Our practices
Regenerative Agriculture
The idea of regenerative agriculture seems like a new concept when in reality, it has been around for hundreds of years. Using nature to improve soil health is what our grandparents and great-grandparents did. They used their cattle and rotational grazing to manage their land. They planted cover crops to keep the soil in place and put organic material back into the soil. It worked back then when manufactured fertilizers were not available and our modern farming techniques were not used, and it works now.
The cattle play a vital role in soil health. They are ungulate like bison and elk. Their hooves stir and create natural habitats and moisture catchers for plants. They push seeds into the soil and aerate it at the same time. Their grazing lightly stresses the grasses causing them to absorb more carbon into the roots. Fresh manure creates a fertile microbial community in the soil. By using rotational and concentrated grazing, we can mimic wild herds and improve soil health.
At 3 MPH Ranch, we look to work with nature for our land management practices. We seek to restore and enhance the natural resources that are used rather than deplete them. We use cover crops to build soil and organic matter, create ponds and ditches to collect runoff, and prevent water from pooling on the soil which brings the salts to the surface. We over-seed different varieties of grasses to improve the diversity of the ecosystem which in turn is healthier for the cattle as they mature at different times so quality grass is always available.
Living on the Little Bitterroot River, efficient irrigation and water mitigation are an important part of our overall management plan. Keeping the river banks’ integrity with plant life helps keep the water flowing cooler for fish and wildlife. Improving the health of our waterways is our responsibility as stewards of the land we live on and love.
