IOWA FAMILY WINS ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD

DENVER, Colo. -- (August 3, 2000) - Along rolling hills and rugged flatlands in northwest Iowa, hundreds of acres of pasture are surrounded by 2,200 acres of sprawling corn and soybean fields. The land’s nine man-made ponds haven’t recovered from drought so Craig Utesch can often be spotted in his pickup hauling two barrels of water for his thirsty cattle.

Resting under the trees in the shade, the cattle come single file at the sound of the truck’s engine. When the truck is not enough to summons them, C. Utesch belts out a few cow calls and the cattle come running.

At a glance, the Triple U Ranch appears similar to other farms in the area. A closer look reveals that sound environmental management practices coupled with wise business decisions make the Utesch property standout.

The Utesch’s environmental practices led them to become the 2000 winner of the NCBA Region III Environmental Stewardship Award. The award was announced today at the annual Cattle Industry Summer Conference. Sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, the award is given annually to cattle producers who are exemplary examples of sound environmental stewardship practices while remaining profitable.

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association nominated Triple U Ranch for the award.

“Dedication to the ranch and environment is a 24-hour a day task,” said NCBA president George Hall, a cattle producer from Mustang, Okla. “This ranch efficiently combines multiple elements of agriculture, while also incorporating sound environmental practices.”

Located in Correctionville, Iowa, Triple U Ranch is a family operation that combines a 200-head cow/calf operation with a 2,500-head, one-time capacity feedlot and about 2,000 acres of cropland.

It takes careful management to ensure such a diverse operation remains successful. Just ask William Utesch, the family patriarch who10 years ago turned over most all daily operations of the ranch to his three sons, Craig, Kirk and Brad. William Utesch is a second-generation cattle producer, and when he took over the operation in 1960, he wanted to ensure he built a business that could be profitable for future generations of Utesches. In so doing, he knew he would have to take care of the land.

“My philosophy is to leave the land in better shape than it was when I came here,” William Utesch said. “And I think we’ve done that over the years. We’ve taken steps to improve the land, and land improvement is part of every long-range plan. Being environmentally proactive is the foundation of our business.”

Forty-five years ago, the Triple U Ranch was a 226-acre operation that survived on income from row crops and a 100-head cattle feedlot. Although Triple U Ranch remains diverse, the now 2,500-head feedlot is the bloodline of the operation. About 5,000 head of cattle go through the Utesch feedlot every year.

That many cattle produce much manure, and managing the waste is one of the Triple U Ranch’s top priorities. During the late 1960s, the Utesches, in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, developed a feedlot to control runoff. Because the feedlot is in the western Iowa hills, it has considerable slope. A series of pollution control terraces were built to hold the runoff and filter out solids. The entire feedlot is surrounded by cropland. Through a system of terraces and two ponds, Triple U ranch is able to control all feedlot waste.

The confinement part of the feedlot contains a lagoon that is annually de-watered. The waste goes through a modern lagoon system that distributes the effluent over the cropland.

The Utesches are also concerned with the health of their animals. While extension agents have told them that the confinement building can hold 900 head, the ranch only puts 700 head at one time in the building.

The ranch works to control dust in the feedlots by scraping them to keep them in good condition. Windbreaks around the feedlot and lagoon keep air from moving and minimize odors.

Triple U Ranch first began a cow/calf operation in 1977 with 40 head. The family had just acquired property that was hilly and rough. Although the previous owners planted crops on that ground, the Utesches decided it was not conducive to crop production.

They decided to graze cattle on the land. In the mean time, they also planted trees on the bottoms of the pasture hills to help control soil erosion. The woodsy areas now successfully minimize erosion while also providing wildlife habitat.

“Our main objective concerning the crops is to save the soil and build the soil,” said Kurt Utesch. “This ground is classified as highly erodible. So we do everything to conserve. In the meantime, we’re also doing something for wildlife.”

The cattle are on a 30-day rotational grazing system to ensure minimal damage to the pastures. Some of the land is kept out of production and strictly provides wildlife habitat. About 100 acres of forests are home to wild turkeys, deer, pheasants and other wild animals.

The Utesches waste nothing. After the crops are harvested, the cattle are grazed on the corn stalks. The ranch practices minimum fall tillage and uses no-till when possible to conserve soil.

As often said by the Utesches: “Triple U Ranch completes the production circle: Cropland fertility yields corn and forage. The feedlot and cow herd add value to these crops. The nutrients created by the cows replenish the cropland fertility.”

Just as William Utesch has passed his values of environmental stewardship to his sons, the Utesches want to pass the same values to their children. Some of the sons’ older children have gone on to college or other careers. So far, one has returned to the ranch.

“We want to make a living for us and our children,” Craig Utesch said. “If we can do it and help the environment, then we’re doing a great job. If we can make a living on the land and live in conjunction with wildlife, then we’ve accomplished our goal.”

Added Brad Utesch, “One hundred years from now, I think you’ll find the Utesch land in better shape than we found it. It’s amazing how much we’ve changed it since we’ve been here.”

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See this winner's informational factsheet and reproducible images.

Producer-directed and consumer-focused, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the  trade association of America’s cattle farmers and ranchers, and the marketing organization for the largest segment of the nation’s food and fiber industry.