organic government programs

TSURWLF · Joined: 28 Apr 2008 Posts: 1 Location: May,TEXAS

Are there any organic government programs that do the same things as CRP or GRP? I am thinking about buying 5 sections of land around San Angelo, TX, that, just like all the land around it, has been farmed for cotton and other row crops for the past 100 or so years. My plan is to convert it to native grass and let brush cover about 30% of the land to improve the quail, turkey, and deer habitats. I fear that because of all the herbicides that have been used on it for so long and all the row cropping that if I just let it go all that would come up is weeds. Any advice? Can this even be done in say 25-30 years?

Tony M · Joined: 31 Mar 2003 Posts: 1088 Location: McKinney,TEXAS

Here are a few organizations that I recommend you contact:
Stockmans Grass Farmer
Holistic Resource Management
Noble Foundation
I would also recommend you visit http://www.bambergerranch.org/.
Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve is a 5,500 acre ranch that has been described as the largest habitat restoration project on private land in Texas. It is located near Johnson City. They have tours and workshops usually led by the owner, David Bamberger, and his wife.
Try connecting with you local Extension Service for advice and programs.
Tony M

ranchcop · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 40 Location: Hawkins,TEXAS

I am no longer recommending Noble Foundation for any reason! Every year for the past 5 years, Our Company has been contacted by a different person from the Noble Foundation. They ask all the same questions, ask for all the same printed information, waste several hours of our time, then recommend to our customers, that have contacted them that they not use our products and that they need to use Chemicals! This year we turned the tables on them, when they contacted us we suggested that they test our products against any program that they wanted and that we would supply the products and spend as much time with them and assist them as much as they needed during the testing period. They refused, so as of right now we will no longer be dealing with the Noble Foundation, we feel they have no interest in organics other to try and disprove any and all truths!
Bradley Watson
www.WatsonRanchOrganic.comn