By Scout Nelson
On the prairies of western South Dakota, fourth generation ranchers Shad and Jenna Finn are turning worn cropland into a healthy grazing pasture with guidance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Their ranch, Finn Farm Inc., sits along the Bad River where they raise cattle and their children while caring for the land.
A field near their ranch had been in annual cropland since the 1970s and later joined the Conservation Reserve Program in 1987 with a mix of alfalfa and wheatgrass to stop erosion and give wildlife shelter.
After the CRP contract ended, the Finns added a pipeline and water tank and started grazing. Over time, invasive smooth bromegrass took over, reducing forage growth.
In 2023, they enrolled in the Conservation Stewardship Program to bring the field back to life. They first applied herbicides to control bromegrass and planted a season long cover crop of hybrid sorghum and Sudan grass. Some brome survived, but soil and forage improved enough to graze a few cows.
The next two years brought more progress. They used chemical suppression again and no till cover crops of German hay millet and Sudan grass. The soil became soft and rich, almost free of brome, and forage quality increased.
“Almost immediately, we saw a change in the soil,” said Shad. “(It went) from root-bound sod to mellow soil. The protein and energy provided to the cattle from the cover crop is huge. We were able to graze 120 cow and calf pairs for ten days.”
The Finns plan to seed the field to permanent vegetation in 2026, including warm season native grasses for flexible grazing. They also host local tours to share their methods with other producers.
The NRCS mission of “Helping People Help the Land” shines through in this partnership, showing how careful planning and conservation support can renew soil health and provide better feed for livestock.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-sasiistock
Categories: South Dakota, Crops, Livestock, Sustainable Agriculture