When most people think about wildlife on a ranch, they probably picture deer slipping through the trees, turkeys moving across a pasture or quail flushing from cover. Those species matter, and many landowners manage with them in mind. But some of the most important wildlife on a farm or ranch is much smaller. Bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, wasps, hummingbirds and even bats all play a part in keeping native plants and food systems working.

Pollinators move pollen from one flower to another, which allows many plants to produce seed, fruit and the next generation of growth. That matters in gardens and orchards, but it also matters in pastures, prairies and native rangeland. According to the article provided, the United States Department of Agriculture reports that 75 percent of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce.

For Oklahoma ranchers, pollinators are more than something nice to see on a warm afternoon. They are tied to plant diversity, soil cover, wildlife habitat and the overall health of the land.

A pasture with flowers, seed-producing plants and a mix of grasses and forbs usually supports more life than a pasture with only one or two plant types. That does not mean every acre has to look wild or unmanaged. It means diversity has value. A ranch that supports many kinds of plants can also support many kinds of insects. Those insects feed birds, turkey poults, quail chicks, bats and other wildlife. Some predatory insects also help keep pest insects in check.

Pollinators are a sign that something is working. If butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects are present, the land is likely offering food, cover and seasonal blooms. If they are absent, it may be worth asking why. There may not be enough flowering plants. Grazing pressure may be too heavy at the wrong time. Herbicide use may be reducing the plants pollinators need. The issue may be drought, timing or a lack of plant variety.

The monarch butterfly is one of the best-known examples. Monarchs need milkweed because it is the only food source for their caterpillars. Adult monarchs also need nectar plants, especially during migration. Oklahoma sits in an important part of that migration route. In spring, monarchs moving north need milkweed for reproduction. In fall, monarchs moving south need blooming plants for energy before continuing toward Mexico.

That fall food source can be easy to overlook. A pasture may have plenty of grass and still offer little for a migrating butterfly if there are no flowers in bloom. Late-season plants such as Maximilian sunflower, blazing star, goldenrod, asters and cowpen daisy can make a difference. In the Noble Research Institute article, Will Moseley said their monarch monitoring showed a simple result: butterflies were found where flowering plants were present, and they were not found where flowers were absent.

That is a useful lesson for any landowner. Pollinator habitat does not have to be complicated. It starts with plants.

For ranchers, the goal is not to turn working land into a flower bed. The goal is to manage in a way that leaves room for useful plants to grow, bloom and set seed. Grazing management can help. If the same pasture is grazed hard at the same time every year, the same plants may get set back again and again. Changing grazing timing, leaving rest periods and avoiding overuse can give more plants a chance to bloom. Rotational grazing, when planned well, can benefit both livestock and pollinators.

Prescribed fire can also be useful when used carefully and legally. Fire timing matters. Burning every acre the same way at the same time can favor some plants and reduce others. Varying burn timing across years and pastures can create a more mixed plant community. That variety can help pollinators, ground-nesting birds and grazing animals.

Herbicide use is another consideration. There are times when herbicides are needed, especially for invasive or problem plants. But broad use can also remove the forbs that bees and butterflies depend on. Spot spraying, proper timing and targeted control can help landowners manage weeds while keeping beneficial plants in the pasture. Every place is different, so the best plan depends on the ranch’s goals, plant community and problem species.

Pollinators also need nesting sites. Not all bees live in hives. In fact, many native bees nest in the ground, hollow stems or cavities in wood. Leaving some undisturbed areas, standing stems, brushy edges or bare patches of well-drained soil can support native bees. A perfectly clean landscape is often less useful to wildlife than one with some structure and variety.

Water can help as well. Shallow water sources, damp soil or safe access around ponds and tanks can be useful, especially during dry weather. The key is to avoid drowning hazards. Small stones, floating wood or shallow edges can give insects a place to land.

For landowners interested in beekeeping, honey bees can become another small enterprise. A few hives may provide honey for family, gifts or local sales. Local honey often has a strong market, and bees can fit well on small acreages or larger ranches. Still, honey bees are livestock and need management. New beekeepers should start small, learn from an experienced mentor and understand seasonal care before investing heavily. The Noble article shared advice from Josh and Brook Gaskamp, who recommended getting a mentor, starting small and experimenting until finding what works.

Beekeeping is not the only way to support pollinators, though. A person can help pollinators without owning a single hive. Planting native flowers, protecting milkweed, reducing unnecessary pesticide use and allowing some areas to bloom can all help. Even fence rows, field corners, creek banks and lightly used areas can become valuable habitat when managed with pollinators in mind.

Pollinators also add enjoyment to the land. There is something rewarding about seeing monarchs on fall flowers, bumble bees working a patch of blooms or hummingbirds visiting trumpet-shaped flowers near the house. Those moments remind landowners that a ranch is more than livestock, fences and forage. It is a living system.

For many producers, the practical reason to care about pollinators is simple. What helps pollinators often helps the whole ranch. More plant diversity can mean better soil cover, more wildlife habitat, more insects for birds, more seasonal forage options and a landscape that can better handle stress. Pollinators are part of that bigger picture.

A ranch does not have to be managed only for bees or butterflies to benefit them. In many cases, good land stewardship already points in the right direction. Avoid overgrazing. Encourage plant diversity. Leave some blooms. Be careful with chemicals. Think about timing. Watch what shows up.

