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Texas ranch wins top environmental awardSan Pedro Ranch is ESAP Region IV winner
Texas The Fitzsimons and Howard families of San Pedro Ranch in Carrizo Springs, Texas are one of seven Regional Winners in this year's 2006 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). The annual award program recognizes cattle operations that are proven stewards of the land, dedicated to natural resource preservation through the use of innovative, cost effective stewardship practices. Located near the Texas-Mexico border, the San Pedro Ranch was nominated by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. They were selected from entries submitted from National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) Region IV, which includes Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. "This Environmental Stewardship Award Program gives us the opportunity to acknowledge the people of San Pedro Ranch, who have made a lifetime commitment to land conservation," explains Stacey Katseanes, coordinator of the program. San Pedro Ranch has been in the family since 1932. Brother and sister Joseph Fitzsimons and Pamela Howard have maintained the ranch and the entire management team now includes: Joseph and his wife Blair; Pamela and her husband Ryland; and manager Daniel Boone. The ranch covers 24,000 acres of Texas rangeland, with plant life ranging from savannah grasses to mesquite brush. Their cattle operation features registered and commercial Beefmasters, specifically selected for their ability to thrive in a harsh climate. "In order to maintain the ecological integrity of their rangeland, the San Pedro Ranch practices a variety of management techniques that contribute to conservation," says Katseanes. "Rotational grazing is used as an integral part of their stewardship program. The cattle are bred to calve within a couple months, and all of the cattle are kept together in a single herd and move through a 17 pasture system. Pastures are given recuperation time based on rainfall and forage growth. Such practices have increased forage diversity and generally improved the health of the pastures." Because of careful attention to environmental conservation, wildlife on the San Pedro Ranch has increased in number and quality. The rangeland abounds with dove, quail, white-tailed deer, turkey and rare species such as the Texas tortoise and the Texas horned lizard. "Pasture improvement has led to increased ground cover by a variety of plants," explains Katseanes. "In turn, rainfall absorption by the land has improved and runoff has been reduced. The San Pedro spring, the last in a 50 mile radius, has benefited from these ecological enhancements, exhibiting stronger flow now than in the past." "The families manage the ranch holistically by setting goals, analyzing the impacts of all decisions, testing those decisions and practices against the goal," says C. Wayne Hanselka, professor and Extension program leader for Rangeland Ecology and Management at Texas A&M. "The results over the past 20 years are enhanced rangeland health, decreased bare ground, and increased plant and animal biodiversity. The resulting mosaic is excellent habitat for cattle and a variety of wildlife species. Long dormant springs are now flowing and riparian creek drainages support high successional plant species while retaining water yearlong." The families have conducted field days and tours to promote community interaction and regularly work with a variety of organizations including: The Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Cooperative Extension, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Holistic Resource Management and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). "San Pedro has been more than willing to share their success and management techniques with other individuals and groups through field days and tours," says NRCS wildlife biologist Stan Reinke. "The team at San Pedro Ranch is dedicated to the conservation of tens of thousands of acres in south Texas," says Katseanes. "Americans can be thankful that ranches like San Pedro are taking care of our nation's open spaces and preserving our natural resources for generations." The Environmental Stewardship Award Program, now in its 16th year, is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences LLC and USDA's NRCS and is administered by NCBA. The 2006 National Winner will be selected from of the seven ESAP Regional Winners and revealed at the 2007 Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville next February. For additional information, contact NCBA's Washington D.C. office at 202-347-0228. Date: 7/27/06
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