1 minute read
Region II
by NCBA
Pintlala, Alabama
“Cattle and a clean environment go hand in hand,” said Will Carter of Carter Cattle Company, LLC.
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This Alabama farm has been in Carter’s family since the 1820s, when they settled in the area, and they are taking every action to ensure it can be around for another 100 years. Will and Monnie Carol Carter's children are the seventh generation on the land.
“The Carter family is the embodiment of farmers and ranchers being the original environmental stewards,” said Michelle F. Elmore, Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association executive secretary. “The Carters strive to expand their education, apply hard work and new innovations to leave a more sustainable farm to future generations and provide a safe, healthy food supply.”
Sustainability began as a lifestyle more than a practice seven generations ago when the farm was established. The Carters make management decisions with the future in mind, utilizing rotational grazing for their forage-based feeding program. Rotational grazing has been vital to improving the overall health of the farm ecosystem, soil health, forage base, watershed, livestock and wildlife. Through conservation incentives offered under the Watershed Project and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Carters installed 2,000 feet of water lines to two new water troughs, protected 1,250 square feet of heavy use areas and built 1,300 feet of fence to exclude cattle from Pintlala Creek. These efforts help the Carters utilize the land in the most effective way for their cow herd while protecting natural resources. In addition, being good stewards doesn’t stop at the farm gate, as both Will and Monnie Carol are veterinarians who care for other animals in their community.
“We are in the cattle business, but we are in the grass business first,” said Will. “Our job is to manage the grass and allocate it to the cattle that then take the resource and produce something of greater value.”
Will and Monnie Carol are thankful that their son and daughter are eager and active with raising the cattle, and they take an interest in the practices their parents use to nurture the land.
