Region VII CATTLE

Ideal, South Dakota

“The Jorgensen family depicts all aspects of the award ideals while working to improve their operation each year since 1909,” said Cindy Zenk, coordinator of the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition. “The love of cattle and the land, a passion that continues to be handed down through generations, is vividly evident with the fourth generation now managing the operation.”

Soil and animal health are the primary drivers for practices implemented at Jorgensen Land & Cattle. Grazing rotations are developed based on the impacts to soil health, livestock feed demands, and the wildlife benefit created from good cover and plant diversity. Rotational grazing has increased grazing efficiency and improved the productivity of the grassland. The ranch practices diverse crop rotations, integrates livestock grazing on both grassland and cropland, and adds as few external inputs to the cropping or pasture systems as possible. In addition to the cattle operation, The Jorgensens grow 12,000 non-irrigated acres of crops every year using no-till, which has helped improve soil structure and nutrient efficiency.

The Jorgensens have also been experimenting with virtual fencing to improve their rotational grazing precision. With GPS collars, they can select a boundary for their cattle to stay in for any length of time, giving them the ability to target specific areas for grazing while allowing other areas to rest.

Multiple generations own and operate Jorgensen Land & Cattle Partnership, and a key priority for them is to ensure that future generations have the same opportunity. They know this won’t be possible if they don’t maintain and enhance the health of their soils and resources.

“We strive to learn from Mother Nature by studying the native prairies,” said Cody Jorgensen, chief livestock officer at Jorgensen Land & Cattle. “Based on what we learn, we develop cropping rotations that are intended to mimic the ecosystem we live in.”

Whether you are interested in grazing management, animal welfare, community health and well-being, or greenhouse gas reduction, there is no better way to promote sound environmental, economic and social progress than through the innovative work cattle producers do day in and day out.

Now in its 32nd year, the Environmental Stewardship Award Program annually recognizes the outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of cattle producers from across the nation. This April 24-26, we’ll be honoring our seven regional winners in Washington, D.C., and announcing the 2022 national recipient of the Environmental Stewardship Award.

Join us at the Fly-In Legislative Conference by registering at ncba.org/events.