CSP Takes Root on the Shortgrass Prairie

(from left) Jon Wicke listens as Colby Van Cleave explains “Improving my grass, increasing my grass, is giving me more beef”

Working with NRCS, the West Greeley Conservation District, and the Pawnee Grassland Council -- a group of ranchers who participate in the National Grassland Grazing Allotment program -- Colby Van Cleave has set up a thriving cattle operation where once there was only drought-damaged, over-grazed, cactus-covered pastures in the wind-swept, drought-prone Pawnee Creek watershed just south of the Nebraska border. Today, Colby and his wife Sandy are recognized as outstanding stewards of the land, qualifying for a top-tier Conservation Security Program (CSP) stewardship award on more than six thousand acres of restored, healthy rangeland. They have set-up two grazing management plans to accommodate a high-intensity, short-duration system, splitting his herd of just under 300 Angus Mix cows into two rotational patterns, allowing all of his fifteen pastures to rest for a minimum of forty days.

Colby applied his passion for ranching to his new operation by working with the NRCS. “When I first bought the ranch, I knew the livestock side, but I needed to learn the grazing side,” Colby said. “NRCS has taught me what I need to do and has done me so much good, and to have the CSP payments come up is gong to be a big help.”

“The great thing about Colby’s operation was that he didn’t start with any bad habits that he’d have to undo later,” said NRCS Greeley District Conservationist Jon Wicke. “He did things the right way, right from the start.”
Your contact is Jeanette Colville, NRCS public affairs specialist at 970-330-0380 ext. 214