Kellers honored for conservation efforts by SPNRD

Top stewards have been recognized for their continuing efforts in three areas by the South Platte Natural Resources District.

Sprenger Farms of Sidney, Steve Schumacher from Dalton and Kimball area ranchers Doug and Theresa Keller received awards for their farming, tree planting and grassland achievements. The awards were presented at a ceremony and reception prior to the District's November board meeting.

Grassland Manager

Doug and Theresa Keller own and operate a registered Angus herd west of Kimball. Their operations consist of approximately three section of grassland along with some irrigation to complement their livestock operation.

Over the last several years, the Kellers have used EQIP and NSWCP cost share dollars to improve their grassland health with a grazing plan that included adding addition water storage supplies, extensive crossfencing, and converting dry land crop acres to cool season pasture mixtures to improve early season grazing for their cow/calf operation. They have installed more than four miles of fence, including more than 4,100 feet of cross fence. They have installed seven tanks and more than 7,000 feet of pipeline to supply pastures.

Other improvements include converting center pivot crop acres to an irrigation pasture to enhance the production of the irrigation acres and also the production and profitability of the livestock operation. In 2005 they converted a half circle into grass pasture with six paddocks for rotational grazing.

The Kellers utilize the cool season grasses and native pasture in their rotational grazing system to improve overall pasture health. They feel grass as their crop is the best use of the land in their operation.

The Kellers not only are concerned about grassland health, but also the use of windbreaks to benefit livestock and wildlife. They added several thousand trees for protection around their center pivots and also the newly seeded pasture to improve protection and add beauty to their operation.

All of that work, the Kellers say, is for the future... primarily the future of their children, three of whom remain at home and learn life's lessons while showing cattle and developing their own plans.

The Kellers have been active in the community as well, with Theresa serving on the Kimball school board and Doug as a past member of the Extension board.

Their award was sponsored by Frenchman Valley Coop of Kimball.

Conservation Farm

Sprenger Farms, run by Randy and son Marc Sprenger has a long history of land stewardship and conservation ethic. Their continuing whole-farm practices earned them the 2014 Conservation Farm Award.

The family's efforts go clear back to planting grass on 36 acres and installing 14,726 feet of terraces in 1970 (as far back as NRCS records show practice installation). While those practices were installed by a previous generation, the Sprengers were recognized in part because of their continued maintenance of the practices, plus adding new practices to further enhance the entire farm conservation plan.

As part of their overall conservation practices, the Sprengers have initiated and maintained rangeland improvements including livestock water development and crossfencing to improve a rotational grazing system. While the family currently rents out their grassland, they still do everything possible to assure its health and have implemented a rangeland monitoring system to gauge their success.

Pivot pressure reduction and is a part of irrigation water management, as is the art of crop rotation to keep ground water conservation in mind. Irrigated fields might be split or rotated to small grain uses to make sure their water supply remains viable.

Implementing no-till methods since 2011, the father-son team uses nutrient management efforts through soil sampling and tissue testing, and have made improvements to their sprayer to reduce pesticide and herbicide drift.

Randy and Marc have quietly made a huge impact on the landscape in Southwestern Cheyenne County that will leave a lasting legacy, just as Randy's parents and grandparents did.

The Sprenger's award was sponsored by Potter State Bank.

Tree Planter/Caretaker

Every year since 1993 Steve Schumacher has been addressing conservation needs on his farm with conservation trees. More than 38,000 trees and shrubs have been planted on his farms, including two farmstead windbreaks, one wildlife habitat and seven field windbreak systems totaling more than 100 acres.

The windbreak systems are extremely valuable in Northern Cheyenne County as the soils in that area are sandy loam soils and are very prone to wind erosion. Schumacher started practicing no-till and has learned that the snow trapped by his windbreaks resulting in moisture is even more valuable in his no-till operation than the previous conventional farming operations.

Schumacher positions field windbreaks to provide the most benefit to the land. By locating the trees perpendicular to the prevailing winds soil erosion is reduced significantly especially with the fine, sand, loam soils in his area. A few of his plantings were planted right in the spot where the most highly erodible soils were problematic.

Schumacher believes in tree/shrub diversity and incorporates many different varieties. He has not missed a year in replants as he knows a windbreak is only as effective as the tree survival. Over the last twenty years he has hand planted more than 21,000 trees/shrubs to replace those that did not survive.

In 1997 Steve participated with the NRD and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in establishing a Wildlife Habitat Program planting in his pasture. This planting provides great "edge" for wildlife. Once again several shrub varieties were planted to enhance the food source for wildlife.

As a good neighbor, he has helped plant trees for others and always is promoting and talking about benefits of trees and shrubs. He has been heard talking about the yield increase with winter wheat in fields protected by his windbreaks.

Schumacher is also active in the Dalton area and has been a basketball coach for their local team.

The award was sponsored by American National Bank of Sidney.