Rancher to rancher: 5 reasons to the Legacy Landscapes program
When Eric Yates enrolled his cow-calf operation in the Legacy Landscapes program, he wasn’t looking for a quick fix. He saw an opportunity that brought value in the form of real tools and support that could help him improve the productivity and efficiency of his ranch for the long term. Now as a Legacy Landscapes program participant, Eric says it has delivered on that promise, and more.
From a customized practice management plan with hands-on technical guidance to free AgriWebb software to help track his ranch’s improvements, Eric’s firsthand experience shows just how much value the Legacy Landscapes program can offer.
During a recent webinar, Eric shared five benefits ranchers gain when joining the Legacy Landscapes program.
1. Flexibility that fits your operation
Each ranching operation is unique, and what works on one may not work on another. Programs with a rigid set of practices can feel out of touch with local realities. That’s why the Legacy Landscapes program takes a different approach, beginning each participant’s journey with the rancher’s own goals.
“I love the fact that they [Legacy Landscapes program technical advisors] don’t tell you what to do,” Eric shared. “They ask, what are some of the goals of your operation? What do you want to accomplish? And then let’s work towards that.”
For Eric in East Texas, that flexibility meant exploring practices tailored to his land, from trying prescribed burns on Bermuda grass, something rarely attempted in his region, to planting cool-season cover crops to extend his grazing window. Another rancher in Arizona or Nebraska might take an entirely different path, and that’s exactly the strength of the Legacy Landscapes program: it adapts to the rancher, not the other way around.
2. Low risk, high reward
Trying new management practices can be expensive. Equipment, seed, or infrastructure improvements all carry costs along with uncertainty about whether they’ll actually pay off. Eric said that one of the biggest benefits of the Legacy Landscapes program is how it reduces that financial risk.
“It’s no risk at all,” he explained. “You either win, because the practice made you better, or you fail at the practice, but you have very limited financial costs invested in it, and you learn something.”
With financial incentives and cost-share support, the Legacy Landscapes program gives ranchers room to innovate without betting the farm. For Eric, that meant he could test new ideas, knowing that if they didn’t pan out, his operation wouldn’t take a hit. And if they did work, his productivity and efficiency improved.
3. Easy recordkeeping with AgriWebb
Every rancher knows the challenge of keeping good records. Between working cattle, fixing fence, and feeding hay, documentation often ends up scribbled on scraps of paper or scattered across spreadsheets. For Eric, this was a constant frustration until the Legacy Landscapes program gave him access to AgriWeb’s ranch management platform.
“Traditionally we’ve done Excel sheets and pieces of paper, written on the back of a feed tag,” Eric admitted. “Then when we need to look at it, it’s a full week of compiling data.”
By moving to digital recordkeeping, Eric has been able to streamline his data, identify grazing patterns he didn’t see before, and make more informed decisions. The shift even revealed that his cattle were returning to some pastures too quickly, something he wouldn’t have caught without the software.
Having access to AgriWebb was a huge key driver for me coming to the Legacy Landscapes program, and it’s truly helped us get a lot better.
4. Hands-on technical assistance
Financial support and digital value added tools are important, but Eric pointed out that what really sets the Legacy Landscapes program apart is the technical assistance. Instead of sending ranchers a plan and leaving them to figure it out, the program provides one-on-one guidance from experts at the National Grazing Lands Coalition.
“One of the first conversations I had with Bill [Fox] was, ‘What do you want to do? What is the goal for your operation? How can we assist you in becoming more efficient and effective at what you do?’”
That collaborative approach helped Eric come up with a management plan that matched his vision for the ranch. Whether it was fine-tuning grazing rotations, testing soil and forage quality, or exploring virtual fencing, Eric had someone he trusted to bounce ideas off and guide the implementation.
“I love that about the whole program,” he said. “They’re with you every step of the way.”
5. A chance to tell ranching’s story
For Eric, the Legacy Landscapes program isn’t just about improving operations, it’s also about showing the outside world what ranchers contribute. With corporate partners like Nestlé Purina Petcare paying attention, he sees the program as a chance to highlight the stewardship and responsibility ranchers live out every day.
“Being able to highlight what we do — land stewardship, providing clean air, clean water, and really good protein — to people who may have no clue what ranching looks like, that was a really cool thing for me.”
By participating, Eric believes ranchers can help bridge the gap between consumers and producers, building trust and recognition for the essential role ranching plays in the food system and the environment.
Eric’s advice to fellow ranchers
When asked what he’d say to other ranchers considering the program, Eric didn’t hesitate:
“Take a leap of faith. I’ve had nothing but great experiences. It’s a no-risk, all-reward program, and it’s been nothing but good for our place.”
For ranchers who want to explore new opportunities, improve efficiency, or simply get more support in running their operation, Eric believes the Legacy Landscapes program offers a unique and worthwhile path forward.
Ready to learn more?
The Legacy Landscapes program is open to cow-calf producers across seven states, including Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas.
With financial support, technical guidance, and tools designed to fit your ranch, it’s built to help ranchers like Eric improve efficiency, profitability, and long-term sustainability.
