Matthew Denetclaw & family

Shiprock, NM

Navajo Nation Soil and Water Conservation District

Matthew Denetclaw is Diné, a member of the Navajo Nation, living in Shiprock, NM within the Navajo Nation Soil and Water Conservation District. He ranches with his parents and cousins.

Denetclaw and his family run a Beefmaster cow-calf operation on a range management unit of 23,000 acres. They employ planned grazing on five pastures – one of those with seven cells, which allows for a longer recovery period. They use fixed photo points and plant analyses in their monitoring program. Covering bare ground is their highest priority. Denetclaw has taken many opportunities to learn from attending NM Youth Ranch Management Camp, the U.S. Beef Academy, NM Cattle Growers Association, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, and King Ranch Institute workshops. He is also the National Media Specialist for the Intertribal Agriculture Council. This also provides Denetclaw the opportunity to share good management information with producers and increase participation in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs.

At one point they had to reduce the number of cattle (destock) due to drought, but they have started back up slowly and are now managing more carefully. They had previously managed a set winter/summer grazing pattern that didn’t always reflect the resources available.

Drought is a constant concern, and water distribution in their paddocks is a challenge. Denetclaw is looking at the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to hopefully address distribution. They are also hopeful that improved management of the cattle through careful attention to land health monitoring information will lead to better pasture soil conditions and greater drought resilience.

Posted May 2023