Results on the Ground

Holistic Management Gets Results in the
Northern Rockies: Increasing Biodiversity and Profitability

Forty-three ranch managers in the Northern Rockies (Montana,Wyoming, Idaho) who had received training and had been practicing Holistic Management for two or more years, agreed to participate in our study through telephone interviews and written surveys.

Without exception, these managers all believe the land is evolving toward the holistic goal established for the ranch. Over half (56%) of them indicate they annually meet with team members and review their holistic goals.

Sixty percent of the managers indicate they are aware of their employees’ own personal goals and the areas they are seeking to improve. Ninety-eight percent have encouraged and paid for employees to attend special training.

The survey indicates that all of these ranchers are motivated, and most of them are highly motivated to continue Holistic Management because the goals they have set are becoming reality. Among the significant results:

Land monitoring shows that Holistic Management works
not just for land managers, but for the land itself:

Holistic managers hold planning meetings.

Eighty-five percent hold regular team meetings for planning that deals with grazing, wildlife, riparian areas, land monitoring, and financial planning:

Eighty-five percent of the managers create and document a yearly grazing plan, and 87% have changed their grazing management strategy.

The majority (86%) has increased stocking rate, 97% have increased stock density, 77% have grouped livestock together, and 95% have obtained positive results from trampling. These ranchers are increasing stock density and stocking rate by adding cross fencing and/or increasing herd size. Some have upped stocking rates 30% to 50%.

Livestock performance improves along with the health and vigor of the land: