Limit Disturbance
Minimizing unnecessary tillage and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides can help protect soil biology and structure.
Soil & Stewardship
Healthy Soil Is the Foundation
At Sweetgrass Farms, the work begins beneath the surface. Soil health helps guide how the ranch manages grazing, water, native grasses, livestock, and the long-term future of the land.
Sweetgrass Farms land photography coming soon
What Healthy Soil Means to Us
Chris learned the importance of soil health during his farming education. Sweetgrass Farms believes people benefit from reconnecting with where food begins.
Healthy soil supports healthy plants. Healthy plants support healthy animals. Thoughtful ranching helps people reconnect with the source of their food.
Five Principles That Guide the Ranch
Keep the Soil Covered
Living plants, crop residue, native grasses, and other natural cover can help reduce erosion, protect moisture, and support soil life.
Encourage Diversity
A variety of plant species can support a wider range of soil biology and strengthen the ranch ecosystem.
Maintain Living Roots
Living roots help feed soil biology and support nutrient cycling for more of the year.
Integrate Animals
Carefully managed livestock grazing can cycle nutrients, contribute organic matter, and support the working ranch ecosystem.
These principles are inspired by the soil-health framework described by rancher and author Gabe Brown in Dirt to Soil.
Managed Intensive Grazing
The cattle are moved to fresh pasture daily when conditions allow. This approach is intended to:
- Give cattle access to fresh forage
- Improve grazing distribution
- Allow previously grazed areas time to recover
- Support thoughtful pasture management
- Help cycle nutrients across the land
Current and Planned Practices
Managed intensive grazing
Daily cattle movement when conditions allow
Maintaining native grasses
Future cover cropping
Soil testing
Water infrastructure
Improving the land's ability to hold water
No current plans to use synthetic chemical inputs
Water Is Part of the Grazing Plan
Proper water infrastructure is important for:
- Livestock access
- Grazing distribution
- Daily cattle movement
- Pasture recovery
- Long-term water retention in the soil
Learning From Soil Testing
Soil testing has already been completed on the ranch.
Testing provides a baseline for understanding the land and making future management decisions.
Future updates
Soil test summaries and progress updates may be added here in the future.
Building for the Long Term
Over the next one to two years, Sweetgrass Farms plans to continue:
- Managed grazing
- Avoiding unnecessary fertilizer and chemical inputs
- Maintaining native grasses
- Improving water function
- Watching how the land responds
- Making changes slowly and thoughtfully
As a future goal, sheep and chickens may eventually be added to support the broader ranch system.
Follow the Land as It Changes
Sweetgrass Farms plans to share the progress, lessons, challenges, and changes that come with building a soil-focused Montana ranch.