have you noticed as a result of changing management?
I think, and hope, that all personnel feel like a part of the management
team. Their ideas are many times put into effect, and along with that
come the responsibilities of seeing it succeed or change it to make it
work.
What problems have you encountered?
Persons who are not as actively involved on a daily basis tend to not
think of what we are doing as being as important as those that are there
everyday. This is also human nature.You have to continue to try to get
the whole team involved.
Grazing-wise, you lose sight of what you are trying to do in having the
land change vs. domestic livestock performance. Also, individual animal
performance may not be as high as old methods of grazing, but overall
total performance per acre does increase.
What advice would you give someone just beginning to practice HRM?
First of all, talk to people involved in HRM and ask questions. Get an
off the cuff idea of HRM from those who use it and maybe those who have
abandoned it. Next, get training in applying concepts-both from educators
and literature. Do not expect a "something for nothing" result.
Expect to be more involved and do some changes in how you work your operations.
Finally, do not try to apply any grazing ideas if you don't know what
you're doing. Ask for help and get help; there is plenty of it out there.
|
