Ecological Balance on Individual Crop-Livestock Farms: An Idealistic Notion or Also Practically Feasible?

The following research question is examined in this article: Can one or more of eight case study integrated crop and cow-calf farms/ranches in South Dakota be simultaneously balanced from the standpoints of (1) amounts of manure produced matching (plus or minus 10%) the soil fertility needs of producers\u27 cropland and rangeland and (2) amounts of feed-grains and roughages produced matching (plus or minus 10%) the nutrient needs of producers\u27 livestock? The livestock manure production-utilization component of the study involves estimation and comparison of amounts of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) (1) available to crops and grass in the manure produced by livestock on the respective case farms and (2) required to meet the fertility needs of the crops and rangeland grasses produced under 64 crop yield and soil test conditions on the respective case farms. The livestock feedstuff production-consumption component of the study involves estimation and comparison of amounts of (1) total digestible nutrients (TDN) produced on the case farms with (2) the TDN required by the livestock on the respective farms. Results from the study show no situation in which a case farm is either balanced (plus or minus 10%) for both livestock manure production-utilization on cropland and rangeland and livestock feedstuff production-consumption with either (1) its current farmland hectarage and livestock population, or (2) simulated contracted or expanded livestock populations and current farmland hectarages in which livestock manure production-utilization is just matched. The primary explanation underlying this conclusion is a very low probability of the N-to-P ratio in the livestock manure produced on a farm being identical with the N-to-P ratios needed in manure for spreading on cropland and manure dropped on rangeland. Thus, while the notion of crop and livestock nutrient requirements being met internally on diversified farms is desirable, it appears that full realization of the concept in particular current real-world farm situations is difficult. If current basic farming systems were altered rather dramatically, however, it is conceivable that livestock manure production-utilization and livestock feedstuff production consumption might be brought into balance with one another

Feedlot Manure Nutrient Loadings on South Dakota Farmland

A key determinant of whether livestock manure is an asset or liability in agricultural production and to society more generally is the amount of manure produced relative to the nearby farmland area to which the manure can be economically transported for application. The objectives of the study reported in this article are to (1) estimate levels of manure nutrient (nitrogen = N and phosphorus = P) loadings on the cropland and rangeland associated with 78 feedlot farm operations in South Dakota and (2) determine factors, including size-of-feedlot and cropland hectarages, associated with cropland N and P loadings for the feedlots studied. Findings from the study show that (1) substantial percentages of the South Dakota feedlot operators studied apply livestock manure plant-available N and P that exceed crop and grass fertility requirements and (2) greater intensity of manure nutrient loadings on cropland is strongly related to larger sizes-of-feedlot and smaller farmland areas on which manure is applied. These two main findings raise some potential red flags in regard to possibilities for non-point source pollution of vulnerable water resources from manure produced by fed cattle--both within South Dakota and in other major cattle producing states in the U.S

The Really Good Buffalo Project: A ‘Values Added’ Product

For several years, an effort to ‘bring back the buffalo’ has been of key interest in many American Indian communities across the country, and particularly in the Northern Plains of the United States. Tribal college faculty approached colleagues at South Dakota State University during a meeting of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) with the desire to develop a niche market for Native American-raised bison. The Lakota words for the concept underlying the effort are Tatanka Waste (pronounced Ta-TONK-a Wash-TAY), roughly translated as ‘Really Good Buffalo’. A pivotal factor that influenced the development of the Really Good Buffalo project was the unique historical, cultural, and spiritual relationship between American Indians and bison. These issues and the diverse consortium of partners involved made it critically important that the project deliberately address values as part of the niche market analysis. As one tribal partner stated, “Great care must be taken when we are working with our brothers, the buffalo.” This case emphasizes the process of concept-testing, pre-feasibility analysis, and branding of an agriculturally based niche product within a broader cultural context.(Contact author for a copy of the complete report.)Bison Production, Cultural Values

Feasibility Exploration: Perfectly Integrated Crop-Livestock Production

In this research report, the following question is examined. Can individual integrated crop and cow-calf operations be simultaneously balanced from the standpoints of (1) amounts of manure produced matching (plus or minus 10%) the soil fertility needs of producers\u27 cropland and rangeland and (2) amounts of feedgrains and roughages produced matching (plus or minus 10%) the nutrient needs of producers\u27 livestock? Answers to the question were sought through examination of livestock manure production and utilization and livestock feedstuff production and consumption on eight South Dakota integrated crop-livestock case farms

