Introduction to Barbwire Man

I purchased the Shadow R Ranch property in 2007. The pastures had been severely overgrazed with no effort to regenerate the soil or restore the multiple species of grasses that once flourished and swayed in the breezes during previous generations. For many decades, there was no effort to depart from the traditional mono-farming (a single type of crop at a time vs. planting multiple crops at the same time). This style of farming included deep soil cultivation and, perhaps unknowingly, upsetting the natural balance of the soil. Today because of better soil science, we know bacteria varieties and microorganisms are vitally necessary for soil fertility. That was not the understanding or the mindset of the farmer/rancher family of the past. Unfortunately, many of the current day farmers/ranchers remain uninformed, but that is changing as more and more are becoming aware of the virtues of the poly farming (cover crop) culture and the use and practice of no-till planting. Now, back to the Sh

February seems to be the month my calf stories begin — for good reason, as it is in this month that the calving season starts. This is a true story that begins in early February 2020. The story is about a young newborn calf. The calf is a bull, and Flash is his name. For the next 18 months he lived on the land, in my heart, and in the hearts of three other people. Flash would prove to be not just an ordinary bull calf. There is no other way to say this except to say that Flash had the capacity to love. Not perhaps love as humans express and show love. As his caretakers, we understood that it was love on a level we did not totally understand but openly accepted. On the day he was born, unlike most calves, he was slow to get on his feet. Most calves after 30 minutes or so make attempts to get up. Having reached that point, they wobble along, take a step or two, and fall back down again. This stand and fall process is repeated until the calf finds the coordination and strength needed to s

When Refel Rushing is not Ranching, Building, or Raising money he can often be found with a pen in hand as he embarks on his next exciting story or romantic poem. Check out some of his work on the new poetry site by clicking below.

Reflections and important moments to remember  February has often brought bitterly cold days to Texas ranchers. One would not want to leave the house or barn without cold weather clothing. Planning and routine care and feeding measures are a part of what a rancher must do to make sure his/her cattle can survive during extreme wintery conditions. An essential part of planning includes providing dry matter food sources such as dry or silage hay, mineral block supplements, range cubes, high energy molasses liquid feed, and oftentimes a high-fat, high-protein feed ration.  A rancher who plans well during the summer and fall seasons and takes extra steps of precaution out of an abundance of care can generally be assured that his/her cattle are conditioned well enough to withstand long periods of cold weather. A rancher who takes these precautions can have good sleep nights rather than sleepless nights.  However, the Valentine’s week of February 11-20, 2021, was anything but normal. On Febru

Check out the working ranch at www.shadowrranchitalytexas.com "Lovin the soil every day in every way" Soilman

REGENERATIVE RANCHING We call it Regenerative Ranching. Our goal is to rebuild the soil and restore the ranch to its best days, when buffalo roamed across the grasses. The soil held the moisture within, erosion was at a minimum, and grasses grew plentifully. There are five principles of healthy soil that we aim to address in our methods and practices. Minimizing Soil Disturbance We minimize soil disturbance: biological, chemical and physical. Biological disturbance—overgrazing—reduces soil armor and below-ground biomass. Physical and chemical disturbance occurs from tillage, which buries crop residues instead of allowing them to break down naturally. Tillage disturbs the important microbes that feed the soil. We use a no-till drill to plant seed. Cultivating digs up the earth’s nutrients and disturbs the important mycorrhizal fungi that support soil health. No-till practices preserve the earth’s nutrients by creating minimal soil disturbance. Keeping The Soil Covered Soil armor an