Our grazing animals vitalize plants, harvest sunlight, and help keep healthy stands of vegetation growing on the high desert landscape. The ranch’s 150 miles of creeks and many lakes also benefit the ever improving fish and wildlife populations. Low input farming practices are exclusively used, from which soil is actually created, not lost. Our belief is that an ever improving landscape leads to a healthy ranch economy which in turn directly contributes to the vitality of our local and regional community. You, our customers, are our most valuable partners. By enjoying the flavors, fibers, garments and educational partnerships offered by the Imperial Stock Ranch, we move together toward a sustainable future.

The Imperial Stock Ranch has received numerous awards for excellence in stewardship and land management practices. We are pleased to have been selected Honorable Mention for the 2004 National Patrick Madden Award for Sustainable Agriculture.

We like to think of concepts like...to provide for, to support, to strengthen, to endure, to carry on. We have been doing those things on this place for more than 135 years. And this landscape has supported life far longer than that. The lands and operation of the Imperial Stock Ranch have been providing for and supporting wildlife and people, strengthening families and the community, enduring challenges and changing conditions and carrying on successfully. The lands are productive, the ranch is profitable and the quality of life is immeasureable.

The Imperial Stock Ranch has a long-standing tradition of interwoven stock raising and mindful land stewardship. We carefully manage our livestock in ways that enhance the environment by working closely with the Wasco County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, and many other private and public agencies.

Sustainable agriculture is economically viable, environmentally sound and socially responsible. It requires thoughtful management. The recent story begins nearly 20 years ago, when Dan Carver began working with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to develop a conservation plan for the ranch. It was a road map for environmental management. If we followed it, it would not only ensure healthier land, but that would lead to a healthier bottom line. It has a lot to do with "mindset" as Dan calls it. Thinking differently. You begin by describing what you'd like to see; develop a plan to take you there; establish measureable criteria to monitor the progress; and then manage (implement) according to your plan. Various agencies have played key roles in charting the progress we've made. Sustainability is not necessarily something you achieve, rather it is a process that is constant and ongoing. Everyone left in ranching today has achieved some level of sustainability (they're still surviving), but there are those who continually work to do even better. We hope were one of those.

DAN LIKES TO SHARE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES WITH VISITORS OF WHAT "SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES" MEAN TO OUR OPERATION:

1) Following our road map for management, weve doubled beef production and at the same time, the rangeland grasses are healthier than ever and salmon are returning in increasing numbers. The rotational grazing methods, strategic placement of mineral supplements and off-stream water developments...all part of the plan, have had a major impact on those changes.

2) We have lowered a number of inputs in crop production by changing to "no-till" farming practices. This method means we no longer plow the land. Utilizing a special machine, the seed is inserted into the soil each year amidst the standing stubble or residue from the previous year's crop. When the crop is mature, it is harvested. We save numerous trips over the fields made with traditional tillage methods of farming. Reductions in fuel costs, fertilizers and herbicides, labor and equipment costs have all contributed to increased profits in the farming. At the same time, there are numerous benefits to the environment. A few of those are reduced fossil fuel consumption, reduced erosion by not exposing bare soil to wind and water...with the direct benefit of improved stream water quality, and enriching and building soil rather than losing it.

Our belief is that an ever improving landscape leads to a healthy ranch economy, which in turn directly contributes to the vitality of our local and regional community. We are also realistic about the challenges we face in an ever changing marketplace for the crops we grow. The long term challenge of staying viable into the next generation as a family agricultural operation is sometimes overwhelming. We see industries like tourism and recreation with bright futures, and wonder how do we capture part of that to supplement production agriculture. Looking to that future, the ranch has further diversified into the service and recreation industry. With the goals of preserving a quality rural lifestyle, and sharing that experience with visitors to this part of the state, our family hopes you will enjoy a stay at the Imperial River Company (owned and operated by our daughter and son-in-law, Susie and Rob Miles). The Imperial River Company offers a unique lodging and dining experience, capturing the flavor of the high desert in decor and cuisine, and serving up great Imperial Stock Ranch beef and lamb. Located just 20 miles from the ranch on the banks of the Deschutes River, they have a gift shop, photo shop and offer guided whitewater rafting trips. Its a great getaway! (For more information, go to www.deschutesriver.com.)

Together, we are carrying on...