April2017Newsletter

• Localfarmpartnership,p.1

• Ordertoday,p.1

• MessagefromtheRanch,p.2

• FoodforThought:GreenPasturesimpactWaterCycle,p.2

Inthisissue:

DietrichRanchpartnerswithlocalfarm

Overthepastfewmonths,DietrichRanchandHasselmanFarmsofMarengo,Illinoishaveteameduptomeettheexpandingdemandforhigh-quality“beyondorganic”raisedlivestock.

DietrichRanchprovidespastureforHasselmann’sgrass-fedcattle.And,HasselmanFarmshelpssupplyporktoDietrichRanchandtheircustomers.

Thisarrangementhelpsbothoperationsmeettheincreasingdemandofgrass-fedmeatproducts.

OrdertodayPleasevisitwww.dietrichranch.comtoviewourinventoryofbeefandporkcuts.

• Halfandwholepork:Berkshirepasturedpork

o Wholeporkat$1.55/lbofhangingweighto Halfporkat$1.65/lbofhangingweight

• Quarters,halves,andwholesbeef:

100%grass-fedbeef

o Wholebeefat$3.15/lbofhangingweighto Halfbeefat$3.35/lbofhangingweighto Quarterbeefat$3.50/lbofhangingweight

Processingfeesarenotincludedinthepriceperpound.

• e-mail:dietrich_ranch@hotmail.com• Erin’scell:815-291-6259• Dan’scell:815-973-6879

DietrichRanchApril2017Newsletterwww.dietrichranch.com

DietrichRanch,p.2April2017Newsletterwww.dietrichranch.com

Animal impact greatly invigorates plant growth, root development and microbial life in the soil, making the soil more porous and encouraging absorption from rainwater.

Rainisanimportantpartofthewatercycle.Butifrainwaterisnotabsorbedintothegroundasitfalls,itrunsoffandislosttostreamsandrivers,andultimatelytheoceans.Inthatcase,thewatercyclestartstoslowdownsinceevaporationfrommoistgroundisreduced.Asaresult,adryareabecomesevendrierovertime.

Theamountofrainthatcansoakintothegrounddependsontheporosityofthesoil.Modernrowcropagricultureleadstobrittlesoilsthatdonotabsorbandholdwaterwell.Tillingsoildestroystheporousstructurethatisformedbytherootsofperennialgrasses,earthwormsandthemanyvarietiesofmicrobesfoundintopsoil.

Ontheotherhand,pasturescoveredinperennialgrassesencourageabsorption.Andifpasturesarerotationallygrazedbylivestock,theanimalimpact(hooves,urineandmanure)greatlyinvigoratetheplantgrowth,rootdevelopmentandmicrobiallifeinthesoil.Thatmakesthesoilmoreporous.

Whilethereismuchcontroversyoverclimatechange,it'shardtodenythatmankindhascreateddesertsoverthecenturies.Overgrazingpasturesandcontinuouslytillingsoilhavebeentheprimarycauses.However,rotationalgrazingcanrestoresoilfertilityandwaterholdingcapacity.

Green pastures, cattle impact natural Water Cycle

Houston,Cora,Erin,DanandDannyDale

MessagefromtheRanchBy Erin

Helloall,springishere!

Wetookafamilyridearoundthepastureandencounteredsomeoldfriends.IntheabovephotoyouseeNorm,thehorse,whoisapreciouspartofourfamilyandafriendtothecows.

Ithasbeenalongwinter,verymildbysomestandards,butlongnonetheless.Calvesaredroppingandbirdsarechirping.Timetogetoutthosegrillsandenjoythesunshine.

Visitourwebsite,www.dietrichranch.com,toseewhatwehaveavailabletostockyourfreezersorjustputafewburgers,steaks,brats,orotherdeliciousoptionsoutonyourgrill.

Thankyouforconsideringustohelpstockyourfreezer.Purchasinglocalhelpsuskeepouroperationopen.Withoutyou,therewouldbenoDietrichRanch.Thankyou.

FoodforThought

DietrichRanchApril2017Newsletterwww.dietrichranch.com