Tom Scott initiated a grazing management demonstration on a 315 acre area in Spink County in 2001. The grazing area is located 11 miles north and 4 miles east of Redfield near the James River.

Tom began grazing on May 16th, 2001, with 160 head of bred Angus cows ranging in age from 4-10 years. These bred cows were purchased by the ranch in 2001 and they calved on the system in May and June.

The Scott grazing management demonstration is unique in that the area being grazed is an alfalfa/grass mix. Eighty (80) acres of the pasture is an established seeding of alfalfa and smooth brome with invasion by some native plants. The remaining 235 acres were converted from cropland in 2000 through seeding to a mixture of grazing alfalfa, orchard grass, intermediate wheatgrass, and meadow brome.

To implement the grazing system, Tom Scott had to install electric fences and an above ground pipeline. At the start of the grazing season, pasture sizes were between 8 and 30 acres and livestock moved every 1-3 days. Due to calving concerns, pasture sizes were increased to a final level of 80 acres with two week grazing periods for each pasture.

Monitoring of the system is led by an intern during the grazing season. Monitoring included livestock gains, economics, forage weight and height, and fecal samples. Monitoring unique to this site includes waterfowl nesting success and soil quality.