About an hour and a half northeast of downtown Los Angeles, among the rolling hills where the sun seems to descend for hours on summer nights, it’s a mostly rocky terrain. Since the early 1800s, an unlikely groundskeeper has been responsible for sustaining a symbiotic relationship between rancher and land in this dry, grassy region. Keeping these 12,000 acres manicured- that’s only part of the cattle’s job. These are rangelands. There are about 770 million acres of rangeland in the United States, according to the USDA. All of that naturally beautiful, wide-open space is ripe with diverse plant, animal, and insect species. Rangeland is a pretty great place for humanity too— providing ideal landscapes for hiking, camping, mountain biking, horseback riding, and the general opportunity to experience nature in all its glory. For all of its beauty though, much of the land is unsuitable for farming or cultivating crops. “70% of all agricultural land in the United States is referred to as marginal land because you can’t grow crops there,” says Dr. Frank Mitloehner, Professor & Air Quality Specialist in the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis. “Either the soil isn’t good enough or there isn’t enough water.” Agriculture isn’t just about farming though, and rangelands offer other resources like water, timber and minerals. Not only that, but the land is an ideal place to graze livestock, as Mike Williams--who raises cattle in southern California-- can attest. “We’re kind of surrounded in a little pocket…where it’s a little hard to develop, so it’s one of the reasons why it’s been kind of protected.” Williams operates the Diamond W Cattle Company at the Ritter Ranch, which sits on over 12,000 acres of grassland. Sure, he’s concerned with the well-being of his cattle, but he looks after the land too. “It’s important that you try to manage your animals in ways that enhance what the land can produce.” As Williams describes it, when managed well, the relationship between a rancher and the land is a harmonious one. “If you take care of it, it takes care of you.” Williams argues that more grasslands would be in better shape if they had cattle roaming across them and grazing on the land. He’s not alone in his thinking either. Ben Higgins, Director of Agricultural Operations for the Hearst Corporation agrees. “Well managed grazing absolutely benefits the landscape.” Higgins oversees the Hearst Ranch at San Simeon, a sweeping 83,000 acres that surrounds Hearst Castle in California. “We manage grazing very carefully here. We have a roster of full-time cowboys, which are looking after not just the animals, but the state of these individual pastures.” At San Simeon Ranch, they’re constantly monitoring their slice of nature and moving cattle across the property. “These are wild, rugged, expansive spaces,” says Higgins. Spaces that “…give cows a lot of room to be cows and to lead very natural lives.” In return, they do what they can to keep the land healthy. And while grazing certainly feeds their cattle, it also gives a little something back to the landscape. “We…use cattle to beat back brush and mixed chaparral—mostly invasive species. We maintain a fairly constant battle against noxious weeds and other species that threaten these native landscapes, and grasslands especially.” Other than preventing the spread of invasive weeds, grazing is also an effective way to reduce the risk of wildfires. Livestock, like cattle, will happily munch on the dead plants that wildfires thrive on, ultimately lowering the risk of a fire that burns hot and fast. Grazing can even improve groundwater infiltration and lower the risk of flooding. For all of their trampling and manure-dumping, cattle activities can actually help the health of the soil, when managed properly. Healthy soil, in turn, promotes forage growth and enhances the soil’s capacity to hold water. “Cattle have been running on these grasslands since, oh, early 1800s,” says Williams. “They’ve been an important part of the ecosystem on these grasslands and maintaining them…" Of course, it’s no surprise these actions not only support the land itself, but the variety of wildlife you’ll find on rangelands. Williams points out that on his ranch alone you might spot deer, mountain lions, coyotes, rabbits, hawks, and eagles. Just a handful of the thousands of plant and animal species that coexist on his property. Higgins’ experience at Hearst Ranch has been similar. “This…is a singular, intact piece of wildlife habitat; that’s an incredibly important environmental benefit in and of itself.” The preservation of rangelands aren’t just important to ranchers and their herds, he says, “but for the people of California and all the native species that inhabit them.” “We’re not just cattle ranchers here. We’re stewards of this incredible place.” Sign up for Ibotta and earn a $4 cash-back rebate on any Tri-Tip steak or Tri-Tip roast of any brand, 12 oz. or larger, here.
