Video Transcript: Cover Crops for Conservation in North Dakota

Updated 05/16/2008

Intro: A North Dakota farmer is using cover crops and rotational grazing as part of his conservation plan. The US Dept of Agriculture’s Pat O’Leary has more.

Gabe Brown's cow/calf operation near Bismarck, North Dakota uses an innovative system of cover crops and no-till farming. After harvesting the cover crops for feed, he plants new ones in the stubble. This builds up soil nutrients while reducing erosion. It's all a part of his farm's philosphy:

Gabe Brown, North Dakota Farmer: I’m a conservationist. I would not feel right with myself if I did not leave this operation in a better state than when I found it

The Browns also use rotational grazing and several other conservation practices, often in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Gabe Brown: To me, conservation is not only about taking care of our resources but it’s the core of us as a farmer or rancher having a profitable business. You need to take care of the resource and in turn the resource will take care of you

Gabe Brown says conservation has improved his business and his farm ecosystem. The farm is teeming with wildlife and other signs of a healthy environment.

Gabe Brown: 50 years from now I’d really like to see this ranch remain in our family and I’d like to see my son and maybe his sons or daughters taking care of the land the way we are and improving it more so than my wife and I did

To learn more about conservation programs visit your local USDA Service Center or nrcs.usda.gov. For the U.S. Department of Agriculture, I'm Bob Elison.

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