Useful Medicinal Plants of Texas and the southern plains – part 1

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Most of the time people seem to believe powerful plant medicine comes from deep in the Amazon rainforest or some high hidden mountain in Peru, so it often comes as a surprise that functional phytochemistry is to be found in all kinds of plants wherever you are. Perhaps you may have wondered about the hidden mysteries held within your local plants. In this article I decided to start with four kinds of plants [Black Walnut – Mesquite – Juniper – Prickly Pear] that can be found almost anywhere in the state of Texas, the southern plains, across most of the … Read more

Southern Plains Bison: Jan 2014

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Well… we got hit early and the assault continues as old man winter takes toll on, and tasks survival of the southern plains. We’ve only got another 20-30 days of having to put up with his polar rant. Food plots will re-emerge and bolster the nutritional regime for southern plains bison by mid march, after which it will turn into a stocking rate problem by not having enough grazers to manage the bounty. For now: we are simply charged with watching body score, feeding when necessary and letting them do [their thing] and make it through, which they will. It’s … Read more

Tree Ranching Dec 2013

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Tree Ranching Not only are trees lovely to see, they can be an important integral component to your grazing regime. If you’re looking for something new this year, try out agroforestry and silvopasture which is simply utilizing trees to extend your land’s potential. This can include many things but the basics for this discussion are to use browseable woody species to feed livestock. Trees can tap into moisture and nutrients deep in the ground and maintain high quality edible foliage through drought periods as well as take advantage of the vertical space overhead and provide shade for the soil and … Read more

Southern Plains Bison: December 2013

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Southern Plains Winter Bison Old man winter showed up early for work in the southern plains this year with a historic ice storm. Roads were closed; cattle were huddled up against the fences; pigs, goats and chickens in the barn; dogs and cats living together and declaring armistice inside by the fire, but the buffalo; out in the middle of it all just laid down most of the time and waited for it to pass.  This is what we all know as the bison-advantage and though their resilience to the North American environment is a matter of fact, we still … Read more

Perennial Pastures and Prairie Forbs

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Prairies/pastures are more than just grass, but actually an entire community of diverse broadleaf wildflowers as well. Several of these happen to provide excellent forage for bison. Quite a few native legumes such as purple or white prairie clover, Illinois bundleflower and daleas contribute nitrogen to the soil and serve as high protein fodder. Perennial sunflowers and goldenrods are commonly observed and nutritionally important to grazers. Compassplant is a personal favorite of mine. Of course, pollinators are definite fans of the wildflowers. There are literally hundreds of valuable native American broadleaf species available for beneficial uses. Ben Tyler,    

Southern Plains Bison: Nov 2013

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November is a very interesting month for Southern bison habitats and operations. The definite and oppressive announcement of winter upon the landscape changes everything forever: once again. It is during this time of year that we humans, be-we: ranchers, park superintendents, consumers, lawmakers or bison stewardship-collectives and consortiums, also change things for bison forever: once again. If this sounds a bit extreme, the intent is for attention to decision-making – devoid of do-over’s or resets. One such decision that can be drastically different in the southern plains is the culling of mature brood cows. Sometimes they simply have to be … Read more

Southern Plains Bison: Oct 2013

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National Bison Day Resolution This month I would like to shift the focus of my comments from managing herds, to managing destiny as a bison producer and/or bison-species restoration partner. You may have already read;it’s official that November 2nd is now National Bison Day! Woohooo – yee-haw and job well [done]right? From my perspective: wrong! The job has only just begun. Senate Resolution 254 only begins the arduous task of accomplishing the Bison Legacy Act at some point in the future. There has been a great deal of interaction and discussion among and between the communities that now make up a very dynamic and … Read more

Bison in Esto’k gna is said WAKATE( wah kaha te)

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   Esto’k gna is the name of the people that give me my Identity. In the English and Spanish Language, we are called Carrizo/Comecrudo. We are named by those that new little about us, because of our Lifeways. We lived in “Reed” house called Wama’k, so the Spaniards used the word Carrizo. Later the after Mexico got it independence from Spain, the Mexican people called us Comecrudo or “eats raw” in English, mainly for eating man raw vegetables. Again I emphasize the names were given to us by people that only observed the basic ways of life. Carrizo/Comecrudo are not … Read more

Topsoil – the bottomline of productivity

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We’re all familiar with topsoil, but what is it exactly? Obviously, beyond being the top layer of soil or a medium for propping up plants, soil is a living and breathing microbial ecosystem upon which all our lives depend. There are more beneficial bacteria in one spoonful of healthy soil than people on the planet. Some of them fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into soil or plant roots to be synthesized into proteins while others decompose organic residues and improve soil structure. Beneficial fungi such as mycorrhizae carry nutrients and water to plant roots in a symbiotic association. A dizzying … Read more

Southern Plains Pointers: Aug 2013

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Southern Plains Pointers The dog-days of summer are upon us in the southern plains and hopefully we have all our preparations for a strong breeding season in order and working. If you’re catching up, then exhaust solutions to herd management that do not_ require high levels of stress, handling or hauling. If this is not possible, then plan activities at night, dusk or dawn. In July and August, if I have to haul bison, I prefer to do it at night. This decision transcends humane to shrewd-business whereas heat-stress will_ directly effect my bottom line. Keep an eye on your … Read more