nate,” Means said “We gambled and, thank- fully, we’ve had good rain. This spring has been unbelievable.” For some, like Means, having additional
resources may not entail growing your herd right away. Having patience may bring the biggest payoff in the long run.
What are you working with? As a whole, Texas and Oklahoma have
received record-shattering amounts of rain this spring. Some areas of drought linger in the Panhandle and western areas of Central Texas, but much of the Southern Plains has bid farewell to drought conditions. While water isn’t necessarily a bankable
resource, the spring rain will fi ll tanks and lakes, and eventually recharge underground reservoirs. If you made repairs to tanks, dams or waterways while they were dry, how have they fared, now that the water has returned? How much water might you expect to remain, even through the hot summer and into fall? You may be fl ush with surface water now, but it could still take some time for aquifers to benefi t from the rain. If one of your priorities is to build your
herd, is now a good time to try a different approach? Is there a new technology, such as artifi cial insemination or embryo transfer, you have had your eye on? You could set a goal to try new techniques or methods while you have additional resources — and money — at hand. More rain and more money could also al- low you to improve your pasture and ranch
82 The Cattleman August 2015
land, or possibly change to a different land management plan such as restocking with native gasses. “There are truly exciting things to be done
when you have more rain,” says James K. “Rooter” Brite Jr. of the JA Brite Ranch, Bowie. Brite’s fi rst priority this spring has been to replace aging fence wire, some of which are original fences from the ‘20s, when his grandfather began the ranch in Montague County. They are also restocking with
replacement heifers and expand- ing the amount of land on the ranch. Thanks to good moisture, they have good production poten- tial with their bounty of all-native grasses. The ranch also takes advantage of a rotational grazing system, so the cattle aren’t only a source of profi t; they are also tools for land conservation and management. “It’s been very wet, so we’re increasing
James K. “Rooter” Brite Jr. of the JA Brite Ranch, Bowie
rotation time,” Brite said. “We brought in more replacement heifers than we usually do, so we have our hands full. It’s more work, but it’s more profi t. But this is what we live for! It’s exciting!” Brite is using the resources he has — na-
tive pasture, more cattle and abundant mois- ture — to maintain the land and, in some cases, increase productivity. Is there a way you can use the resources
you have to improve your operation? Big rain can also mean big forage growth,
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