The Back 40

Some exotic animal species that are endangered in Africa are thriving on ranches in Texas, where a limited number are hunted for a high price. Ranchers say they need the income to care for the rest of the herd. Animal rights activists want the hunting to end. J. David Bamberger, recipient of the 2009 Leopold [...]

By Mindy Reef What does a farmer do when he or she needs an idea for a rarely used cut of beef? They ask a creative local chef, of course. Relationships between chefs and farmers are increasingly becoming a way to bring attention to local food production, which can clearly be seen in Hawaii. With [...]

One of the reasons people are suspicious of the organic enterprise is a widespread confusion about what organic production methods are. Sales of organic foods continue to increase at a faster pace than sales of conventional foods. This alone makes people suspicious of the organic enterprise. Another reason is confusion about what organic production methods [...]

In 2000 a group of forestland managers, hunters, biologists, and foresters, with support and guidance from The Sand County Foundation, formed the Kinzua Quality Deer Cooperative (KQDC). The goals were to restore quality habitat and quality deer, improve hunter satisfaction, and reduce the need for fencing to protect seedlings, shrubs, and other understory vegetation such [...]

By Chris Corbin, Lotic LLC I just received a request from the Environmental Leader asking me to share a quote for a lesson learned in 2011. Not surprisingly, this made me reflect on 2011 in a level that far surpassed this request. I felt inclined to share. 1. Water is a big deal. WATER is becoming a media [...]