Alderspring Ranch has been producing and marketing grassfed organic beef direct to customers for over 25 years. The ranch is comprised of 2000 acres deeded land and a 46000 acre Forest Service and BLM grazing permit. The entire operation, including permit land, is certified organic.In 2014 we initiated an innovative conservation riding pilot in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy. The goals of the study are to evaluate the efficacy of full-time intensive herding to reduce resource… Show more Alderspring Ranch has been producing and marketing grassfed organic beef direct to customers for over 25 years. The ranch is comprised of 2000 acres deeded land and a 46000 acre Forest Service and BLM grazing permit. The entire operation, including permit land, is certified organic.In 2014 we initiated an innovative conservation riding pilot in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy. The goals of the study are to evaluate the efficacy of full-time intensive herding to reduce resource impacts (specifically endangered fish and sage grouse, as well as riparian conditions and rare plant populations), allow coexistence with keystone predators (wolves, bear, and mountain lion), improve soils through increasing plant diversity and cover, and to eliminate livestock losses due to sickness and poisonous plants.Early results suggest that increases in cattle performance and weight gain with full time herding may completely or partially offset the increased cost of management, and that resource improvements are comparable to removal of cattle from public lands. The study involves both natural resource monitoring and financial monitoring to determine feasibility of full-time conservation herding to address federal rangeland conflicts. Show less

1993 to present, Owner and Principal Scientist, Alderspring Ecological Consulting Since 1993, as principal, have successfully completed nearly 70 contracts for botanical and ecological work. Past projects include various upland and wetland rare plant inventories, a meta-analysis of grazing impacts on a rare riparian plant, riparian condition survey of approximately 30 miles of stream in central Idaho, botanical assessment and recommendations for grazing management on a large wetland preserve,… Show more 1993 to present, Owner and Principal Scientist, Alderspring Ecological Consulting Since 1993, as principal, have successfully completed nearly 70 contracts for botanical and ecological work. Past projects include various upland and wetland rare plant inventories, a meta-analysis of grazing impacts on a rare riparian plant, riparian condition survey of approximately 30 miles of stream in central Idaho, botanical assessment and recommendations for grazing management on a large wetland preserve, design and implementation of monitoring studies for rare wetland species and communities, and the establishment of baseline community monitoring in wetland and old growth forest Research Natural Areas. Show less