The smallest wildlife on the ranch can tell a big story about the health of the land. When the flowers are blooming and the pollinators are working, it is a good sign the pasture is doing more than growing grass. It is supporting life from the ground up.

Total Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes

Servings: 10

2 medium apples (any type), peeled, cored & diced 

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 3/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup milk

For the Glaze:

• 1/2 cup (60g) powdered sugar

1–2 tbsp milk

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.

Peel and chop apples and place in a bowl with brown sugar and cinnamon. Toss and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour and baking powder. Gradually add dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with milk, mixing until just combined.

Next, pour half of the batter into the loaf pan, top with half of the apple mixture, then repeat with remaining batter and apples. Lightly swirl with a knife for a marbled effect.

Bake for 50–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over cooled bread.

Slice and enjoy warm or at room temperature.

By Savannah Magoteaux

It may seem old-fashioned in today’s world of instant weather apps and precision farming tools, but for generations, farmers and ranchers have kept something tucked alongside their feed store receipts and fencing pliers: the almanac.

If you’ve ever wondered what makes an almanac different from a regular calendar—or how you can actually use one on the farm today—you’re not alone. The truth is, there’s a reason the almanac has stuck around for more than two centuries. It’s part tradition, part practical guide, and part good old country common sense.

What Exactly Is an Almanac?

At its simplest, an almanac is an annual publication that contains a wide variety of information:

• Weather forecasts (both short-term and long-range)
• Moon phases and sunrise/sunset times
• Best days for planting, harvesting, and other chores
• Tide tables
• Astronomical data (eclipses, meteor showers)
• Farming advice
• Home and garden tips
• Folk wisdom and humor

The Old Farmer’s Almanac, founded in 1792, is probably the most famous, but there are many versions today—including regional editions designed for specific areas of the country.

What sets an almanac apart is that it doesn’t just tell you what is happening; it often tells you when and how to do things based on seasonal rhythms, tradition, and long-standing patterns of nature.

How Are Almanac Predictions Made?

One of the most famous parts of the almanac is its weather forecast section.
While the exact methods are often kept secret, most almanacs combine:

• Historical weather patterns
• Solar cycles (like sunspots)
• Lunar phases
• Meteorological data

They aren’t as precise as modern radar forecasts, but they’re designed to give a general idea of what to expect for an upcoming season. Many readers use them more for planning and tradition than strict prediction.

Interestingly, some almanacs claim accuracy rates of around 80%, though independent studies suggest they’re closer to 50–60%. Still, for long-range planning—like when to schedule planting, hay cutting, or even branding days—many farmers find them helpful.

How to Use an Almanac Today

If you flip open an almanac today, you’ll find it offers much more than weather. Here are a few practical ways to use one on your farm or ranch:

• Planting by the Moon: Many people still plant certain crops according to the waxing and waning of the moon, believing that different phases influence root growth, fruit production, or hardiness.
• Scheduling Hay or Harvest: Long-range dry or wet forecasts can help you pick safer windows for cutting and baling hay.
• Livestock Planning: Some ranchers time breeding, calving, or vaccinations according to signs in the almanac (or at least avoid unlucky dates!).
• Gardening Tips: Almanacs are packed with advice on companion planting, pest control, and organic practices.
• Household Projects: Need to set fence posts or pour concrete? Some almanacs recommend the best days for setting things in the ground to “set stronger.”

Even if you don’t follow it to the letter, it can still offer a broader way of thinking seasonally—something that technology sometimes encourages us to forget.

Tradition Meets Technology

Many almanacs now have companion websites and apps, offering digital versions of their classic wisdom.
Still, there’s something satisfying about flipping through a paperback almanac, circling dates, and marking notes in the margins just like the generations before us.

It’s a reminder that even in a high-tech world, farming and ranching are still closely tied to the rhythms of nature—and a little old-school wisdom never hurts.

References:

1. The Old Farmer’s Almanac – https://www.almanac.com
2. Farmers’ Almanac – https://www.farmersalmanac.com
3. University of Illinois Extension – Understanding the Farmer’s Almanac Weather Predictions
4. National Weather Service – Historical Weather Patterns

SIDEBAR_

5 Fun Facts About the Almanac

1. It’s Older Than the U.S. Constitution.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac was first published in 1792—one year after George Washington was elected President.

2. There’s a “Secret Formula” for Weather Predictions.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac claims it uses a top-secret mathematical formula, created by its founder Robert B. Thomas, that factors in sunspots, tidal action, and planetary positions.

3. It’s Not Just One Almanac.
There are actually several famous almanacs, including the Old Farmer’s Almanac and the Farmers’ Almanac, and they’re produced by different companies with slightly different forecasting methods.

4. Moon Phases Matter.
Many planting and farming guides in the almanac are based on the waxing and waning of the moon. According to tradition, above-ground crops do better when planted during a waxing moon, and root crops thrive during a waning moon.

5. It Once Had a Hole in the Corner.
Early editions of the almanac were printed with a hole punched through the corner. Why? So farmers could hang them on a nail in the barn or outhouse for easy reading (and sometimes, as a backup to toilet paper)!