JIM AND JUDY REED
TPWD WETLANDS ASSISTANCE GUIDE
UPDATED ARTICLE

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The Reed Ranch consists of 1,780 acres of diversified landscape, which has been under Reed Family operation since the mid-40's. Jim is the third generation landowner of the Reed Ranch.

The ranch's landscape (located near the edges of north central Texas' Post Oak Savannah and Blackland Prairies regions) is very diversified, consisting of forested wetlands, rolling hillsides, open marshes and wetlands, hill land outside the flood plain of the Trinity River, and a large riparian zone which surrounds almost half of its border

The ranch's focus in the past had been primarily on cattle and beef production, but when management changed several years ago, the direction was altered to better fit current practices and better serve the needs of the Reed Family Group . Since that time, the ranch has taken on a more diversified approach to operation, utilizing the model set forth by Allan Savory's Holistic Management system. This capability has produced a plan for wetlands enhancement on the Reed Ranch.

The first thing the owners did was to plan for what was wanted for the ranch. To them, that meant going through the process of setting ranch goals that were in line with ownership values.

Jim and Judy found the best goal modeling process to be Holistic Resource Management. The whole family participated, and Jim and Judy believe that it was one of the best things that could have been done at the time. From that time on, day-to-day decisions have been based on these goals. The involvement of the Holistic Resource Management of Texas organization and its membership has also been important to the ranch's development.

Mostly, these goals have to do with four things:

    - diversification of the uses of the ranch
    - maintaining a productive and flexible lifestyle
    - being a good steward of the land
    - and, using informed decision-making principals which are in line with ranch goals

According to Jim "the use of the holistic management process is one of the major reasons we've made the progress we've made. We couldn't be doing what we're doing without this model to follow. When we're trying to make a decision about whether to do something or not, we test our decision against our goals using the seven testing questions that are found in the HRM model."

Jim and Judy in Reed Ranch Front Pasture
With Lone Star Award Plaque
(Photo by Waco News Tribune)



The Reed Ranch is one of the recipients of the statewide Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's 2001 Landowner Stewardship Awards given to 11 landowners in Texas for their ability to manage resources. This award is given as a landowner incentive to manage in an environmental and fiscally responsible manner. The Reed Ranch has a history of working with other organizations in its operation.




Right now, the ranch has several income streams that everyone is enjoying. At one time, the only major income stream was the ranch's cow/calf operation. It's felt that cattle will always be a major player in the overall goals of the ranch. Cattle can be used as a tool in the improvement of the soil and grasses; if a systematic grazing plan is utilized.

As of 2005, ranch income support streams come from:

The ranch is separated into many paddocks using electric fencing, and a gravity flow water distribution system is in operation.. Jim says "the partitioning of the ranch into smaller operating ranch and wildlife habitat units was one of the best things we could have done. The creation of a systematic grazing system utilizing a paddock design was some of the best dollars we've spent. These ranch divisions allow us to create forage units and wildlife units at the same time."

Reed Ranch Electric Fencing Layout
(Drawing by Jim Reed)




The uses of these various units are rotated based on whatever best suits ranch goals at the time. For example, cattle are normally rotated throughout all the paddocks, but are kept out of the most wooded paddocks during times of greatest wildlife nutrition stress. The greatest nutrition stress for deer comes during the late summer months and the winter months.





There's now a hunting club operation on the Reed Ranch. The creation of the ranch's huntin' and fishin' club has allowed the owners to enjoy many more uses of the ranch and has increased the income flow, too.

Jim and Judy are enjoying the hunting and fellowship of deer hunting, duck hunting, hog hunting, fishing, varmint hunting, camping, hanging out enjoying the outdoors with their friends, sharing photo's, and watching the grass grow.

The Reed's use the internet to share hunting stories, ranch and hunting photo's, and the various ranch projects. A ranch calendar is also maintained at the ranch website. This calendar is used by the hunting club members and others to know what's going on so they can plan their activities.

Jim and Pasture Dream Planter

Flowering Eastern Gamagrass Clump
(Photo by Jim Reed)



A major emphasis has been placed on the return of some of the pastureland to native grass prairies. More than half of the 1,780 acre ranch is located in the Trinity River wetlands basin. Grasses that were at one time native to the area are being planted to return the soil to its productive conditions once again.



The grasses selected were needed to withstand the moisture and other bottomlands conditions. The grasses also were needed to supply ample cover and habitat to wildlife, and produce ample forage for cattle. So far, the two grasses that are being utilized now in the bottomlands for these purposes are alamo switchgrass and eastern gamagrass.

Mrs Judy and Seed Ball Machine
(Photo by Jim Reed)

Jim in Hog Wallow Switchgrass Patch
(Photo by Judy Reed)





Planting techniques include the use of a pasture dream planter, seed balls, and casting seed in soil disturbances left by hog rootings.




The forested wetlands project with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has offered an opportunity to meet some of the major goals of the ranch. The forested wetlands project provides for the repair over 400 acres of bottomland hardwood forests that were severely degraded. The management of the ranch's timber and wetlands is now receiving about the same emphasis as the native grassland prairie.

Shumard Oak Seedling
February 2000 Planting of 16,000 Seedlings
(Photo by Jim Reed)





The Reed's feel there's still lots to learn about timber management, wetland habitats, and native grassland prairies. With the help given by wildlife biologists, Jim believes the ranch is heading in the right direction. One of the ranch's early-on goals had to do with the stewardship of healthy forests, wildlife habitat, and ecological stabilization toward sustainability.





Reed Ranch Wetlands Photo
(Photo by Jim Reed)




If anybody would like more information about the Reed Wildlife Ranch, email the Reed's; olJim or msJudy Reed. They like email!

Add your name to the Reed Ranch Newsletter list by contacting olJim .




Ya'll Come!