Economic and Environmental Contributions of Wetlands in Agricultural Landscapes

The purpose of this project was to determine key environmental and economic relationships between agricultural practices and wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of eastern South Dakota. Water quality and water quantity variables were the key environmental parameters examined. Economic cost and returns by farm management system and wetland proximity were the key economic parameters. The three farm management systems examined were conventional (CON) transitional no-till (TNT), and organic (ORG). The TNT and CON management systems used synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides. The ORG system used no synthetic fertilizers and generally no chemical pesticides. The ORG system had greater emphasis on alfalfa and lower emphasis on corn and soybean production. Water budgets were determined for upland and wetland sites. At the wetland site, run-on was the major input to the water budget (60%). Overflow accounted for 3 6% of the wetland output and surface storage /seepage accounted for 40%. Evapotranspiration at the wetland site was much lower than at the upland site. Nitrate concentrations were consistently higher in the semi-permanent wetland areas than the seasonal wetland areas. The data show a steady decrease in phosphate concentration as we move upland in the landscape. Higher concentrations in wetland than upland groundwater may indicate that some soluble P is moving through the system and/or the sorption capacity of wetland soils is exceeded. Economic returns and costs of the three farming systems were estimated for 1992 - 1994 at the whole-farm and crop field level. The relative ranking of net returns by management systems were: TNT \u3e CON \u3e ORG, unless organic premiums are a major source of gross income. Production costs per acre by management system from lowest to highest were ORG \u3c TNT \u3c CON. The organic (ORG) system had lower reported average yields and considerably lower production costs per acre than the other management systems. The TNT system had the least diversity of crop rotations, intermediate-level production costs, and similar yields or higher yields than reported in the CON system. The added costs of more tillage and machinery operations in the CON system exceeded any reduction in chemical costs compared to the TNT system. Biomass production and most corn/soybean yields were lowest adjacent to wetland sites and increased to peak production at 150 to 300 feet out. Several years of crop budget estimates for ORG, CON, and TNT fields adjacent to monitored wetland sites indicated substandard net returns in most years

COTTONWOOD RIPARIAN SITE SELECTION ON THE CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX RESERVATION

The construction of the Oahe Dam on the Missouri River eliminated thousands of acres ofriparian and floodplain lands on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. Restoration is needed to replace wildlife habitat. This study focused on site selection for native cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr. Ex Marsh. ssp. Monilifers (Ait.) Eckenwalde) restoration to help mitigate this loss. Geographic information systems technologies were used to develop a suitability model for cottonwood restoration. Tribal lands were extracted from a digital dataset oflandownership. Those touched by or included in a 46 m border of the Moreau River were candidate sites. Of the 182 candidates, 50 sites were randomly selected for model development. Slope, aspect, stream length and number, soil properties, and land cover criteria were given a numeric score and these were summed; the lowest total score possible was -7 and the highest score possible was 33. The sample sites were evaluated and ranked as high (21 to 33, 7 sites), medium (7 to 20, 35 sites), or low (-7 to 6, 8 sites) for growth and maintenance of riparian cottonwood forests. Five sites were selected for cottonwood restoration using the model developed. Bare root trees were planted mechanically and by hand. Drought conditions limited survival and 50% ofthe area was replanted. Further data collection may increase the use of geographic information system (GIS) technology and facilitate site selection for cottonwood restoration in the northern Great Plains

COTTONWOOD RIPARIAN SITE SELECTION ON THE CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX RESERVATION

The construction of the Oahe Dam on the Missouri River eliminated thousands of acres ofriparian and floodplain lands on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. Restoration is needed to replace wildlife habitat. This study focused on site selection for native cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr. Ex Marsh. ssp. Monilifers (Ait.) Eckenwalde) restoration to help mitigate this loss. Geographic information systems technologies were used to develop a suitability model for cottonwood restoration. Tribal lands were extracted from a digital dataset oflandownership. Those touched by or included in a 46 m border of the Moreau River were candidate sites. Of the 182 candidates, 50 sites were randomly selected for model development. Slope, aspect, stream length and number, soil properties, and land cover criteria were given a numeric score and these were summed; the lowest total score possible was -7 and the highest score possible was 33. The sample sites were evaluated and ranked as high (21 to 33, 7 sites), medium (7 to 20, 35 sites), or low (-7 to 6, 8 sites) for growth and maintenance of riparian cottonwood forests. Five sites were selected for cottonwood restoration using the model developed. Bare root trees were planted mechanically and by hand. Drought conditions limited survival and 50% ofthe area was replanted. Further data collection may increase the use of geographic information system (GIS) technology and facilitate site selection for cottonwood restoration in the northern Great Plains

The Prairie Ph.D.: A New Model for Tribal Graduate Education

A cohort of tribal college faculty and tribal professionals are working toward graduate degrees in the biological sciences through a collaborative program nicknamed the “Prairie Ph.D.” Results to date show promise for graduate education targeted at American Indian communities. Program history, approach, and formative evaluation are discussed

THE REALLY GOOD BUFFALO CONCEPT TEST FOR “VALUES ADDED” BISON

A consortium of tribal bison producers, tribal and state university faculty, and business professionals defined a “brand” of Native American-raised bison that would reflect the cultural and spiritual values of American Indians and the historic relationship between American Indians and bison. Following a concept-testing market-research approach, surveys were distributed to potential producers and consumers of this “Good Buffalo.” The consumer respondents indicated that environmentally friendly production practices (89%), humane treatment of animals (82.1%), and supporting prairie restoration were very important aspects of the brand. Price was very important for only 42.7% of consumer respondents, and being raised by American Indians was very important to 28% of consumer respondents. The number of producer survey respondents was too small to present clear conclusions. However, since completion of the brand development, Native American Indian and non-Native bison producers with similar interests have formed a business and adopted the brand concepts developed