The Granberry Farm: Sustainably Managing a Cattle Ranch in the Chipola River Basin

by | Jan 5, 2024 | Beef Cattle, Best Management Practices (BMPs), Conservation, Cost-Share Program, Feature Video, Forage & Pasture, General Agriculture, Livestock, Natural Resources, pasture, Water issue

The Granberry family on their farm near Marianna, FL.

 

Aaron and Alice Granberry and their grandson, Aaron Granberry III manage a cattle ranch near Marianna, Florida. The Granberrys have implemented Best Management Practices (BMPs) to increase sustainability and protect groundwater quality on their farm. These BMPs include no-till pasture planting, soil testing, and GPS guidance for precision fertilizer applications, and dragging pastures to break up manure piles. Rotational grazing in subdivided pastures is a key aspect of their land management plan to prevent overgrazing and reduce soil compaction, and they use a portable corral to move cattle more easily from one pasture to the next. They also use hay feeding wagons to prevent concentrating nutrients from manure and urine in a fixed feeding area.

Watch this video to hear from the Granberrys about the BMPs they implement to enhance their operation and to learn more about their strong commitment to land stewardship and family so that they can continue to pass their property down from generation to generation.

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There are 3 agencies in our area that can provide technical and financial assistance to producers relating to the implementation of Best Management Practice (BMPs) on their operations,

  • NRCS has nine Service Centers in Area 1, which encompasses the Florida Panhandle. This map of NRCS Service Centers in Florida lists local numbers, or you can use their Find Your Local Service Center site.
  • The Northwest Florida Water Management District offers cost share for producers in the Jackson Blue Springs Basin. Contact the NWFWMD Agriculture Team for more information.
  • FDACS Office of Ag and Water Policy (OAWP) has local field staff to work with producers to enroll them in the BMP Program. The FDACS BMP website recommends contacting FDACS OAWP representatives for assistance to determine which BMPs are applicable to your operation. For free assistance, call (863) 467-3250, email AgBmpHelp@FDACS.gov, or contact a regional FDACS OAWP office.

The video highlighted today was produced by FDACS as part of a project to promote BMP implementation in the Chipola River Basin. The project was funded through a US EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Farmer-to-Farmer grant, which was obtained by the Southeastern Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP).

Andrea Albertin
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