Sediment and nutrient losses decrease when forage systems keep soil covered, and NRCS supports this with targeted conservation planning and practice design.

For Deer Creek Ranch, a 1,200-head cow-calf operation spread across 24,000 acres of leased land and 21,000 acres of deeded land, productive success builds on a healthy ecosystem where wildlife thrives alongside livestock.

With state funding and local collaboration, Wisconsin’s producer-led Watershed Program has grown to support dozens of groups improving soil and water quality. By 2025, its success inspired efforts across the Midwest, proving that farmer-driven solutions can ripple far beyond state lines.

Leave the land better than you found it. That’s the charge given to the ranchers who are members of Country Natural Beef.

The Coombe Family of Thunder View Farms is passionate about preserving the land while creating a sustainable and profitable beef business.

“Each generation has had their unique spin on how to manage the ranch, with different approaches,” Alex Hart says. “We are becoming 21st century agriculturalists, promoting the good work ranchers and land managers do, taking care of the landscape sustainably.”

The buzz around sustainability continues to grow. And while there is an end goal of creating a more viable dairy sector for years to come, reaching that point looks different for every producer.