JX Ranch New Mexico, Stewardship

We managing the natural resources on our ranch using "holistic range management" principles. Our goal is to improve the ecological health of the land, including water, vegetation, and animals, while at the same time making a living for ourselves and being able to share this unique lifestyle with others.

In the last four years, we have worked hard towards improving the water distribution, by installing over six miles of buried water pipelines, that take the water from our wells to strategically located new livestock water-tanks throughout the ranch. We have also installed several large water storage tanks, ranging from 10,000 gallons to 30,000 gallons capacity. We are also attempting to slow the enormous water evaporation losses these open tanks are exposed to, especially during the summer months. the most cost effective and practical system we have found is by floating large styrofoam sheets weighed down with boards along the edges to prevent them from blowing away in high winds. So far this is working out well. The importance of water availability cannot be over emphasized in this arid region of the West.

In order to improve the vegetative growth and soils, we have also built, and are still building, about 13 miles of new fences, mostly electric which does not restrict the movement of wildlife such as deer and antelope. By dividing the ranch into several pastures, we are able to rotate the cattle intensively in one large herd, which allows for long rest periods for each pasture. The grasses will be only lightly grazed for a short duration, then allowed to grow strong and healthy during the 90 or so days the cattle are rotated elsewhere on the ranch.

When many cattle graze in one herd, for a short duration in a pasture, the cattle's hooves break up the compacted and crusted surface, while aerating and mixing organic matter into the soil. This allows rain to soak in into the soil instead of running off and creating eroded areas. This process provides a healthy plant vigor, increases the chances of survival of the desirable plant species which will eventually crowd out the invasive, non-desirable plants. This, of course, benefits the wildlife as much as the cattle. The one herd grazing concept also allows wildlife undisturbed access to most of the ranch at all times. In a few years time we should see some remarkable changes.

Photos below were taking in the fall of 2006, while in a severe drought, and at the beginning of our grazing management. They show bare ground with little organic matter and capping of the soil which encourages water run-off rather than penetration into the ground.

Photos below were taken in the fall of 2008 when we finally had received some beneficial rainfall which in combination with long rest periods and managed grazing we start seeing grasses taking over bare ground and a little more organic matter.

Photo point #2 above taken Oct. 2006

Photo point #2 above taken Sept. 2008

Photo point # 7 above taken Oct. 2006

Photo point # 7 above taken Sept. 2008

By improving the water availability, as well as the ecology and forage availability, we are also improving conditions for the wildlife that reside on the ranch. They have access to water, where before there was none, and by opening up the grassland to its former state, by removing invasive species, we are making it a more attractive habitat for all wildlife.

This ranch, as much of the Southwest, has heavy cover of non-native invasive species such as mesquite, a thick thorny brush with up to 30 feet long roots, that suck up all available water and leave little for the grasses. We are in the process of eradicating this destructive brush by mechanical means. By using a bulldozer and a "grubber" attached to the blade, Tom is slowly uprooting the mesquite, one brush at a time, and allowing the once productive grass-lands to re-establish itself.

range stewardship awards

Society for Range Management
Excellence in Range Management Award 2008

Upper Hondo Soil & Water Conservation District
Outstanding Rancher 1991 & 1994

Goodyear/NACD Conservation Awards
Award of Merit
for Oustanding Accomplishments
in Resource Conservation 1991 & 1994

New Mexico Cattle Growers Association
Salt of the Earth Award 1993 & 1995
Those volunteers who donate their time,
energy, expertise and resources are the SALT OF THE EARTH

JX RANCH

ranch stewardship