Rotational Grazing of Organic Bison in Central Minnesota

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Published 2020-04-23

For the past eight years Ken Hess, his wife Lynnae, and two sons have been raising grass-fed organic bison on their 160 acre Horse Shoe Grove Bison Ranch in Kandiyohi County, MN. They use rotational grazing practices on 14 grass and cover crop paddocks. The Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) has provided funding and expertise through EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program). Videography by Dan Balluff.

For more information visit our Minnesota NRCS website at: www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/mn/home/

To view more Minnesota NRCS videos please visit: / @minnesotanrcs

All Comments (21)

@EldredTGlass 2 years ago

Beautiful creatures, Beautiful story. The first bison I saw was when I was a little boy, my uncle managed a stock yard in Oskaloosa, Iowa, they had just received three railroad car loads and was mesmerized watching them by the way I am 89 now will never forget
@MrF4tty 3 years ago

The detail into the rotation and grasses... all of it was great!
@angelaj8958 2 years ago

I eat the grass-fed bison, and feel very good about it. I have tried to eat organic as much as possible. Bison is more tender than beef and has a better lipid profile, and I prefer the more mild flavor too. It is nice to know that it helps to maintain family farming too.
@richardp.4720 3 years ago

Such a good video. The drawings of the paddocks and explanations of rotation, water system, everything. Very interesting.
@monkisethojane2218 1 year ago

I love it when families thrive.
@downbntout 3 years ago

Excellent work by the NRCS crew too
@tomjohn8733 2 years ago

Nice to see, The roaming bison is what made the Midwest the rich agricultural meca is was, and their dried dung provided the settlers fire wood, as there were few trees..
@WildPrimal23 1 year ago

Awesome upload! I will be using some facts from this video on my next video about bison. I'll make sure to give you credit!
@darraghfarrell2245 3 years ago

Beautiful animals.
@michaelinminn 3 years ago

Another can-do story. Great stuff.
@chadmarsh3118 3 years ago

Great video thanks for sharing!
@bernardfinucane2061 3 years ago

Some people put chickens in the paddock when the big grazers leave.
@monkisethojane2218 1 year ago

This was a great video. Very detailed. I'm interested in cattle farming in South Africa. So I loved how very detailed this was. And how to use available resources. 🙌
@anderslangoks3813 3 years ago

Inspiring video and work. Thanks.
@4144758 1 year ago

Exciting!! I love the Bison 🦬 that visits during the Chili Open on Lake Minnetonka I'm Wayzata
@andrewsteele7663 1 year ago

Brilliant story and really interesting, I've never seen Bison and had zero knowledge of their grazing habits etc. Many thanks
@ronniemackechnie7328 4 months ago

Been buffalo for 500 years and we’re organic then and now.
@jeffe4297 3 years ago

3:13 Wow, that's a big bull! I'm guessing that it's the 7 year old one.
@user-mg2qz6ep2o 2 years ago

Very inspiring!
@johngates3844 1 year ago

Very interesting . Such a magnificent animal.