Oklahoma: Nineteenth Century Blends Seamlessly with 2003

The tall native grasses—big and little bluestem, Indiangrass, and switchgrass—still wave across this Oklahoma ranch much as they did a century ago. Grazing here, too, simulates the actions of native buffalo herds of the past century. Cattle graze in short intense bursts, then the land rests. Even the owners are the same as in 1893—well, the same family, just four generations later.

Owners Larry and Tom Goodson Cannon have been quietly making some major shifts in management that are both recapturing some of the best landscape elements of the past and boasting modern levels of productivity.

The Goodsons use rotational grazing and have added 28 surface ponds to water both cattle and wildlife. All their riparian areas are in the Conservation Reserve Program and 7,000 native trees have been planted for stabilization and habitat. Fifteen food plots are maintained year-round with quality grain for turkey, quail, deer, and non-game species.

All crops are rotated (wheat-soybeans-sorghum-corn) and use no-till. The results: After 107 years of continuous cropping the soil is a high two percent organic matter and wheat yields between 1996 and 2001 increased from 32 bushels per acre to 54.

Tom says, “It’s all part of our active environmentalism. That’s not to be confused with environmental activism,” he adds with a chuckle.

NACD Quote: “I hear many producers preach a good sermon but fail to carry out their conservation plans…the Cannons practice what they preach (managing) wildlife habitat, vegetation and soil…”--Rick Jeans, President of Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts.

Conservation At-A-Glance: 1) Prescribed grazing (rotational); 2) conservation tillage (no-till) 3) crop rotation; 4) riparian forest buffer (7,000 native trees); 5) range plantings (perennial native grasses); 6) wildlife management (15 year-round food plots); 7) conservation education outreach; 8) prescribed burning; 9) water conservation; 10) pest management (weeds); 11) 28 ponds added.

USDA Conservation Program Participation: NRCS Technical Assistance, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, Conservation Reserve Program.

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